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Manchester City have not yet given up in the race for Jude Bellingham and are working quietly behind the scenes to get him ahead of Real Madrid.

That’s according to AS, who say City are one of the ‘most interested’ in the England star and believe he is ‘necessary’ for next season with Ilkay Gundogan set to leave and Kalvin Phillips struggling to impress.

They have been moving behind the scenes for some time and have ‘gained a lot of weight’ in the market for him of late.

That’s due to Txiki Begiristain and Omar Berrarda, who ‘command respect’ and have been working to sign the player, using Manchester City’s ‘economic muscle’ to ensure they remain in the fight.

They’re not just paying any old sum because they know how to negotiate and move on the market, as they evidenced with the deal to sign Erling Haaland.

In that case they played their cards brilliantly and ended up beating fierce competition to his signature. They believe they can do the same with Bellingham.

This week it was reported that he was close to joining Real Madrid and a deal was basically done but Manchester City have ignored that and are ‘playing their cards from behind’ and not giving up on the deal.

The offers they’ve made to the player and Dortmund are ‘lucrative’ enough to convince all parties and their ‘proposal is on the table’. They are now waiting for the player to make up his mind.