Newcastle United will need to find a way of stopping Erling Haaland next season.
The 21-year-old is set to join Manchester City this summer, after Pep Guardiola’s side agreed a deal with Borussia Dortmund.
One of the best teams on the planet are about to get even better, which is a terrifying thought.
Man City look likely to win the Premier League this season, and their chances of retaining the title will only increase with Haaland’s arrival. Newcastle legend Alan Shearer believes he’ll guarantee 40 goals a season.
Eddie Howe and 18 other Premier League managers will already be pondering how to stop the Norwegian wonderkid. Meanwhile, Toon defender Javi Manquillo will be thinking ‘what if’.
Javi Manquillo wanted to sign Erling Haaland for Newcastle
Shortly after the Saudi-backed takeover went through last year, Javi Manquillo sat down for an interview with the Telegraph.
He was asked about the landscape changing at St James’ Park, as well as who he’d like to see join the club amid their newfound wealth.
“If you ask me who I’d sign for Newcastle, I’d go for [Kylian] Mbappe and I’d go for [Erling] Haaland,” he said.
“If it was a PlayStation team I’d also go for Messi and Cristiano, but the youngsters who stand out the most right now are those two.”
Sadly for Manquillo, his dream won’t become a reality this summer…unless of course Mbappe heads to the North East. However, that’s not going to happen, despite the mainstream pretending it’s a possibility.
Instead, the defender will hope he continues to play with the likes of Bruno Guimaraes and Kieran Trippier. The Spaniard has fallen out of favour in recent weeks, with Emil Krafth thriving in his position.
Trippier’s return and Krafth’s form throws Manquillo’s future into question. He’s certainly someone who could leave St James’ Park this summer.
Regardless, the only way he can play alongside Haaland in a Newcastle shirt now is on his PlayStation.
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