Ratcliffe set to strike Dortmund deal for much-hyped wonderkid

Manchester United owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe is set to complete a major transfer coup by signing Borussia Dortmund attacker Youssouf Moukoko for Nice.

The INEOS supremo is the owner of both clubs and is set to bolster his injury-hit Ligue 1 outfit by snapping up the 19-year-old forward from Dortmund.

Nice are poised to secure the services of the teenager one a one-year loan deal that will have a purchase option attached to it.

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Moukoko has previously been linked with a string of major clubs since breaking onto the scene as a 14-year-old, when he famously scored six times for Dortmund’s U19 team on debut.

He has since struggled to live up to that billing in senior football but still managed to net six times in 27 outings for BVB last season.

The hope is that a loan move to Nice might reinvigorate his young career, with Manchester United doubtless poised to keep an eye on his progress at the Allianz Riviera should the move be finalised.

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Man Utd and Nice: A complicated relationship

Deals between Man Utd and Nice have been outlawed by UEFA this summer as the connection between the two clubs is studied by European football’s governing body. This is especially pertinent to United, who could not have played in the Europa League this term without this agreement.

United were unable to land Jean-Clair Todibo for this reason, but in future years they will target the type of relationship that Chelsea have with Strasbourg, in which they are able to loan out players as a development exercise.

Equally, there is the possibility of players moving in the opposite direction, with Moukoko a candidate to leave for the Premier League club should he impress during this campaign with Franck Haise’s side – assuming, of course, the political red tape has been cut through by next summer.