Jamie Carragher believes the signing of Erling Haaland will not necessarily make Manchester City a stronger team this season.
City pulled off a major transfer coup earlier this summer by securing Haaland's signature after triggering his £51m release clause at Borussia Dortmund.
Real Madrid and Barcelona had also been linked with the Norway international, who scored an incredible 85 goals in 88 games for Dortmund.
While Carragher has hailed Haaland as a "magnificent" signing, he also believes it is "dangerous" to presume that the Premier League title race is a formality this season.
Writing in his column for The Telegraph, Carragher said the signing of Haaland – and that of Darwin Nunez at Liverpool – are not guaranteed make the two teams stronger.
Advert
"The easy analysis is adding a finisher to already fully-functioning teams will inevitably make them better. History informs us that it is a dangerous presumption," wrote Carragher.
"Three of England's greatest goalscorers were Jimmy Greaves, Gary Lineker and Alan Shearer. At the peak of their powers they joined teams which had either just won the title or, in the case of Shearer, gone close and were in need of that final push to get to the top.
"Greaves signed for Tottenham Hotspur in 1961, six months after they won the league and FA Cup Double. For all his success at White Hart Lane, he never won an English league title.
Advert
"Lineker joined Everton in the summer of 1985, just after Howard Kendall's side won the championship. He scored 40 goals but Liverpool won the Double in 1986 before the England striker moved to Barcelona. Everton regained the title a year later without him.
"Ask Newcastle fans which Premier League season they most celebrate, and it is 1995-96 when Les Ferdinand and Peter Beardsley were the pairing upfront. Shearer's signing the following summer was expected to turn Kevin Keegan's side into title winners. They never came as close despite Shearer winning the Golden Boot in his first season at St James' Park.”
Nevertheless, Carragher is excited by the arrival of Haaland and believes his move to England reflects the current strength of the Premier League.
"For me, Haaland is a statement signing for the Premier League as much as Manchester City. City would be title favourites with or without him," added Carragher.
Advert
"Whatever your club allegiances, there is an excitement about seeing him in a competitive English game for the first time, his presence in this country showing how the most coveted players can be lured to the Premier League ahead of La Liga.
"It was not so long ago Spain was at the top of the pyramid for the world’s best players. Haaland moving to City and Kylian Mbappe rejecting Real Madrid to stay at Paris St-Germain proves that is no longer the case, even if the change is based on financial power given Real are European champions."
Haaland and Nunez could both feature when Liverpool and Manchester City meet at Leicester's King Power Stadium on Saturday for the first trophy of the season, the Community Shield.
Advert
The two teams are once again expected to challenge each other for the Premier League title this season but Carragher believes their rivals could narrow the gap.
"Should Haaland hit the ground running and dominate Liverpool’s defence this weekend, the odds on a third consecutive City title will tumble further," added Carragher.
"Injury-permitting, the Norwegian is bound to be successful. I can't wait to see him, and how his game evolves under Guardiola. But even though City are the most likely winners again this season, there is nothing predictable about this year's title race as the teams line-up in August.
Advert
"Even if City and Liverpool go head-to-head again, tactically they will have taken a slightly different route to the summit, and their rivals should not be so far behind."
Topics: Jamie Carragher, Football, Premier League, Manchester City, Liverpool, Transfers, Erling Haaland
Rory O'Callaghan