Real Madrid 'FEIGN interest in Haaland to drive up the price for their rivals

Real Madrid are fabricating transfer interest in Erling Haaland to drive up the price for other prospective buyers, according to reports.

Borussia Dortmund star Haaland is one of the most sought-after players in world football after scoring an astonishing 33 goals in just 32 matches in all competitions this season.

Sportsmail reported last week that the Norwegian striker was keen to play at the Bernabeu as his agent Mino Raiola looked to facilitate a £154million summer move.

But according to Eurosport, the Spanish giants are not pursuing his signature due to what they feel are extortionate costs demanded by Raiola and are simply feigning interest in Haaland.

Raiola and the 20-year-old's father Alf-Inge, formerly of Manchester City, were present in Barcelona last week to discuss a move to Real's historic rivals.

It is understood Madrid are at the end of their tether with the Italian agent after several unsuccessful attempts to sign his players, including Paul Pogba and Gianluigi Donnarumma.

Late in negotiations, Raiola insisted on a £25million commission to seal the Pogba deal with an agreement already close, while the AC Milan goalkeeper's demands were considered exorbitant even for a club their size.

Los Blancos boss Zinedine Zidane and president Florentino Perez are instead focusing on the signing of Paris Saint-Germain forward Kylian Mbappe, one of the putative two best players in the world in future, alongside Haaland.

Barcelona, meanwhile, will hope the signing of Haaland could persuade talisman Lionel Messi to stay at the Nou Camp to make up a mouthwatering forward line, despite the Argentine's contract expiring at the end of the season.