Bundesliga
Moukoko has "goalscoring gene" says Watzke
Borussia Dortmund CEO Hans-Joachim Watzke says Youssoufa Moukoko has the "goalscoring gene", and has backed the teen sensation to make a first-team impact once he turns 16 later this month.
Moukoko has already been smashing records at youth level for several years, netting 13 goals in just four games for Dortmund's U19 team this season.
Capped by Germany at U20 level earlier this year, the prodigious centre forward will be eligible to play for the 1997 European champions when he celebrates his birthday on November 20.
That means Moukoko could potentially make his Bundesliga debut a day later during BVB's Matchday 8 trip to Hertha Berlin, with Watzke certain that Dortmund have a natural goalscorer on their hands.
"It doesn’t matter whether you're scoring three or four goals for the U19s," Watzke told Sky in Germany. "If you're doing it regularly, you have the gene at some point."
Watzke said it will be up to BVB coach Lucien Favre whether Moukoko is thrown in straightaway, although he stressed that the club would have to be careful not to "overload" such a young player.
Moukoko, though, is already captain of Dortmund's U19 side, and - after taking part in pre-season training with the first team - he was included on their squad list for this season’s UEFA Champions League.
Erling Haaland is the only out-and-out striker in Dortmund's senior team at the moment, and Watzke is optimistic about Moukoko's chances of providing some cover for the Norwegian.
"It's ideal," the 61-year-old said. "Erling generally plays there, and if there's a possibility that he maybe needs a break, then perhaps the coach will try out Youssoufa."
Watch: Haaland has been impressed by Moukoko
Haaland, of course, is still only 20 years of age himself. The former Salzburg star, who has 11 goals in all competitions this season, is already a big admirer of Moukoko.
"Moukoko is much better than I was at his age," the Norway international said in pre-season. "I have never seen such a good 15-year-old in my life."
Moukoko, who scored 38 times in 28 games in his debut campaign with the U19s last season, would be the latest in a long line of talented teenagers to make the breakthrough at Dortmund. American attacker Christian Pulisic is a famous recent academy graduate, while England winger Jadon Sancho was also given his chance by the five-time Bundesliga winners at a young age. Two 17-year-olds, Gio Reyna and Jude Bellingham, have both been regulars in the first team this term.