Manchester City striker Erling Braut Haaland has reportedly pleaded with Borussia Dortmund's Jude Bellingham to join him at the Etihad Stadium.
Speculation surrounding the future of 19-year-old England international Bellingham is hotting up ahead of an expected bidding war in the summer of 2023.
Real Madrid are believed to be at the head of the queue to sign the former Birmingham City youngster, but interest from the Premier League is also rife.
Liverpool, Man City and Manchester United are all reported to be in the race for Bellingham's services, and the Reds are already rumoured to have made an offer for the midfielder.
However, Man City are supposedly hoping that Haaland's strong relationship with Bellingham will work in their favour, with the pair becoming good friends during their time at Dortmund.
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According to CBS Sports - via The Mirror - Haaland has now urged his former teammate to follow in his footsteps and don the sky blue shirt as Pep Guardiola's side aim to win the race for his services.
The two youngsters struck up a strong on and off-field relationship at Westfalenstadion before Haaland left in the summer of this year after amassing 86 goals in 89 games for the Bundesliga club.
The Norway international has continued his prolific form with the Premier League champions, already bagging 14 goals in all competitions, 11 of which have come in the Premier League.
Meanwhile, Bellingham has now racked up a century of appearances for Borussia Dortmund at his tender age, coming up with 13 goals and 18 assists in the process.
The England international scored his side's only goal in a 2-1 Champions League loss to Man City earlier this month, and he was seen in conversation with Haaland at the final whistle following the 22-year-old's acrobatic winner.
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Bellingham's contract with Borussia Dortmund is due to expire in 2025, but the Black and Yellows are expected to lose him next summer after battling hard to keep hold of him for the 2022-23 campaign.
Despite the temptation of returning to his homeland, Bellingham is said to favour a move to Real Madrid in 2023, and a fee of £83m will allegedly be enough if paid upfront in one go.
Should an interested party instead opt for a long-term payment plan, Dortmund are thought to be holding out for a mammoth fee of €150m (£135.5m) after paying just £22.5m to acquire his services from Birmingham in 2020.
Bellingham played the full 90 for England in their recent Nations League fixtures against Italy and Germany, winning the penalty which Harry Kane converted in a 3-3 draw against the latter on Monday.
The teenager - who has won one DFB-Pokal with Dortmund so far - is expected to be named in Gareth Southgate's squad for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
Ben Knapton
