Ray Parlous is still in disbelief Manchester City were able to sign a crucial player so cheaply.
Manchester City are still basking in their treble triumph last season and could feasibly achieve the unprecedented by doing so again this time around.
Pep Guardiola may be the best manager on the planet but he is helped out considerably by his club’s sublime recruitment policy.
City have hardly put a foot wrong in the transfer market over the last decade and, though they have endless cash reserves, they always look to get the best value for money.
The biggest and best example has to be Erling Haaland, who was signed for just £51m from Borussia Dortmund in 2022.
It was already an obvious bargain back then but it now looks like daylight robbery given the success Haaland has had since.
The Norwegian sensation has broken nearly every goal-scoring record in the book with an astounding 74 goals in just 81 games.
City are expected to pay up to £85.5m in total for the deal when agent fees, signing bonus and other costs are taken into account but that’s still a steal in the modern market.
Ray Parlour jealous over Man City’s Erling Haaland deal
Speaking on TalkSPORT, Ray Parlour was discussing Arsenal’s need for a striker in the summer transfer window.
The Gunners have been linked with Ivan Toney but prices as high as £80m have been touted for the Brentford striker.
Parlour can’t believe City managed to get Haaland for such a good price in comparison.
He said: “Yeah definitely, that will be the first position they look at.
“If they can get that right striker, they’re always going to create chances. But you just need that clinical finisher.
“I know [Gabriel] Jesus has done well, and he’s an excellent player, but he’s not that out-and-out, proper striker who can get you 20-25 goals a season.
“If they can get a Haaland, somehow, Arsenal, I know they’re very, very hard to find.
“If you look back at what sort of business Man City done there, when you’re talking £70m-£80m for Ivan Toney, what did they get Haaland for? Similar sort of money? Which is an unbelievable deal really.”
There isn’t another Erling Haaland
The reason finding another Haaland is so hard is because there isn’t one to find.
The 23-year-old is a clinical goalscoring machine, the ultimate striker who only comes round once in a lifetime.
Arsenal may be able to find a striker who can be the cutting edge they’re missing up front but they almost certainly won’t be as good as Haaland.
