An update has emerged on Newcastle United and their search to sign a new winger before the end of the January transfer window...

What's the talk?

According to French outlet Foot Mercato, the Magpies are interested in signing Zenit Saint Petersburg attacker Malcom before the window slams shut.

The report claims that the Premier League side have received information from the Russian outfit as Dan Ashworth eyes up a potential swoop for the Brazilian.

It is also stated that Paris Saint-Germain's sporting director, Luis Campos, is a fan of the forward and is looking at him as a possible signing for the French giants.

Allan Saint-Maximin upgrade

Ashworth could land manager Eddie Howe a big upgrade on current Newcastle winger Allan Saint-Maximin by signing Malcom ahead of PSG in the coming days.

In the Premier League this season, the French forward has struggled for starts and has not been producing brilliant performances, or quality end product in the final third, on a regular basis.

These statistics show that the gem, who averaged a Sofascore rating of 6.95 in the top-flight last season, has not been a key player for the club in the 2022/23 campaign thus far, which is why Ashworth could land an upgrade on the underperforming wizard this month.

Malcom has been in phenomenal form for Zenit over the last two seasons and his statistics indicate that the maestro would offer more than Saint-Maximin for Newcastle, if the 25-year-old can translate his form over to English football.

The former Barcelona attacker, who was once hailed as "hugely talented but a bit unrefined" by journalist Ryan Baldi, has averaged a Sofascore rating of 7.86 across 17 appearances in the Russian top-flight this season - scoring 12 goals and providing five assists from out wide.

This comes after the forward averaged a Sofascore rating of 7.58 across 24 outings for Zenit in the 2021/22 campaign. Malcom plundered eight goals and six assists, whilst creating ten 'big chances' and making 2.6 key passes per match, as he consistently made an impact at the top end of the pitch.

Meanwhile, Saint-Maximin, 25, has not managed more than five goals or assists in a single Premier League season since joining the club in the summer of 2019.

This indicates that Malcom, who is the same age as the Frenchman, could be a major upgrade on the current Newcastle winger if he can replicate his success with Zenit at St. James' Park.

The dynamo's incredible form in Russia is eye-catching and suggests that the Brazilian has the quality to be a match-winner on a regular basis for Howe, which could help him to force his way into the starting line-up week-in-week-out - something Saint-Maximin has failed to do this season.