Ousmane Dembele once asked Manchester United star Anthony Martial about life at Old Trafford, according to reports.
The Barcelona forward has emerged as a transfer target for United, as they struggle to complete a deal for top target Jadon Sancho.
United missed Dortmund's August 10 deadline to make an acceptable offer for £108million-rated Sancho, and were told by club chief Michael Zorc that a transfer is now off the table.
The Red Devils will remain in pursuit of the England international, who is currently training with his Dortmund team-mates in Switzerland ahead of the new Bundesliga season.
But United are also looking at alternatives, and Dembele is in the mix.
The France international completed a £135m move from Dortmund to Barcelona in 2017 as a replacement for Neymar, but has struggled for form in his three years in Spain.
As a result he's regularly been linked with a move away, and according to reports from Spain in August this year, Dembele made contact with Martial.
It is not known what the compatriots discussed, but Dembele is believed to have asked Martial about life at Old Trafford ahead of a possible move.
Barcelona are keen to reduce their wage bill this summer and Dembele would be allowed to leave for the right price.
The Catalan giants boast the biggest wage bill of any team in the world, and are suffering financially after being hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic.
Philippe Coutinho is another big-name player who could leave Barcelona this month.
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