Erling Haaland’s arrival at Manchester City is ‘super exciting’ and a ‘game changer’ for the Premier League, insists Jamie Redknapp… but Dion Dublin thinks Norwegian will find it ‘DIFFICULT’ to score goals in England
Jamie Redknapp has described Erling Haaland signing for Manchester City as a gamechanger for the Premier League and cannot wait to see him in action next season – saying the Norwegian is ‘lucky’ to be working with manager Pep Guardiola.
The Premier League champions announced on Tuesday the Norway international will join Guardiola’s squad for next season following a £51million transfer from Borussia Dortmund.
It is understood Haaland, 21, is set to earn in the region of £385,000 a week – in line with the club’s top wage bracket and Kevin De Bruyne’s salary – at the Etihad Stadium after the current top-flight leaders beat Real Madrid to the striker’s signature.
He had been linked also been linked with Barcelona, Bayern Munich, Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester United in recent months but Guardiola’s side have beaten the competition to his signature.
And former midfielder Redknapp revelled in the fact the Premier League will finally see a ‘global star everyone’s coveted’ once again, talking to Sky Sports about his excitement.
Erling Haaland signing for Manchester City is a gamechanger for the Premier League, according to Jamie Redknapp
You heard it here first: Sportsmail’s Jack Gaughan and Craig Hope broke the news of City’s deal for Haaland back on March 11 of this year
He said: ‘It’s a game changer not just for Man City but for the league. It’s the first time in a long time we’ve got that global superstar everyone’s coveted. It’s super exciting for everyone concerned. It’s gonna be great to have him in our league.’
After the game, Redknapp added: ‘I can’t wait to see Haaland, he’s a world superstar and such a young man, he’s got such a brilliant future.
‘He’s so lucky to work with Pep, working with a great manager and with players who have a brilliant mentality.’
Haaland, pictured as a child in a Man City shirt, is be placed in the highest bracket of earners among Pep Guardiola’s squad
Haaland has attracted interest from around Europe after netting 85 times in 88 appearances for Dortmund during two-and-a-half years there.
But former Man United forward Dion Dublin believes while he will be a success, he will not find goalscoring as easy in the Premier League as he has in the Bundesliga.
‘I don’t think it’s going to be as easy as people think, scoring goals in the Premier League is very hard,’ Dublin said. ‘He’ll do well, but he’ll find it difficult.’
Redknapp revelled in the fact the Premier League will finally see a ‘global star everyone’s coveted’
City were expected to part with £63m to trigger a release clause in the 21-year-old’s contract but have secured Haaland for £12m less than that figure.
Those finances are similar to the overall deal Barcelona put together to land Ferran Torres in January.
Haaland’s father, Alfie, is a former City player and negotiated the personal terms alongside lawyer Rafaela Pimenta.
Agency fees and bonuses will take the eventual outlay to £85m. City believe the emotional attachment Haaland’s family have to the club helped convince him to join.
Dion Dublin believes while he will be a success, he will not find goalscoring as easy
A club statement read: ‘Manchester City can confirm that we have reached an agreement in principle with Borussia Dortmund for the transfer of striker Erling Haaland to the Club on 1st July 2022.’
Sportsmail understands a deal between City and Haaland’s camp was completed last week after first reporting last month that the club had agreed terms with the Norway international’s representatives and he was expected to become the Premier League’s highest-paid player, signing a five-year contract.
He will bid farewell to the Dortmund supporters after their final Bundesliga game of the season against Hertha Berlin on Saturday.
