If one has the resources to sign a footballer who is as effective as Erling Haaland for a decade, then there will always be strong arguments to do so – whatever choppy waters Manchester City might face in their immediate future.

City announced the deal — covering 10 years from the start of this season — on Friday for the 24-year-old Haaland, who has scored 111 goals in 125 games since joining the club from Borussia Dortmund in 2022.

City’s recent struggles have meant that Erling Haaland has not enjoyed the same prolific level of goalscoring that he has in previous seasons, though the Norwegian, who has just signed a bumper new 9.5-year contract to commit his future to the club, is still second in the league’s top scorer chart with 16 goals, just two behind Mohamed Salah.