Jason Cundy has made something of a comparison between Chelsea great Didier Drogba and Erling Haaland.
Speaking on talkSPORT, Cundy likened Haaland to the very traditional strikers of yesteryear, using the Stamford Bridge icon as one of the examples.
The Norwegian will soon be able to stride on the same surface that Drogba used to call his own, as he prepares for a mouth-watering move to Manchester City.
City confirmed the signing of the Borussia Dortmund attacker yesterday, sealing his possibly priceless signature for £51.1m (Sky Sports).
Haaland will join the reigning Premier League champions on the 1st of July, subject to the club finalising terms with the player.
Haaland hits all the right chords
Once the dead is done, Pep Guardiola can begin to mould one of the most talented individuals in the sport right now.
One that, according to Cundy, is already pretty close to perfection.
“If you had to design a centre-forward right now, for the modern game, you are designing him,” said the former Chelsea defender.
“Physically, he’s quick, very quick. Well built. There’s not many floors in his game. You see highlight packages. His finishing is frightening.
“There’s part of his game that will improve. There’s part of his game that Pep will want to improve. He’s 21, he’s not the finished article.
“There aren’t many of that type (of striker) around. When I grew up watching football: Frank Stapleton, Bob Latchford, Mark Hateley, Kerry Dixon, those type of centre-forwards, you tend not to find too many of those.
“Joe Jordan, Didier Drogba. They don’t spring to mind. But he is a number nine in the true sense of the word.”
Whilst some of our younger readers might be unaware of the names mentioned by Cundy, they will certainly know all about the final man on the list.
Drogba needs no introduction, but here’s just a reminder of his record.
He scored 164 times for Chelsea, won four league titles, collected two Golden Boots and was recently inducted into the Premier League Hall of Fame.
Drogba’s successor?
If you are clued up on the Ivorian, then Haaland’s profile should simply slip off the tongue.
His numbers since hitting the professional scene are quite scary.
From 181 senior career matches, he has converted 134 goals, including 85 in 88 for Dortmund.
English defences, beware.
With City’s current firepower, Haaland could take the first division apart, piece by piece.
A scenario that could’ve already played out, had Chelsea managed to lure him to London last summer.
Tuchel’s employers pressed hard to sign the Norway international, but failed to get over the final hurdle.
Instead, they fell upon Romelu Lukaku, who returned to the club for a record fee.
Next season, the Belgian is set to come up against the man who nearly stole his place at Cobham.
Chelsea versus City, more like Haaland versus Lukaku.
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