Erling Haaland will break Alan Shearer's goal-scoring record if he arrives the Premier League next summer.
That's the verdict from BT Sport pundit and former England playmaker, Joe Cole, who says the Borussia Dortmund goal machine has the edge over striking contemporary Kylian Mbappe.
Now that Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi are into the twilight of their careers, Haaland and Mbappe are expected to take over the baton when it comes to Ballon d'Or contention and other such prestigious awards.
Haaland was a firm target for United when he signed for Dortmund in January 2020. But key figures in the Old Trafford boardroom remain interested in the Norway sensation, with a €75million release clause in his contract set to become active from summer 2022.
But United won't be the only side in the market for his prolific services. Haaland, 21, has scored 76 goals in 75 outings for Dortmund and is arguably Europe's hottest property in the transfer market.
Speaking as part of a promotion for bookmakers Coral, ex-Chelsea star Cole said: "I think the crazy thing is they're both [Mbappe and Haaland] flirting with leaving their clubs, so the Premier League will be on notice.
"If one of those two come to any of the top three, they're automatically favourites for the title next year, because there's only a handful of players out there that you can put into that top three and make them better."
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Cole added: "Mbappe is a more rounded player, but I think Haaland just excites me. It's just the way he runs. I think he'll develop into a leader as well. A leader of men as he gets older I think he'll be a captain.
"I think if he comes over, at the age he is at now, he will go and break [Alan] Shearer's [goalscoring] record and if he stays for 10 years, then I think he will break all records."
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