The Catalan club are increasingly focused on identifying young talent before its value rises sharply, with sporting director Deco and scouting chief João Amaral seeking promising players beyond Barcelona's own academy.
The strategy reflects the club's financial limitations in the transfer market. Rather than competing for established stars at inflated prices, Barcelona hope to recruit talented youngsters early, provide a pathway into senior football and benefit as they develop.
Recent moves for Hamza Abdelkarim and Jesse Bisiwu illustrate the club's interest in emerging prospects. King is another name to have entered their recruitment department's thinking, according to reports in Spain.
The 19-year-old has made a strong impression at Fulham, scoring twice in his first five Premier League appearances this season. His performances have strengthened his standing within the squad and attracted attention from clubs looking for creative midfielders with significant room for improvement.
King joined Fulham's academy at the age of eight and has progressed through the club's development system. His emergence is particularly encouraging for a side that has struggled for consistency during the opening weeks of the campaign.
His development has also brought competition for his signature. Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester United are among the English clubs reported to be monitoring him, while Borussia Dortmund and Atlético Madrid have also been linked with an interest.
Barcelona's approach would depend on whether an opportunity emerged to negotiate a deal that suited both the player and Fulham. The London club are understood to be reluctant to let him leave, with his contract running until 2029.
That agreement gives Fulham considerable control over the midfielder's future, while his increasing involvement in first-team football strengthens their argument for retaining him.
For Barcelona, King would represent a longer-term investment rather than an immediate solution to their first-team requirements. Their recruitment strategy is designed to secure promising players while they are still developing, rather than wait until several clubs are competing for established stars.
However, the Catalan side face a difficult task if Fulham remain determined to keep their academy graduate. Interest from Premier League rivals could also increase the competition for his signature.
King's progress over the coming months will therefore be important in determining whether Barcelona's reported interest develops into a formal approach. For now, the midfielder's performances have put him firmly on the radar of clubs looking to secure the next generation of European footballing talent.