Paul Merson claims Manchester City got WEAKER this summer - despite buying Erling Haaland.
And the former Arsenal and England forward reckons Pep Guardiola's men could make a slow start to the new season while their new recruits bed in. Merson, who won five major honours with the Gunners including two league titles, thinks superstar Haaland could struggle to adapt his game to the Premier League.
And despite bringing in the likes of Kalvin Phillips and Julian Alvarez as well, he believes City will miss departing heroes Raheem Sterling, Gabriel Jesus and Oleksandr Zinchenko. Writing in his Daily Star column, Merse said: "City are WEAKER going into the new season in my opinion.
"They are losing a lot of good players who have been important for them, and we don't know how quickly the new signings will adapt. It wouldn't surprise me if they start the season slowly, and you don't want to give anyone a head start in this league or it can be hard to catch up.
"Erling Haaland and Julian Alvarez could turn out to be the best signings ever. Haaland could be unreal. But it takes time to get used to Pep Guardiola's system. And it takes time to adapt to a new league and settle in a new country. There's no guarantee it works straight away. I think it's definitely: 'Watch this space.'
"Look at Jack Grealish. That was almost like a bedding-in season for him. It took him a while to get used to it. You're taking away a lot of goals losing Raheem Sterling and Gabriel Jesus. Sterling fitted the system better than anyone - no-one else scores those far-post tap-ins.
"And Guardiola trusted Jesus in the big games. They were too reliable players. So was Oleksandr Zinchenko. I saw this week that Pep is worried because of a few of his players had to stay behind while the team went on tour, because they're not fully vaccinated.
"He will have to work on stuff like the team shape and pattern and he's worried it will affect them, because this is all new to Haaland. It will be different to him than it is with Borussia Dortmund or Norway. Playing for City is a totally different ball game.
"You kick off at City and the other team runs towards the edge of their box. There's no space. What are Haaland's attributes? He's a good finisher, he's quick and strong. Well you can take quick and strong right out of the equation in the Premier League because there is nowhere to go. You need a good brain and a bit of guile.
"I don't really get why they bought Kalvin Phillips either. I'm not sure he's a Pep Guardiola player. And I still think they are short of one top class centre half."
