TalkSport pundit Ray Parlour thinks that Manchester City could well be Erling Haaland’s landing spot come the summer transfer window.
Manchester City have been operating for the vast majority of the season without a recognised, natural centre forward, with Pep Guardiola instead operating with a ‘false 9’ and players like Raheem Sterling, Bernardo Silva and Jack Grealish all taking their turns in leading the line.
It hasn’t done them much harm so far, but you do wonder what kind of difference an out and out number 9 would bring to the side, and that’s where Haaland comes in.
Some reports last summer claimed that the Norwegian forward was a potential option to replace the departed Sergio Aguero, and with a record of 41 goals in 41 games in 2020/21, and 23 in 20 so far this season it’s easy to see why any club in the world would want to bring him on board.
Speaking on TalkSport (0:11), Parlour claimed that the 21-year-old Haaland would be firmly in Manchester City’s sights once again come the summer, and that he would be able to perfectly fit into the current side, and could even get better under Guardiola’s wing:
“He’ll be top of their list. He would be brilliant for the Premier League, he’d be well suited, his pace, his strength, his goal-scoring ability, he’d a great signing.
“I don’t know what the clause in his contract is, €75m or something like that, so I’m sure Manchester City would be over the moon if they can get him for that sort of price.
“But it’d be down to, I think his father will have a big say in where he goes as well. I know that lots of clubs will been for him I know that, but it’s just where he picks to go forward. Imagine that he will improve under Pep Guardiola surely.”
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As Parlour hints at his dad, former City player Alf-Inge Haaland, could play a major part in where he ends up, and you’d imagine that Manchester City are hoping that any sort of help in getting him to the Etihad will be greatly appreciated from them.
Given the number of clubs that could be taking their chances in signing him, you would imagine they will need every little advantage that they can get.
If Manchester City are able to bring Haaland in during the summer, and add him to a side that is already beginning to pull away when it comes to the Premier League title race, barring a drastic drop off in form associated with struggling to adapt to the Premier League, you would imagine that they would be a pretty unstoppable force next season both domestically and abroad.
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