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Wenger: Arsenal not preparing Malcom bid

Arsenal hope to be active in the transfer window but are not preparing a bid for Bordeaux forward Malcom, according to manager Arsene Wenger.

The former Corinthians attacker has been linked with a move to Emirates Stadium after impressing for Les Girondins, having arrived in Ligue 1 from Brazil in January 2016.

"Malcom is a good player but nothing is happening. We are not on that case at the moment," he told a news conference on Friday.

With midfielder Francis Coquelin having joined Valencia on Thursday and forwards Alexis Sanchez and Theo Walcott expected to leave, the manager acknowledged reinforcements could be required in the coming weeks. 

"I don't rule it out - at the back, in midfield or upfront," he said.

"We are open, we are in the market, we are active, but I don't want to give you news I can't confirm after. In this transfer market it's very difficult."

Sanchez and playmaker Mesut Ozil are out of contract at the end of the season, leaving Arsenal potentially set to lose one or both of the key players cheaply this month or for free in June.

Wenger, though, insists the situation could not have been handled differently. 

"I don't regret it," he said. "If you cannot give the players what they want, they won't sign a new deal.

"It is something you cannot change."