Arsenal boosted as Erling Haaland agent confirms transfer plan after ‘wrong club’ claim

Arsenal may have been handed a long-term boost to their chances in the Premier League after Erling Haaland’s agent confirmed plans are being discussed over the striker’s future at Manchester City. The Norwegian international has been in unstoppable form so far this season, scoring 27 goals in 24 Premier League appearances.

The 22-year-old seems set to break records with the Citizens, though his success only has the side sitting second in the league and five points off of the Gunners. It has led to questions from some as to whether Haaland suits the playing style of Pep Guardiola and City.

“He [Haaland] might have picked the wrong club to actually get the best out of him,” Former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher claimed on Sky Sports. The striker has occasionally been isolated in games with few touches, though debate rages on as to whether his goal record negates that.

The striker could take time to settle into the demands of Guardiola, but it remains to be seen exactly how long he will stay at the club. His father, Alfe-Inge Haaland, has already claimed that the striker could leave after three or four years, with plenty of talk surrounding future clubs.

Haaland’s agent, Rafaela Pimenta, has already discussed plans being made for every player in the agency surrounding an exit. She told the FT Business of Football summit in London: “In my agency, we try to make a plan. We have to make a plan. We need to have a goal. Maybe we won’t achieve it but if don’t know where we’re going for sure we don’t get there.

“When we have a player, we make plans. Even if the player is 15 years old. We are planning out his career trajectory. When I started in this business, if I would say to a player ‘I’ll bring you to England’ the first thing they would say would be ‘what did I do wrong? Why don’t you like me?’ But now, if I ask a player ‘what is your goal?’ he will say the Premier League. He doesn’t say City, Chelsea or Arsenal but the Premier League.”

The super agent went on to add that discussions with clubs around the world continues for their clients, continuing: “The day the market [transfer window] finishes is the day I start visiting clubs to talk about players, to see what may be in the future. We are in February, I have already been to rounds of clubs four times this year.

“There are so many different clubs, we can be studying, who’s going to retire, who’s getting old, who’s injured, who’s doing bad. Maybe this will happen there. It’s like a chess game and you try to anticipate the next move.”

It remains to be seen exactly what the plan could be surrounding Haaland, though his father’s suggestion of an exit in a few years may indicate the direction of the striker. For the Gunners that could come as a major boost in their hopes of making a long-lasting legacy in the Premier League.

The side are back in title contention and a victory this season would be huge, but sustained success like that of City would be the aim. Should Haaland leave, the situation at the Etihad Stadium may be an interesting case to follow, though they have already proven they can win the league without a striker.