Signing Erling Haaland was the top priority on every to-do list of the world’s most prestigious clubs in 2022. Indeed, the Norwegian wunderkind had captured the attention of the most prestigious teams around the globe after setting the Bundesliga alight over the past 30 months. Needless to say, the summer of 2022 was always going to be a decisive time for every interested club as Haaland’s contractual release clause came into effect.
Perhaps unsurprisingly given his father’s ties to the club, Manchester City were able to win the race for Haaland’s signature which means that the 21-year-old will be plying his trade in the Premier League next season. In many respects, Haaland’s addition to what is already one of the best teams to ever compete in England’s top flight is worrying for fans who are concerned that the club could run away with the league over the next five years. This fear is especially valid when one examines the latest Premier League betting and sees that City are at 1/33 to win back-to-back league titles in 2022.
With this in mind, punters can be certain that the Premier League tips for the upcoming 2022/2023 season will back City to make it a hat-trick of titles after reaching a deal to purchase the goal-scoring machine that is Haaland. However, is this a realistic prospect, and could there be an argument to be made about Pep Guardiola’s side actually getting weaker with the Norweigan leading the line?
▪️ Youngest and fastest to 20 UCL goals
▪️ Youngest to score in five consecutive UCL games
▪️ First to score 25 goals in 25 Bundesliga games
▪️ Youngest to 50 Bundesliga goalsNext up for Erling Haaland: the Premier League 😈
(via @ChampionsLeague)pic.twitter.com/vK1pfe6Vie
— B/R Football (@brfootball) May 9, 2022
It’s an easy point to immediately dismiss given how prolific City’s new acquisition has been in his career up until now but it’s important to keep in mind that the forward will no longer be afforded the same luxury as he was at Borussia Dortmund. Essentially, the 21-year-old will be deployed a lot deeper and prevented from making the trademark runs off a defender’s shoulder as he does in Germany. At least, Haaland’s starting position will have to be deeper in order to fulfill the pressing duties that Guardiola demands of all his players.
There will, of course, be many opportunities for Haaland to get in the box when he’s at City but the onus will be on him to contribute toward the team’s famed link-up play beforehand. Naturally, you suspect that a player of Haaland’s undeniable quality will be able to fall in line with what Guardiola asks of his team but it will take some time to adapt. Tellingly, we’re yet to see the best of Jack Grealish after his summer transfer from Aston Villa in 2021 which does indicate that it can, at times, take over a year to get up to speed with the Spaniard’s uncompromising football philosophy.
🗣️”I’m pretty sure he will adapt perfectly to our team”
Pep Guardiola explains what Erling Haaland will bring to Manchester City 👇pic.twitter.com/8DWkohNHHw
— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) May 11, 2022
In Grealish’s case, it could even take longer than that given that the world is still waiting to see a version of the midfielder that played for Villa. In short, the lesson here is that there are no guarantees when signing superstars that have to fit in a very particular style of play.
This is perhaps why the jury should still remain out on Haaland before he gets a chance in the world’s most competitive league whilst playing for a manager that will only accept one incredibly specific style.
