Erling Haaland has scored 22 goals in 18 Premier League games this season, but he still isn’t the best value signing of the season, according to Michael Owen.
Haaland joined Manchester City in a £51million transfer from Borussia Dortmund in June. The 22-year-old striker has hit the ground running with City, netting a staggering 28 goals in 25 games across all competitions so far.
He is seven goals clear of Harry Kane at the top of the Premier League goalscoring charts and is chasing down Mohamed Salah’s record of 32 goals in a 38-game season. His transfer fee already looks like a bargain, but Owen has highlighted another great value signing.
Brighton midfielder Kaoru Mitoma has been in great form recently, with three goals and an assist in his last five games. The Japanese international joined Brighton in August 2021 from Kawasaki Frontale for a fee of around £2.5m before spending the 2021/22 season on loan with Belgian side Royale Union Saint-Gilloise.
He made his Premier League debut for Brighton in August 2022 and has five goals and two assists in 18 games across all competitions. The 25-year-old scored in the Seagulls’ 2-2 draw with Leicester on Saturday and clearly caught the eye of Owen.
He tweeted: “Another stunning goal from Mitoma today. Haaland has to be the signing of the season but I’d say Mitoma, at 2.6m, has to be the best value for money signing.”
HAVE YOUR SAY! Does Michael Owen have a point? Comment below.
Owen’s 3.8m followers then offered their suggestions in the comments. “Gnonto for 3.7 million to Leeds has to be up there,” someone said in the replies, to which Owen wrote: “Fair point.”
Other fans mentioned goalkeeper Nick Pope, who joined Newcastle in a £10m deal from Burnley, and Christian Eriksen, who signed for Manchester United on a free transfer after leaving Brentford.
Mitoma has certainly enjoyed a brilliant year. He helped Union SG finish second in the Belgian League and qualify for the Champions League last season before making an impact with Brighton.
The versatile midfielder scored twice for Japan against Australia to ensure the Samurai Blue qualified for the World Cup. He then played four times for his country at the World Cup as they beat Germany and Spain to reach the last-16 before being beaten on penalties by Croatia.
Haaland, meanwhile, will have a chance to increase his lead at the top of the Premier League scoring charts when Manchester City host Wolves on Sunday. The Norwegian scored in City’s 4-2 comeback win over Tottenham on Thursday and will be eager to beat Wolves and put pressure on league-leaders Arsenal, who play Manchester United in the late kick-off.
