David Moyes Weighs In On Erling Haaland Transfer Debate

David Moyes does not expect Manchester City summer signing Erling Haaland to struggle in the Premier League.

The West Ham United manager explained why the worries about whether the 21-year old striker will be able to thrive at Manchester City are misplaced.

The Sky Blues' capture of Erling Haaland has been the biggest move in the transfer window so far, with Manchester City having signed a player who is set to compete with Kylian Mbappe for the title of the best in the world for years to come - much like Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo have for over a decade.

Additionally, the Norwegian is stepping foot in none other than the Premier League, which is the most televised division globally, indicating that the world’s eyes will be fixated on seeing how he fares at the Etihad Stadium.

As a result, there has been no shortage of opinions about how the blockbuster transfer will eventually transpire.

Some suggest that the move is a match made in heaven, as the Blues are one of the biggest chance-creators in the world, and have now been blessed with the presence of arguably the most lethal finisher in Europe next season.

Since Sergio Agüero’s exit in 2021, the club have lacked a traditional striker who can put away the bucketload of chances the side creates.

On the contrary, another school of thought is that Haaland is anything but the stereotypical Pep Guardiola number nine.

Accustomed to playing in a transition-heavy system for Borussia Dortmund, the 21-year old’s unstoppable pace and physicality worked perfectly against defences with high-lines in the Bundesliga.

With the ex-RB Salzburg man not being a natural technician such as former striker target Harry Kane, some state that he would struggle to drop deep and get involved in build-up play as City try to unlock low blocks week in, week out.

However, one of the most astute minds in the Premier League, West Ham's David Moyes, has revealed which side he stands on in the debate.

“The problem is [Erling] Haaland has a team around him - 10 other players and one of the world’s best managers on the touchline. He’ll get over it quite quickly - being new to the English game - because he’s at a top football club”, he commented, as quoted by the Mail.

The Hammers boss is right in suggesting that City have all the tools to ensure that Erling Haaland hits the ground running.

To make life easier for the Norwegian international, it has been reported that Pep Guardiola and his staff will not do much to change his game, but rather expect the player to adapt to a change of system naturally over time.

If anything, the track record of attacking signings at the Etihad Stadium fills supporters with optimism, given the likes of Bernardo Silva, Riyad Mahrez and Gabriel Jesus all hit unprecedented levels under the Catalan's management.

The same is expected from Erling Haaland, who brings a unique element to this Manchester City side which will be considered as a boon and not a bane by those working within the club.