Guardiola expects 'incredible' Haaland to 'adapt perfectly' to Manchester City system

Norwegian striker will join the Premier League giants from Borussia Dortmund at the end of the season

Manchester City's Belgian star Kevin De Bruyne celebrates after scoring his and his team's fourth goal during the 5-1 Premier League win at Wolves. AFP

Manchester City's Kevin De Bruyne celebrates after scoring the first goal. Getty

Manchester City's Kevin De Bruyne celebrates scoring the first. PA

De Bruyne celebrates with teammates after scoring the first. EPA

Wolves' Leander Dendoncker levels the scores at 1-1. Getty

Wolves' Jose Sa celebrates after Leander Dendoncker scores. Reuters

Kevin De Bruyne scores City's second goal. AP

Kevin De Bruyne celebrates scoring their second goal with Raheem Sterling. Reuters

Kevin De Bruyne celebrates after scoring City's second goal. AP

De Bruyne celebrates scoring City's third goal with Phil Foden. Reuters

De Bruyne celebrates City's third goal and his hat-trick. Getty

Manchester City's Kevin De Bruyne scores their third goal. Reuters

Kevin De Bruyne celebrates after scoring his fourth goal. AFP

De Bruyne celebrates after scoring his team fourth goal. AFP

Raheem Sterling scores City's fin al goal in the 5-1 victory. EPA

Kevin De Bruyne is handed the match ball by referee Martin Atkinson. Reuters

Pep Guardiola has described Erling Haaland as an "incredible young talent" and expects the Norwegian striker to settle quickly into his system at Manchester City.

Haaland, 21, is set to join City at the end of the season after the Premier League champions agreed a deal in principle with Borussia Dortmund and their star forward. All that remains is finalising personal terms with Haaland and paying Dortmund his £51.25 million ($63.15m) release clause.

Having scored scored 85 goals in 88 appearances in all competitions so far for Dortmund, Haaland's arrival provides City a prolific goalscorer and long-term successor to Sergio Aguero.

City have hardly struggled without a recognised striker this season, scoring a league-leading 94 goals, but the presence of Haaland will add even more potency to their attack, particularly in the Champions League knockout rounds where City have come unstuck in recent seasons.

"It is a decision for the club to make a good sign for the future," Guardiola said after City's 5-1 win at Wolves on Wednesday, which moved the defending champions three points clear of Liverpool in the Premier League title race.

"He can come for many, many years hopefully and I am pretty sure he will adapt perfectly to our team for next season. The players make you a good manager. He is an incredible young talent, perfect age. I am pretty sure we are going to help him settle as best possible."

Haaland forming an effective partnership with playmaker Kevin De Bruyne is a mouthwatering prospect for City, although the Belgian turned from provider to prolific finisher against Wolves by scoring four of his team's five goals, taking his tally to 18 in all competitions this season.

Wolves v Man City player ratings

"He has played the last two or three months especially in the Premier League outstanding, and in the Champions League as well. He has been our key man in this part of the season," Guardiola said.

"It is not just what he creates and the goals and everything. He helps us a lot. I am happy because Kevin is so generous and always thinking the best for the team but this year is also the most prolific for him."

Such was De Bruyne's brilliance, Wolves coach Carlos Cachada admitted there was little his team could do to prevent a heavy defeat.

"When you have players like De Bruyne, who can always change the game, you can have a strategy but when it comes to players like this they can score four goals and finish the game," he said. "With that performance we can do nothing about it."

Haaland trains with Dortmund after Man City announce transfer