Manchester United have pulled out of the race to sign Borussia Dortmund hotshot Erling Haaland, according to reports, as they have accepted the player wants to join Real Madrid this summer.

The Norwegian forward is expected to leave Dortmund this summer with a £64million release clause set to be available for clubs to activate later this year.

With 79 goals in 78 games in his two years at Signal Iduna Park, Haaland is set to be targeted by some of the top clubs in the world, with the likes of Manchester City, Chelsea, Real and Barcelona all linked with the 21-year-old.

But according to ESPN, Man United will not be making a move for the Norwegian this summer and will target other strikers after hearing Haaland’s first choice is Spanish giants Real.

United currently have Cristiano Ronaldo, Edinson Cavani, Anthony Martial, Marcus Rashford, Anthony Elanga and Mason Greenwood as their striker options – but all of them bar the latter three have been linked with a move with a move away from Old Trafford.

Carlo Ancelotti’s Real are also interested in signing PSG attacker Kylian Mbappe alongside Haaland this season, with the Spanish giants seeing two bids for the French World Cup winner rejected last summer.

Meanwhile, Haaland himself has complained about the pressure put on by current club Dortmund to either sign a new contract at the club or make a decision on what his next club is.

‘The last six months I have chosen not to say anything out of respect for Borussia Dortmund,’ Haaland told Norwegian broadcaster Viasat this month. ‘But now the club has started pressing me into making a decision.

‘All I want to do is to play football, but they (Dortmund) are pressing me to make a decision now about my future. So that means I have to make a decision soon.’

However, Dortmund sporting director Michael Zorc has responded to Haaland’s comments by insisting Dortmund are yet to open talks with the player, leaving them confused by his recent claim.

‘Erling’s statements surprised us a bit,’ the Dortmund chief told Kicker. ‘There is currently no deadline, no deadlines, and there have not even been any discussions.

‘But that we want and have to have talks at some point is clear, understandable and only professional.’