U – Underdogs? What’s that?
Each club in the EPL received an equal share of approximately £55.8m last season from domestic TV rights, overseas TV rights and commercial income from sponsors. That is enough to sign three quality players to add to their squad (one-and-a-half if they are English). With total payments ranging from between £66m to £101m, there’s no question that all clubs have enough ammo to spend in the transfer market and build competitive sides.
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V – Vardy’s party to continue?
Jamie Vardy set the EPL alight last season with his tireless running and clinical finishing leading Leicester City to an unlikely title. The 29-year-old went to the Euros as a second-choice striker when he should have started games instead. The Golden Boot race may have been won by Harry Kane last season but remove the suspension Vardy received and he may have clinched it at the line. Can he do it this season?
W – Wenger’s last chance to win a title
Last season, The Arsenal boss didn’t sign a single outfield player and still beat every other major rival – only to finish second. The one thing he did not count on was Leicester City beating 5000/1 odds to finish as champions. Will he invest wisely in the transfer market this time to strengthen the Gunners with all his rivals rebuilding with some big names? It’s the final year of his contract and many believe it could be his last season with the Gunners.
X – Xhaka
Come on, what else was I expected to include for ‘X’ here? Here are 5 things you should know about Granit Xhaka.
Y – Yaya Toure Sanogo
Yaya Toure’s future at City is uncertain under Guardiola even if he has said in the press that he would work with him. Inter Milan has been linked for months and there could still be a chance of the Ivorian midfielder moving. But his days are numbered, which means Arsenal striker Yaya Sanogo automatically becomes the most lethal player in the Premier League this season.
Z – Zlatan Ibrahimovic
Saving the second best (after Sanogo, of course) for last. Some say he is over the hill but if one scores more goals in the league than their current age, then there is definitely something about him that cannot be simply ignored. 34-year-old Ibrahimovic just had the most prolific season of his career, scoring 50 goals in all competitions in 51 games for PSG (38 goals in Ligue 1). After finding success in Italy, Spain and France, he is now set to test Premier League defences and make headlines every week he can.
