Barça believe Moukoko will either renew with Dortmund or move to Camp Nou
The striker is out of contract in the summer and must make a decision on his future
There are a few days left until the players who are out of contract on June 30 can sign pre-contract agreements with other clubs.
Barcelona, due to financial needs, are very attentive to this market and there are several players that are going to be prioritised in the coming days.
One of them is Youssofa Moukoko, a striker for Borussia Dortmund, who is seen as a real market opportunity. The Blaugrana have advanced negotiations, but will not enter into any bidding war in January or over his salary.
If he wants to play at Camp Nou, he will have to settle for the economic conditions that Barça present him -- and that would likely be inferior to other interested teams.
Moukoko, as 'Bild' revealed, has rejected Borussia Dortmund's latest renewal offer. The German club presented him with a proposal of about €5 million euros per year and a bonus to renew after the end of the contract, but the player's camp does not see it as enough given his progression -- becoming one of the top scorers of the Bundesliga and debuting at a World Cup with Germany despite his young age. Moukoko wanted to continue at Dortmund but it seems that this path has become very complicated.
Barça have been attentive to these negotiations, making it clear to the player that they will bid for him in the summer and not now given the impossibility of registering players due to the salary limit imposed by LaLiga. The idea has always been to sign him in June as a free agent, taking advantage of the player's desire to join them if he does leave. Moukoko has never hidden his predilection for Barça.
The operation was on track, but there are factors that are distorting a possible arrival. Dortmund are starting to realise that they could lose him and would be in favor of selling him in January to collect some financial benefit. Moukoko's camp raised this option with Barça, but the Blaugrana will not bid. The danger is that there are several English clubs that would be willing to accept a transfer now, so Barça could lose out. Chelsea and Liverpool would be the most interested clubs and the striker will have to make a final decision.
Barça have also warned Moukoko that, if he runs his deal down, they do not intend to enter into a bidding war with the English clubs to sign him. The Blaugrana will present a good offer, but according to their economic situation and the age of the player. The player's camp has been demanding about €7 million euros per season, a figure that at Camp Nou they are not willing to match. If Moukoko has a desire of signing for Barça, he must demonstrate it by making an economic effort.
Despite the interference from other clubs and the pressure from Dortmund, at Barça they see the matter well on track and they only fear for the player's sporting demands. Moukoko, at 18, wants a project in which he is the protagonist and at Barça he will have a lot of competition up front. Memphis will not be part of the next project, but Barça have Raphinha, Ferran Torres, Ansu, Lewandowski and Dembélé in attacking positions and it will be difficult to promise minutes if none of them leave in the summer. Moukoko can play in any attacking position and at Barça he would play a lot in all three competitions, but no one guarantees him a starting position.
The race to sign Moukoko is hotting up, with Barça in contention and waiting for the player to make an imminent decision, which could even arrive during the first half of January. Even a new proposal from Dortmund is not ruled out given the quality of the player and, as of today, Barça see him either renewing or playing at Camp Nou next season.
