Manchester United and Newcastle United have approached Ansu Fati, the leading scorer of a Barcelona youth side that reached the semi-final of last season's UEFA Youth League.
The 16-year-old forward is out of contract at Camp Nou, and could be secured for a minimal transfer fee under FIFA training compensation regulations.
Borussia Dortmund - who have successfully evolved a strategy of recruiting elite academy products such as Christian Pulisic and Jadon Sancho - have already made offers to Ansu, as have Ligue 1 AS Monaco and Nice.
The teenager and his father are understood to be unimpressed with both the financial terms and development pathway offered by Barcelona on a new three-year deal.
Ansu, who will turn 17 in October, feels he is ready to step up to the senior ranks in the coming season and has asked to be promoted to a Barca B team that recently finished eighth in La Liga's Segunda Division B.
Barcelona want the forward to spend another with their under-19 side before making that step up. Primarily playing off the left wing, Ansu started the last six of Barca's UEFA Youth League fixtures scoring four times, including both their goals in a 2-2 semi-final against Chelsea that was ultimately lost in a penalty shoot-out.
In domestic competition, his pace and dribbling ability delivered 15 goals from 26 starts.
Born in Guinea-Bissau then raised in Spain, Ansu has applied for a European Union passport which his father expects to be granted before the end of July. Once those documents have been issued the teenager will be free to take up an offer in the England, France, Germany or Italy.
According to a source close to the player, Ansu's preference would be to continue his career at Barcelona, but only on the right conditions.
Manchester United 's interest in Ansu is indicative of their efforts to improve recruitment at youth level. Senior club executives feel United have fallen behind domestic and European rivals in identifying and securing a class of individual expected to develop into elite Champions League players.
*For further analysis of Premier League interest in Ansu, plus a La Liga transfer-market special with Graham Hunter, please listen to the June 13 edition of The Transfer Window podcast.
