Dare to Be Different with Shaun Goater: Current affairs

As part of our Dare to Be Different series, we caught up with Manchester City legend Shaun Goater, and he gave us his view on the Erling Haaland Kane transfer saga on Friday 10th September 2021.

Man City can win title without new striker but should sign Erling Haaland next year

Ex-Manchester City centre-forward Shaun Goater has told Casumo that Pep Guardiola’s squad is good enough to win the Premier League this season without the addition of a new striker, but they should look to bring in Erling Haaland next summer as he understands the club’s “DNA”.

City were linked with the likes of Harry Kane and Cristiano Ronaldo following the release of striker Sergio Aguero this summer, but ultimately failed to bring in a replacement.

Goater, who scored 103 goals in 186 games for the Citizens, believes the chance to sign Kane has come and gone and that Haaland – whose father, Alf-Inge Haaland, played for City – should be brought in instead next year.

“I think the Harry Kane train has moved on,” Goater told Casumo. “Next year he’ll be another year older. Haaland would look to be the more likely option for next summer. If City need me to speak to his father, I’ll have a word! He’s phenomenal.

When Borussia Dortmund played against City, there were two or three occasions where he was able to show his pace and his threat. I just sat there and thought ‘Wow, this guy has got incredible pace and an eye for goal’.

“One thing you can’t defend against is pace, he’s a really exciting player. With Alf-Inge (Haaland) having already played at the club, it seems like a natural fit. Haaland will know the DNA of the club, having heard about it from his father as a youngster. It would be an excellent fit and something City could be working on for next summer.”

Ex-Man City striker says Norwegian attacker will understand the club’s ‘DNA’

While Goater would like to see Haaland in a City shirt next season, he believes his former side have enough attacking talent at their disposal to claim another league title this term.

“It’s not necessarily an error that City haven’t replaced Aguero this summer,” Goater said. “There were parts of last season where City were playing and I was thinking the centre-forward is a dying  position, because they were playing so well. They had Raheem Sterling playing up top, Kevin De Bruyne, Bernardo Silva, multiple players that were playing that role up top, and they were winning games and playing phenomenal football.

“I was thinking, ‘Wow, we don’t have a recognised centre-forward and we are playing beautifully’. I would imagine there will be periods of this season where City will be doing the same so I’m not too concerned about not having a recognised striker. City’s recent back-to-back 5-0 wins prove that.”

Two of City’s major contributors in those 5-0 wins against Norwich and Arsenal were Ferran Torres and Gabriel Jesus, who Goater feels both have the attacking quality to fire City to glory this season.

“I do think City are strong enough to win the title with the squad they have. Yes, teams have improved – the biggest challenge will be Chelsea,” Goater said. “But I think Ferran Torres is good enough to carry the load this season. I watch him and think when this guy plays down the middle, he makes decisions like a centre-forward in terms of his runs, the timings of his runs, and he works goalkeepers.

“He doesn’t need three chances. If he gets two chances, he works the goalkeeper on both and more times than not he’ll end up walking away with a goal. He’s one that can fill that void of a centre-forward. When I see him play down the middle, I’m so impressed by his game intelligence.”

Goater added: “And Gabriel Jesus playing out wide recently, him getting in and assisting three goals and scoring himself, it shows you the firepower City have without an out-and-out centre-forward. Gabriel Jesus doesn’t have a bad record. The problem is we always compare him to Sergio Aguero, whose record was absolutely frightening. Gabriel Jesus has been one that has had to take one for the team. We’re seeing him now playing more out wide and impressing.

“City’s frontline and the choices of front players are so strong – Riyad Mahrez, Sterling, the energy that Bernardo Silva brings, we know about De Bruyne, Phil Foden is still to come back into the fold, and Jack Grealish will just get better and better.”

Shaun Goater is backing his former club to win the Premier League, and you can too. Head this way to find our Premier League odds.

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