Premier League star tipped to become 'as good' as Erling Haaland
Yesterday at 05:48 PM
Former title winner Emmanuel Petit believes one current Premier League star can be ‘as good’ as Erling Haaland.
Haaland has been one of the most prolific goalscorers in the world over the past seven seasons, racking up 263 goals in 322 appearances.
Borussia Dortmund signed the Norway striker from Red Bull Salzburg at the start of 2020 after he netted 28 goals in 22 games during his final season in Austria.
It was at Dortmund that Haaland really began to make waves across Europe, scoring 86 goals in 89 matches for the Bundesliga club and starring in the Champions League.
Haaland hit the ground running after being signed by Manchester City in 2022, netting 52 goals in 53 games during his first season at the Etihad Stadium and helping Pep Guardiola’s side win both the Premier League and Champions League.
The 24-year-old bagged another Premier League Golden Boot award last season and scored nine goals in his first four games of the current campaign before his and Man City’s form began to drop off.
Still, there is not a Premier League team that would not be improved by the addition of Haaland, although Petit believes Chelsea have a player who could reach his level in Nicolas Jackson.
Chelsea were repeatedly urged to replace Jackson as he endured a mixed first season at Stamford Bridge but the £32m signing has scored nine goals in 16 league games this term to suggest he can be the club’s long-term No. 9.
‘I always knew Nicolas Jackson would turn into a top player, we just had to be patient with him – which is rare with players in football,’ Petit told Gambling Zone.
‘Right now, the Premier League is full of surprises. Pep has gone seven without a win and now Chelsea are proving everyone wrong. So much has changed in the last ten months.
‘Can Jackson be as good as Haaland? Why not? He's got such amazing players around him, I have no reason to doubt he can replicate the numbers of Haaland.
‘He has such talent around him. [Pedro] Neto, [Cole] Palmer, so many players who can give him the ball to score.
‘His movement and his understanding with his teammates are great and he's only going to get better, too.’
Chelsea’s eight-game winning run came to an end on Sunday as Enzo Maresca’s side were held to a goalless draw by relegation-battlers Everton.
The frustrating stalemate leaves Chelsea four points behind Premier League leaders Liverpool going into Christmas. Arne Slot’s Reds also have a game in hand.
Despite Chelsea dropping points at Goodison Park, Maresca was pleased with his team’s performance.
‘That was a real game,’ the former Leicester City boss said. ‘I am very happy because the performance of the boys was fantastic.
‘Sometimes you have to play a different game, and we are learning to play a different game. They are one of the best teams in Europe in terms of clean sheets.
‘I said to the players that I was more happy than [last week’s] game at Brentford [where Chelsea won 2-1].
‘We tried everything. For sure, you can always do something better but we are very happy because this is a tough stadium, not only for us but also [for other teams] in the Premier League.’
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