I wanted to leave January, says Tottenham target Malcom

Malcom has revealed he wanted to leave Bordeaux during the January transfer window but insists he will give everything for the French club until the end of the season.

Manchester United and Arsenal were both heavily linked with a move for the 20-year-old at the start of January before both pulled out of the race to pursue alternative targets.

Tottenham were widely expected to sign Malcom towards the end of last month but Bordeaux were unwilling to sanction a deal and Mauricio Pochettino’s side eventually signed Lucas Moura from Paris Saint-Germain.

Malcom did little to quell rumours of a January exit and the Brazilian has now confirmed he wanted to leave the French side in order to make the next step in his career.

“I wanted to get out, I’m telling the truth, because it’s my dream: to make progress in my career,” Malcom told Telefoot, via Globosporte.

“I told president Stephane Martin he could count on me to the end. I will do everything to help Bordeaux finish in the top 6 in the French championship.”

After a terrible run of form that saw Bordeaux lose nine of 11 league matches, Gus Poyet’s side have now won three on the bounce to move into eighth in the league.

Malcom has only scored three goals in his last 15 matches after starting the season with five goals in nine.