Real Madrid serious contenders in race to beat Man Utd and Man City to Borussia Dortmund star Erling Haaland

REAL MADRID are serious contenders to beat Manchester City and United in the race for superstar Erling Haaland.

The two Prem giants are certain to be in the frame if the 21-year-old striker decides to leave Borussia Dortmund in the summer.

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But the German club have warned the Manchester rivals they face competition from the Bernabeu when bidding does start.

Dortmund chief executive Hans-Joachim Watzke said: “No matter where I go, everyone speaks to you about Erling Haaland.

“All I know is a guarantee that Real Madrid are very interested in him — I could name 25 others.

“It could be that he leaves, but it can also be that he stays.”

City will be on the lookout for a new forward in the summer after they failed to land Harry Kane.

But Haaland’s controversial agent Mino Raiola said it is not impossible for his client to stay in Germany for a further year.

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The Norwegian is believed to have a £68million release clause in his contract for next summer.

Raiola said: “We don’t have a pre-agreement with any club.

“We will look for the best option — and I also never ruled out another year at Dortmund.”

Yet Premier League leaders City are making light of the fact they are operating without a recognised centre forward — banging in 11 goals in their last two matches.

Winger Riyad Mahrez struck his 12th goal of the season in Sunday’s 4-0 win at Newcastle — making him the top scorer in Pep Guardiola’s squad in the current campaign.

The £60million ace said: “At Newcastle, I don’t think we played as we usually do in the first half. It was a bit difficult.

“But we scored the two goals which put us in control of the game. In the second half, we played very well — and we deserved to score even more goals.”

The title has ended up at the Etihad each time they have been top of the table on Christmas Day.

Mahrez added: “I don’t really believe in superstitions and these types of things. I just believe in winning games and trying to be there until the end.

“We just try to take it one game at a time — and then see where we will be.”

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