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Tottenham could splash a club-record fee to land Malcom from Barcelona in January, according to Sport via SportWitness.

What's the word?

Mauricio Pochettino is braced for a busy transfer period in January in a situation that could be the polar opposite of the summer window when Tottenham failed to add a single new addition to their squad in North London.

Targets are starting to be identified ahead of the mid-season window and Sport via SportWitness claim that Tottenham could offer Barcelona €50m (£44m) for the services of Malcom after his difficult start to life in Catalonia.

The Brazilian starlet arrived from Bordeaux in the summer but has earned just 25 minutes of LaLiga action for Ernesto Valverde's side, raising the possibility of a departure when the window reopens.

Could it happen?

Tottenham certainly need additional depth in their attacking areas in the quest to get their Champions League campaign back on track and ensure they remain above arch-rivals Arsenal in the hunt for a top-four finish but these reports should be taken with a hefty pinch of salt.

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Neither Pochettino or Tottenham have a record of splashing the cash on a single player in the transfer market and it is difficult to see that changing in January, especially as the club could be restricted by financial implications after their stadium move.

On top of this, there is no guarantee Malcom would earn regular minutes at the club amidst competition with the likes of Son Heung-Min, Lucas Moura and Erik Lamela - and £44m is a monstrous sum for a squad player.