Barcelona have reportedly emerged as contenders to sign in-demand Borussia Dortmund attacker Youssoufa Moukoko.
The 18-year-old is out of contract at the end of the season and is expected to be at the centre of an intense bidding war between several clubs should he leave as a free agent.
As things stand, Moukoko will be able to discuss pre-contract agreements with foreign clubs in January, and his long-term future is shrouded in uncertainty.
Chelsea, Manchester City, Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur have all been linked with a move for the teenager, who was selected for Germany's World Cup squad.
Dortmund are still hopeful of tying Moukoko down to a new contract amid interest from several top European clubs, and Football Transfers claims that Barcelona have now entered the race.
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The report states that the Catalan giants would be open to signing Moukoko on a free transfer, but they are not prepared to splash the cash in January six months before he becomes a free agent.
Moukoko recently told the press that he felt comfortable at Dortmund and rebuffed Manuel Neuer's attempt to persuade him to join Bayern Munich, but he also admitted that Barcelona was his dream destination.
"I told Manuel he didn't have to try. I'd like to stay in Dortmund because I have everything there, but my dream club used to be Barcelona, because of Lionel Messi," the teenager said.
Barcelona have received a further boost after an update from agent Patrick Williams regarding his Dortmund situation, as he told Sky Sports News: "I can confirm that we're currently not closing in on agreement with Borussia Dortmund to sign a new contract."
Moukoko joined Dortmund's famed academy in the summer of 2016, and the striker amassed a staggering 90 goals from 56 matches at Under-17 level before rising through the ranks.
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Moukoko continued his rapid rise in the Under-19 ranks with 47 goals in 25 appearances, and he was quickly promoted to the senior team for the 2020-21 campaign.
The forward became the youngest Bundesliga player in history when he came on for his debut against Hertha Berlin on November 21, 2020, doing so at the age of 16 years and one day.
Moukoko has scored 11 goals and set up eight more in 59 senior appearances for Dortmund, including a respectable six strikes and four assists from 14 Bundesliga outings this season.
The former St Pauli youngster made his senior debut for Germany in a friendly against Oman in November before the World Cup, and he came on for the final minute of Die Mannschaft's opening 2-1 loss to Japan in Group E.
Moukoko was then an unused substitute in subsequent matches with Spain and Costa Rica, as Germany were knocked out in the group stage for the second time in a row.
Ben Knapton
