Barcelona have given Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur a huge boost in the transfer tussle over Youssoufa Moukoko. The Borussia Dortmund striker is in very high demand for 2023.
That is according to Sport, which reports Barcelona are only interested in signing Moukoko for free. The German is out of contract at the Westfalenstadion on June 30 but Camp Nou chiefs will not bid beforehand. Instead, they hope to bide their time for the summer sales.
Moukoko is not currently close to signing a new contract with Borussia Dortmund, the club he has been with since 2016. The 18-year-old’s agent is asking for a salary of around €5-6m per annum (£84k-100k-a/w). But BVB chiefs are very from rising to demands in that region.
Chelsea are strong contenders to Liverpool and Tottenham for Moukoko’s transfer
So, with Borussia Dortmund reluctant to match Moukoko’s request, the striker has hit the transfer lists of Europe’s elite clubs. Chelsea are emerging as a strong contender to secure the two-cap German’s signature. The Blues have also already put forward a likely contract.
Barcelona, too, are interested and know Moukoko wants to resolve his future quickly. But Camp Nou chiefs hope he ignores any pressure Borussia Dortmund may put on the striker to renew his terms or leave for a fee in January so that they can sign him for free in June.
Only if Moukoko becomes a free agent will the La Liga outfit target a deal for the rising star of German football. The Catalan giants believe the striker is open to joining the club but he should make an effort to. So, Barcelona hope he will hold out and join them next summer.
Premier League clubs could target a deal with Borussia Dortmund in January
Premier League clubs may target a deal with Borussia Dortmund in the January window to avoid missing out, though. Sport Bild has reported that Liverpool and Manchester United are interested in a deal for Moukoko. But any mid-season move would cost €30m (£26m).
BVB can point to interest elsewhere in England to secure a sizable fee for a forward who is out of contract in June. The Daily Mail also cites Liverpool’s interest but it adds Newcastle United as a possible option for Moukoko. Further, it cites Chelsea as holding talks already.
Tottenham are yet another potential landing spot for Moukoko in England, as per CBS’ Ben Jacobs. He claims Spurs and Liverpool are ‘big admirers’ of the teenager, while Manchester United are mulling a winter raid. So, Barcelona are very much at risk of missing out on him.
Clubs are willing to pay to sign Moukoko early as they do not want to run the risk that the Blaugrana appear happy to. The former FC St Pauli prospect, whom Axel Witsel has called ‘brilliant’, boasts 11 goals and eight assists in 59 first-team games with Dortmund already.
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