Real Madrid remain hopeful of signing Erling Haaland from Manchester CityCredit: Alamy

Haaland enjoyed his time on and off the pitch with pal Jude Bellingham at Borussia DortmundCredit: Getty

Bellingham and Haaland remain good friends having played together at Borussia Dortmund for a couple of years until the forward left for the Etihad in summer 2022.

And Madrid want to take advantage of that as they look to turn the head of City’s 23-year-old superstar.

Mundo Deportivo and SER also say they will use similar tactics to the ones that proved so successful in signing Bellingham in the summer.

That plan is to work in the background with Haaland’s agents to put some groundwork in place – avoiding direct negotiations with the player himself and City.

So when it becomes clear a deal can be done they will be in pole position to win his signature.

Haaland is believed to have release clauses his contract at the Etihad although the exact nature of them has never been confirmed.

City agreed to insert them after landing him for a knockdown price of £51.4million from Dortmund 18 months ago.

Despite all the noise from Spain, the Treble winners are convinced Haaland is happy where he is after a sensational start to his career in England.

They would also like to sit down and thrash out a new contract with him in the coming months.

Madrid are certain to be watching closely.

Their top priority is finding a way to land Kylian Mbappe from Paris Saint Germain but Haaland is very much on their radar.

Bellingham has made an immediate impact at the BernabeuCredit: Reuters