Newcastle United make ‘substantial verbal’ offer for Chelsea and Barcelona target as talks are opened

Newcastle United have reportedly made a ‘substantial verbal approach’ for Borussia Dortmund wonderkid Youssoufa Moukoko.

The highly-rated forward made club history when he was handed his senior debut at the age of just 16 years and one day when he came off the bench to replace Erling Haaland in a 5-2 win at Hertha Berlin in November. Still only 18-years-old, the Cameroon-born youngster has already made over a half-century of appearances for Dortmund and earned a maiden call-up to the Germany squad for the World Cup Finals in November.

After making his debut in a pre-finals friendly against Oman, Moukoko made just one appearance in Qatar as Hansi Flick’s side suffered an embarrassing group stage defeat - and the youngster also had to deal with speculation over his future during the tournament as he heads into the final months of his current deal with the Bundesliga side.

Speaking in Qatar, Moukoko said: “I haven’t spoken to Hansi Flick (Germany national team manager) about it at all yet. But then again, we’re not at BVB, we’re here with the national team at a World Cup. I feel very comfortable in Dortmund, I feel the confidence of the coach. You’ll find out in the end whether I decide to stay or not.”

Talks over an extended contract with Dortmund are yet to reach a successful conclusion and a whole host of European football’s biggest clubs are said to be monitoring the situation.

Chelsea and Barcelona have been heavily linked with a move for the forward but the Evening Standard have now claimed Newcastle have opened discussions over a possible £150,000-a-week deal to bring the youngster to St James Park during the summer. The report also reveals Dortmund are ‘struggling to reach’ Moukoko’s wage demands and describes Newcastle as ‘well-placed’ to beat their Premier League rivals to his signature.