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Southampton defender Kyle Walker-Peters says Erling Haaland cannot yet be compared with Harry Kane as the Tottenham striker has proven his quality "for god knows how many years now".
Haaland, 22, has taken the Premier League by storm since joining Manchester City in a £51m move Borussia Dortmund earlier this year.
The Norway international has scored 20 goals in his first 13 appearances for City, including three hat-tricks for his new club.
His remarkable start in English football has sparked debate over whether Haaland could go on to break a number of all-time records in the Premier League, including Alan Shearer's long-held record of most goals – 260.
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It is a record that Tottenham's Kane also has his eye on, having already managed 170 goals in the Premier League – the third most behind Shearer and former Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney (208).
While he has not quite matched Haaland's start to the season, Kane is also in fine form – scoring seven goals in his first eight league games this term.
When asked if Haaland is a better striker than Kane, ex-Spurs defender Walker-Peters fiercely defended his former teammate.
"Come on," he told talkSPORT. "Harry Kane has done it for how many years in the Premier League?
"I think Haaland has had an absolutely unbelievable start. Some of the stats I'm seeing, it's just ridiculous.
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"But Kane has proven it for god knows how many years now. I don't think we can compare them just yet.
"Haaland is definitely hungry to prove to people he’s better than him [Kane].
"And Kane will want to stay at the top. So they'll have a good battle for top goalscorer."
Walker-Peters was speaking ahead of Saturday's Premier League match between Southampton and City at the Etihad, which ended in a convincing 4-0 win for the defending champions.
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Haaland, inevitably, got on the scoresheet, with Joao Cancelo, Phil Foden and Riyad Mahrez scoring the other goals for City.
While there has been talk of Haaland breaking all-time records in English football, his father - former Nottingham Forest, Leeds United and Manchester City player Alf-Inge Haaland - has suggested his son might not be in the Premier League long enough to overtake the likes of Kane, Rooney and Shearer.
Speaking on the 'Haaland: The Big Decision' documentary, as reported by The Mirror, Alf-Inge claimed his son could end up playing in several of Europe's top leagues before the end of his career.
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"I think Erling wants to prove his abilities in all leagues," he said.
"Then he can stay there [Manchester City] for three or four years at the most. He could be, for example, two-and-a-half years in Germany, two-and-a-half years in England and then in Spain, Italy, France, right?"
Featured Image Credit: AlamyTopics: Erling Haaland, Manchester City, Football, Tottenham Hotspur, Harry Kane, Premier League, Southampton