3 minute read
HEY, BIG SPENDERS!
The title hopefuls have been splashing the cash in a bid to nudge Manchester City from the top of the Premier League
It barely seems five minutes since that sunny Sunday in May when Manchester City completed the first leg of their treble-winning campaign by lifting the Premier League title. Yet, here we are, barely 70 days later, on the verge of another protracted season.
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It promises the same cocktail of plot twists, thrills, casualties, heroes and villains … and more than likely the same conclusion come next May.
In fact, the only barrier to City’s success could be their success. Their maiden Champions League win means, for the first time, they qualify for the FIFA Club World Cup, a largely meaningless intercontinental bunfight which this year will be staged in Saudi Arabia just before Christmas.
It will add further congestion to the champions’ already-crammed fixture list that will only get slight relief during the mid-season break from January 14th to the 30th … unless they have FA Cup commitments.
So, who could take advantage? Will there be a seismic shift in the power game, or just a slight ripple to barely disrupt the status quo?
The Challengers
Arsenal remain the biggest threat, much as they did last year until their cataclysmic fade-out. Eight points clear on April 1st, five points adrift of City at the end of May, the Gunners finished second in a one-horse race – and it hurts. Their response has been to spend, and spend big. The acquisitions of Declan Rice (£105m), Jurrien Timber (£38m) and Kai Havertz (£65m) could be the missing ingredients for a title-winning cake.
Erik ten Hag finished third in his debut season at Manchester United, and will probably finish there again. Although they have bought Mason Mount (£60m) and Andre Onana (£47m), ten Hag’s best business was to get Marcus Rashford to commit to a new contract and get David de Gea and Phil Jones off the wage bill. In fact, the only change could see Newcastle and Liverpool swap positions, with the Merseysiders reclaiming a place in the Champions League. Both have strengthened midfield with Liverpool making the signing of the summer, Alexis Mac Allister from Brighton, for a relatively cheap £35m. He will fit in alongside Dominik Szoboslai (£60m from RB Leipzig) while Newcastle’s fans were probably hoping for more incomings than the exciting Sandro Tonali from AC Milan and Leicester’s Harvey Barnes.
EURO STARS?
Brighton were a breath of fresh air last season, deservedly earning a European place with their exciting attack-focused approach. However, their Europa League debut could be more of a curse than a blessing and their League position may suffer.
However, the experienced stewardship of Unai Emery should help Aston Villa steer their way through any difficulties on their travels in the Europa Conference League, and with Pau Torres and Youri Tielemans providing back-up they should consolidate their position.
Chelsea have had a fire sale with 25 players exiting Stamford Bridge, either on loan or permanently. And while they may have got big fees for Mount, Havertz and Mateo Kovacic (to Manchester City for £30m), old spending habits die hard and they have recruited Christopher Nkunku (RB Leipzig, £52m) and
Nicolas Jackson (Villareal, £30.1m). New boss Maurico Pochettino may have been magic, according to Tottenham fans, but he’s got to have something special up his sleeve to get Chelsea back to where they think they belong.
Speaking of Spurs, they have simpler ambitions: To resolve the annual Harry Kane “will he stay or will he go” saga and to keep a manager for a whole season. James Maddison and anticipated new centre-backs might get them back to the top six.
Brentford, another of the pleasing on the eye teams, have broken their transfer record twice in an attempt to stay on the coat-tails of the leading bunch. But £54m is a lot of money to basically stand still, although the acquisition of a certain Romeo Beckham from Inter Miami might gather them a few well-heeled admirers.
The Drop Zone
Luton’s fairytale rise from non-League to the top table in nine years is likely to come to a sticky end. They are overwhelming favourites to make a straight return to the Championship, but they should get more than Derby’s record low of 11 points thanks to their hostile, cramped home stadium.
As for the other two places, pick anyone from Nottingham Forest, Bournemouth, or Everton, whose luck must surely run out soon, while Wolves, Burnley and Sheffield United might have a few sleepless nights before next May.
