What will Erling Haaland offer Manchester City?

It’s looking more and more likely that Erling Haaland will be a Premier League player next season. The 21-year-old, who has a £75 million release clause that activates in June for current side Borussia Dortmund, will be one of the hottest properties in world football if he is to leave the Signal Iduna Park, with Manchester City offering the Norwegian £500,000 a week for his signature.

City endured a difficult few transfer windows yet still possess one of the strongest squads in the country. Losing Ferran Torres to Barcelona in January meant they only had 17 outfield players in the first team after failing to secure Harry Kane from Tottenham Hotspur. We shouldn’t sympathise with City though, these are expensive players that Pep Guardiola has at his disposal and with their usual transfer war chest, expect a move for Haaland to be all but inevitable.

Currently favourites to win the Premier League in the online sports betting, Guardiola will want a side that can compete on all fronts next season, but was quick to shut down any rumours of a successful move for Haaland so far.

“[I have] no answer to your question,” he said, “I have no concern or business in my head right now to think about what is going to happen in this club next season.”

If Haaland does complete a move to the Etihad, the league looks to be a foregone conclusion. His blend of pace and power would be perfectly tailored to the league and he could be the final piece in Pep’s puzzle, and with his father Alf-Inge already having played for City, the wheels look to be in motion. Read on, as we look at Erling Haaland will bring to City.

Goal threat

Despite a season that has been overshadowed by niggling injuries, Haaland has still managed 18 goals in 20 Bundesliga games for Dortmund. It shows he has an eye for goal even at a young age, something that will only develop under Guardiola. Although the transition from Germany to England is certainly not a seamless one — both Jadon Sancho and Naby Keïta initially struggled after big moves — when you surround the Norwegian with better creative players it’s always likely he’ll convert those chances.

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City have been lacking a recognised number nine this season, but if the move does go through it means they can play Phil Foden in his more familiar midfield role and rely less on Raheem Sterling and Gabriel Jesus to find the back of the net.

A different option in Europe

You only have to look at Haaland’s goalscoring record in the Champions League to know he is the real deal. Sergio Agüero failed to be the difference maker last season when City reached their first ever final, and bringing in a player with 21 goals in 17 matches in Europe’s senior competition could be exactly what they need if they fail to reach Paris this year against Real Madrid.

At six foot four, Haaland can play as a target man and link play when trying to break down a low block, but has also demonstrated his pace to run in behind for counter attacks when City find themselves up against it in big away games.

Bags of potential

In retrospect, missing out on Kane could well prove to be a blessing in disguise for City. While the Spurs talisman would have been a great short-term solution, it would otherwise paper over cracks briefly, with Haaland seven years younger and commanding at least £25 million less on his price tag. Haaland could potentially be the main man at the Etihad for the next 10 years and regardless of Guardiola’s situation in the future, he and Foden should surely be the players City are building their next team around.

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