Malcom Reportedly Asks to Leave Barcelona in January Amid Arsenal, Spurs Rumours

Barcelona winger Malcom has reportedly "asked to leave the club in January" if his situation at the Camp Nou does not improve.

According to Mundo Deportivo's Ferran Martinez (h/t MailOnline's Ben Nagle), the Brazilian is unhappy with the amount of playing time he has received since he arrived in the summer, and he has spoken to manager Ernesto Valverde about his future at the club.

Should the 21-year-old seek a way out in January, it's said Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur are among those interested in signing him, along with Roma and Inter Milan.

Barca hijacked Roma's move for Malcom in the summer and snapped him up in a €41 million (£36.5 million) deal.

He has played just twice thus far, though, at a total of 25 minutes on the pitch.

In his talks with Valverde, it's said he asked how to improve to change that situation, and he was told by the coach that he was "training well, his behaviour was professional and there was nothing negative to say."

Malcom was perhaps a poorly thought-out acquisition from the Blaugrana, as he ostensibly operates from the right wing. Given Lionel Messi occupies that slot in Barca's front three, he has found himself competing with Ousmane Dembele and sometimes Philippe Coutinho for time on the opposite flank.

Occasionally, Valverde has gone with another option entirely, per Grup 14's Rafael Hernandez and ESPN's Samuel Marsden:

The Brazilian is a promising talent who caught the eye last year as he notched 12 goals and eight assists in all competitions for Bordeaux.

He can beat defenders with pace and guile, and he has shown he can make incisive contributions in the final third. It seems he might have several suitors to choose from if he does move on.