FC Barcelona have managed to beat Chelsea and Borussia Dortmund to the signature of highly-rated Senegalese wonderkid Mikayil Faye according to transfer market expert Fabrizio Romano.

Romano reported the news on Sunday evening, explaining that the Catalans "are set to sign top talented centre back Mikayil Faye from NK Kustosija" in the Croatian second division with the "deal done".

Romano adds that the 2004-born talent has been linked to Chelsea and Borussia Dortmund, and Barca will believe that they have pulled off an enormous coup while viewing Faye as a "potential top player".

Of those two European rival clubs, perhaps pipping Borussia Dortmund to the post is most important given the knack the Germans have of picking up future stars for a pittance and then selling them on for a premium as most recently seen with the sales of Erling Haaland to Manchester City and Jude Bellingham to Real Madrid.

Likewise in 2017, Barca bought Ousmane Dembele for €105 million ($113 million) plus add-ons from BVB who had paid Rennes a mere €15 million ($16 million) for his services according to ESPN.

Faye will cost far less, with the Blaugrana having reportedly agreed on a €5 million ($5.4 million) fee plus add-ons deal, which will be signed soon, for the defender.

Director of football Mateu Alemany, who is likely behind the deal, will hope that it is a bargain echoing those of Pedri - for whom Barca paid an identical sum to Las Palmas in 2019 - but also, primarily, Ronald Araujo.

The Uruguayan cost a measly €5.2 million ($5.6 million) from Boston River in his homeland in 2018 and has since become one of the best center backs in the world.

Faye will seek to echo his trajectory, and one day partner the man tipped to be team captain in the coming years while seeing off positional competition from Jules Kounde and Andreas Christensen.

Furthermore, Faye can also operate at left back which should keep La Masia graduate Alejandro Balde on his toes if Faye fulfils his potential in the post-Jordi Alba era.

Though yet to represent his country at senior level, Faye has been a regular Senegal U17 international who made appearances at competitions such as the World Cup.

If joining Barca this summer, Faye - just as Araujo was - will likely be sent to cut his teeth in the reserve team known as FC Barcelona Atletic first.