Chelsea ahead of Man Utd and Barcelona in Moukoko race

Stuart Telford

• Updated: 23 May 2023 09:00 CDT
• 3 min read

Chelsea have reportedly pulled in front of Manchester United and Barcelona in the race to sign Borussia Dortmund and Germany youngster Youssoufa Moukoko.

Moukoko is available on a free transfer next summer after Dortmund apparently dropped the ball on the 18-year-old striker's contract.

BVB have sold Jadon Sancho and Erling Haaland to Manchesters United and City in consecutive summers for a combined €145 million, and reportedly want a similar fee to part ways with Jude Bellingham, the England midfielder who is under contract until 2025.

READ: Come for free or not at all: Barca's message to Moukoko

But they don't enjoy the same bargaining position with Moukoko, the striker only offered a three-year deal on turning pro in 2020 before his meteoric rise.

Man Utd and Barca are among those keeping tabs, but Chelsea look like the favourites to sign him.

"It's clear that a lot of top clubs are asking about Moukoko and are keen on him as he is available on a free transfer in the summer and is a bargain," says Sky Germany journalist Marc Behrenbeck.

"We hear that Chelsea are the closest. There have already been negotiations and talks. More clubs Manchester United, Liverpool, Barcelona and Newcastle are on the list, but Chelsea is the hottest, the others aren't ready yet."

READ: Chelsea’s best free transfers of all time

First-team minutes

Moukoko admitted at the World Cup - where he became Germany's youngest ever player - that Barcelona were his dream club growing up, owing in large part to his admiration for fellow left-footed attacker Lionel Messi.

But Barca couldn't promise him first-team football straight away with Robert Lewandowski their undisputed first choice No.9. There would be no such issue at Chelsea, where Kai Havertz, the incumbent in the position, has only scored three Premier League goals this season.

United also have space at the point of their attack for now, but Moukoko could find himself competing with any of Victor Osimhen, Dusan Vlahovic or Goncalo Ramos with new owners inbound at Old Trafford and expected to spend big once installed.