Erling Haaland: 'Exciting times' ahead for Man City's new-look squad

The Norwegian striker believes the squad will emerge even stronger next campaign, warning Premier League rivals to expect significant improvement.

Despite Pep Guardiola admitting that City are currently behind Arsenal in their development cycle, the club remain firmly in contention for a domestic treble. That paradox underlines the depth of quality within the squad, even during what the manager has described as a transitional period.

Over the past 18 months, Guardiola has focused heavily on integrating a wave of new arrivals. Players such as Gianluigi Donnarumma, Marc Guéhi, Abdukodir Khusanov, Rayan Cherki and Antoine Semenyo have all been introduced, with varying degrees of influence as they adapt to the system.

Haaland is convinced that this bedding-in phase will pay dividends. With a full season of experience behind them, he expects the newer players to elevate their performances and enhance the team’s cohesion.

"It's been a lot of change now the last couple of years, I would say in the last year," Haaland told ESPN.

"There's been lots of players that have been here for a long time. So with new players, it takes time. It's not easy to come into a new league for someone, new country, all of this. It takes time to adapt.

"I think exciting times and I'm looking forward to being a part of it."