Frank Lampard tried to sign Erling Haaland during his first spell in charge of Chelsea (Picture: Getty)

Frank Lampard admits he’s not surprised by Erling Haaland’s record breaking goalscoring heroics for Manchester City and confirmed he tried to sign him for Chelsea.

The Norway international has amassed a scarcely comprehensible 52 goals already over the course of an astonishing first season in English football which could yet culminate in an historic treble.

Haaland endured a rare off night in front of goal against Real Madrid in midweek but it made little difference as City swept to a sensational 4-0 win over Real Madrid which saw Pep Guardiola’s relentless winning machine book their place in next month’s Champions League final.

Victory, meanwhile, over Chelsea on Sunday would be enough to confirm a fifth Premier League title in six seasons, but it could have been a very different story had Lampard been able to entice Haaland to Stamford Bridge during his first spell in charge of the club.

‘It’s fantastic from him, the Chelsea side is another story,’ said Lampard at his pre-match press conference. ‘He’s a player I tried to bring to Chelsea, his level at that point was very clear.

Erling Haaland has enjoyed a sensational first season in England (Picture: Getty)

‘Credit to him, I love seeing players at that level with the hunger to be the best and in terms of dealing with him, you have to have a plan. I’m sure the players have a good awareness of him.

‘I don’t know if he would have decided to come anyway but I was a big fan. I was pushing big, he was the outstanding one.

‘From our point, I was pushing it, I’m not sure what the appetite was elsewhere. The competition was big, I think there was a buyout clause that was relatively reasonable maybe considering the player. I don’t know the details.’

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Asked if Haaland could be compared to Premier League legend and a former teammate of Lampard’s, Didier Drogba, the interim Chelsea boss added: ‘I couldn’t compare him to Didier.

‘But Didier had that impact over a long period of time. Haaland’s impact has been more instant.

‘I don’t think it’s a direct comparison but they’re both great strikers.’

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The Norway international’s goals have fired Manchester City to the brink of the treble.