Borussia Dortmund have identified Gianluca Scamacca as a potential replacement for Erling Haaland should he leave the Bundesliga giants this summer.
Haaland has become one of the most sought after strikers in the world and has been linked with moves to PSG, Barcelona and Real Madrid.
Therefore, Dortmund are preparing for the star's departure and have reportedly submitted an opening bid to Sassuolo to purchase their goalscorer.
According to La Gazzetta dello Sport, Borussia Dortmund have their sights set on Scamacca as a potential replacement for Haaland.
The Bundesliga side have placed a formal £38million bid to secure his services during the January transfer window.
However, the deal would see him finish the 2021-2022 campaign on loan at the Mapei Stadium.
Speaking about Scamacca's future at Sassuolo, the club's CEO Giovanni Carnevali said: 'There were some calls from Italy.
'But mainly from abroad, because there isn't much possibility for investment in the Italian clubs at the moment.
Carnevali went on to say: 'Fortunately, the had been the overseas market too.'
Haaland's future has not yet been determined. However, Dortmund are pushing him to make a decision.
Earlier this month Haaland said: ''[For] The last six months I have chosen not to say anything out of respect for Borussia Dortmund, but now the club has started pressing me into making a decision.
'All I want to do is to play football, but they [Dortmund] press me to make a decision now about my future [...] So that means I have to make a decision soon.'
While Dortmund CEO Hans-Joachim Watzke admitted that it will be difficult for the Bundesliga giants to hold onto Haaland in the summer.
Watzke said in an interview with Der Spiegel, as per Marca: 'Who would give one of the best strikers in Europe away in the winter market if they didn't have to?
'He will not leave in January. Dortmund is still in three competitions and we want to compete with the best teams.
'Of course it'll be difficult to retain him. However, we want to and we'll try. Haaland will not leave in January, but in summer it will be difficult to keep him.'