He’s a baby-faced battering ram, scores a goal a game and is about to take the EPL by storm.

A one-man Viking invasion force with more goals for club and country than Messi or Ronaldo at the same age.

Erling Braut Haaland was the signing of the transfer window before it opened.

A £55 million steal from Borussia Dortmund because of a release clause!

And, of all people, he joined champions Manchester City. Not a fair world? Hand the title to Pep Guardiola now?

That’s one view of the Norwegian’s eagerly anticipated entry into world football’s favourite league.

But there’s another school of thought: one that makes a case for the move being a 1.93m size mistake.

The doubters think he won’t fit in. Hasn’t got a first touch. Doesn’t track back and, a cardinal sin for Pep, doesn’t press enough.

They also point out that he won’t have the hectares of space to burst through defences that he enjoyed in Germany.

Nor will he get as many through-balls to run onto because City don’t play like that.

They mesmerise defences with intricate passing, goes the argument. And finish in tight spaces.

But what about Kevin de Bruyne, you have to ask? With a laser on both feet, the Belgian maestro may be eyeing a record number of assists this season – feeding Haaland.

And critics should not just judge him on the Bundesliga: he’s even better in the Champions League.

Last year he became the fastest to score 20 goals in the competition – in just 14 games. He was also the first to bag more than 10 in successive seasons.

Still, there’s a feeling in some quarters that his game may have been better-suited to Liverpool.

Whichever side of the argument you’re on, there are doubts whether he’ll fit in right away.

A few big names have struggled to “get” Pep’s methods immediately including the legendary Sergio Aguero who took a season to adapt.

And there’s £100m Jack Grealish who has yet to justify that extortionate fee.

Joao Cancelo and Rodri both took a season as did Riyad Mahrez. But look at them now.

Over time and painstaking training sessions, they developed into what Pep wanted. But there’s no guarantee Haaland will do the same.

In a finely-tuned orchestra, he could look a bit of a blunt instrument.

On the other hand, if Pep is able to polish him, with his pace and power, he could be sensational.

Alan Shearer has already predicted he’ll score 40 goals this season.

Many expect him to be part of a rivalry with Kylian Mbappe that will dominate the game for the next decade like the aforementioned duo did the last.

He’s still some way behind the Frenchman whose silky skills make him most people’s No.1 at the moment. But if Pep gets to work, he could close the gap.

The City boss does like a challenge and with Grealish still not the finished article, he could have £155m of talent officially classed as ‘work in progress’.

The Catalan has a chequered history with No.9s.

He fell out with both Samuel Eto’o and Zlatan Ibrahimovic at Barcelona and some of his best teams haven’t even had one – like last year’s champions.

But he worked wonders with Aguero after a rocky start.

And he showed his genius when he played Messi, who was wasted on the wing, as a false 9 with the freedom to roam – and rewrote history.

With Norway not qualifying for the World Cup, Haaland’s biggest stage is the Champions League.

It’s a happy coincidence that this season his favourite tournament will not just be Pep’s priority, but his obsession.

We can bet that even if he is rotated in the EPL, he’ll be fully employed in Europe.

Some people think City would have won Old Big Ears last year if they’d had a No.9.

Of course, Pep tried to buy Harry Kane but City wouldn’t meet Spurs’ asking price.

Despite his mixed record with them, Pep retains a fascination for centre forwards, but has never had raw material to work on like Haaland.

He kept him under wraps during City’s friendly win over Club America in Houston yesterday after a season in which he suffered several injuries.

Guardiola said: We don’t want to take a risk; the season is so long. Don’t worry, we have time.”

Judging by the spicy tackles the Mexican side made on Grealish, it was probably a wise move on Haaland’s 22nd birthday.

But very soon now, we’ll see what City are getting for their £400k a week wages.

They won the title without a centre-forward last season.

It will be compulsive viewing to see how they fare this time with a player who has the potential to be one of the greats.

The views expressed are those of the writer and do not necessarily reflect those of FMT.