Incoming Borussia Dortmund boss Marco Rose believes that Erling Haaland can "carry a team".
The German will leave his post as Borussia Monchengladbach boss at the end of the season to take over at Signal Iduna Park.
It will give him the chance to reunite with Haaland should the striker remain with the Bundesliga outfit.
Rose handed Haaland his Red Bull Salzburg debut before leaving the Austrian club and is fully aware of the qualities he possesses.
“He is an incredibly positive player. He arrived injured in Salzburg, fought his way up and then took off,” he told Goal.
“At his young age he can already carry a team and he radiates an enormous amount of energy. He is also a funny guy.
“But there are still many things he can learn - he knows that too.
"Nowadays he’s probably one of those players that you work in superlatives and make big comparisons with the likes of Robert Lewandowski or Leo Messi, but I wouldn't see him that way.”
Manchester City have been heavily linked with the 20-year-old as they consider life without Sergio Aguero.
Haaland has only been at Dortmund for a little over a year and has expressed no desire to leave.
Haaland is also thought to be on Chelsea's radar which could mean Dortmund have to fend off interest in the striker.
The German club will also be in a battle to keep hold of Jadon Sancho, who was heavily linked with a switch to Manchester United in the summer.
A return could be on the cards with the Red Devils still eyeing a winger at Old Trafford.
Dortmund's season could again end without silverware which will make their task of retaining their top players that much harder.
A draw with Hoffenheim at the weekend leaves them sixth in the Bundesliga while they take on Sevilla in the last 16 of the Champions League.
