Everton are understood to be keen on a deal for out-of-favour winger Malcom, reviving the interest that they showed in the Brazilian prior to his La Liga move.
Having arrived at the Catalan giants from Bordeaux in July, Malcom's first season hasn't gone according to plan - with the 21-year-old making just nine appearances all season. He has scored two goals in that time, but has struggled to make an impression at Camp Nou - prompting speculation that Barça may be prepared to cut their losses.
His lack of first-team action has reportedly unsettled him, and according to leading Spanish publication Marca, the Toffees are prepared to capitalise on this by bringing him to Merseyside just one year after being pipped to his signature.
The claim is that while the player is keen to stay in La Liga until the summer, when he can re-evaluate the situation, an exit then is very much on the agenda - with Marco Silva's side keen to reignite the interest that saw them allegedly lodge a €35m bid for his services last summer.
Chinese Super League side Guangzhou Evergrande have made a €50 million (£45m/$56.7m) offer for Barcelona forward Malcom, Goal can reveal.
— Goal UK (@GoalUK) January 2, 2019
Full story: https://t.co/QEv4c5OMGp
Although a move for Malcom may sound ambitious from the outset, it's perhaps not as unfeasible as many may think. Everton have been decisive in the transfer market over the past couple of years, and have built up a rapport with the La Liga champions after negotiating a number of deals in the summer.
High profile signing such as former Barça trio Lucas Digne, Yerry Mina and Andre Gomes, as well as Richarlison for a club record fee, have proven that Everton's board are prepared to back Silva by spending big - with the purse strings being monitored by director of football Marcel Brands, who was appointed in the summer.
The Toffees currently sit 11th in the Premier League after a recent down-turn in form, losing four of their last five matches - but they remain firmly in the hunt to be crowned 'best of the rest' as they sit just four points behind seventh placed Leicester.
Source : 90min