Zenit Saint Petersburg's president and director general Alexander Metvedev has confirmed the club's interest in signing Malcom from Barcelona.
"Negotiations for Malcom are advanced with Barcelona and we're going through an active and decisive phase," he told Fontanka.
However, the report adds that Metvedev feels Barça's request for 40 million euros is "a number a long way from reality."
The Russian league leaders want to boost their attack by signing the Brazilian, who Barrça are prepared to let go despite signing him only a year ago.
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Malcom is happy to leave in search of regular football, something Ernesto Valverde's not given him at Camp Nou.