Fulham coach Jean Tigana is planning a link-up with one of the top youth academies in France in preparation for the first-division champions' debut Premiership season.
The partnership with Le Havre could bring to west London several of the France side who have reached Sunday's final of the Under-16 European Championship.
Tigana is hopeful that his friendship with Le Havre manager Jean Francois Domergue will speed the deal through this summer.
"It is true, my friend Doudou and I are planning to collaborate," he said.
"Le Havre have one of the best French football academies and Jean Francois was impressed with our structure at Fulham when he came to visit.
"Such a collaboration is a question of who signs the deal and of cooperation. Le Havre already have the staff, people like Domergue, who can make things go forward.
"It would be good for Le Havre's young players to have their chance in the Premier League, but it would also be good for Fulham if Le Havre got promoted to the top flight in France again.
"We just have to convince the Fulham management, who doubt the value of signing such a contract," added the former France midfielder.
The London side's bosses are thought to be wary because a similar arrangement between Arsenal and Saint-Etienne has not resulted in great benefits for either club.
But Normandy side Le Havre have a youth set-up that is the envy of many bigger clubs and Tigana is aware that Arsenal and Manchester United are also on the trail of some of their most-gifted youngsters.
Kevin Debris, Anthony Le Tallec and Florent Sinama Pongolle have been among the most impressive performers in the Under-16 European Championship, which climaxes at the Stadium of Light, Sunderland, this weekend.
France are hot favourites to lift the trophy after hammering England 4-0 in the semi-final at St James' Park in front of over 30,000 fans.
They silenced the home fans with two swift goals, the first a spectacular bicycle kick by Le Tallec and the second a jinking run and shot by Pongolle. Le Tallec added another with a looping header into the top corner.
After the match, England coach Dick Bate said: "France set the standard in youth football and we saw the levels we must aspire to.
"They are athletic, technically excellent and have a fantastic football education. Conceding two early goals gave us a mountain to climb, but France are a wonderful team."
Source onefootball