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The EPL (English Premier League) is often regarded as one of the best and most exciting football leagues in the world. The 2019-20 edition of the competition gave us everything we wanted. The EPL is renowned for its wealth, competitiveness and rivalries of which we had no shortage last season.
Liverpool were crowned the EPL champions last season, winning their first English top-flight title in over three decades by a mammoth 18-point margin over runners-up Manchester City. Liverpool, finished with 99 points last campaign, the second-highest tally of points ever achieved in an EPL season.
The 2019-20 EPL was deprived of its usual dogfight at the top, but lower down, there was drama aplenty. Only seven points separated third-placed Manchester United and seventh-placed Wolverhampton Wanderers.
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The Champions League places were decided on the final day of the season, in fixtures that resembled FA Cup finals. Manchester United beat Leicester City, and Chelsea defeated Wolves to claim the final two Champions League spots.
Arsenal and Tottenham had dismal campaigns, though, finishing in eighth and sixth place respectively. Both clubs went through managerial changes and suffered from a lack of quality and squad depth last season.
The two North London clubs will be keen to return closer to the top of the Premier League this season under their respective new managers Mikel Arteta and Jose Mourinho.
The gap in quality between Liverpool and the likes of Manchester City, Chelsea and Manchester United has forced other EPL clubs to dive deep into the transfer window this summer. With about a month to go till the end of the transfer window, clubs will be looking to sign more top players in order to be able to mount a serious challenge for the Premier League title or compete for European places.
The race for the top four in the EPL has intensified over the years. Therefore, adding quality to squads has never been more paramount. With half the transfer season already over, let us take a look at how England's top six clubs have fared in the market this summer so far.
A look at how the big 6 EPL clubs have fared in the transfer market so far:
#1: Liverpool (Rating - 6/10)
The scariest aspect about Liverpool is that their squad is still young and developing. Liverpool won the 2018-19 Champions League and the 2019-20 EPL titles with much the same squad.
In Andrew Robertson and Trent Alexander-Arnold, they have arguably the two best full-backs in Europe. However, Liverpool do not have any back-up options at right-back and left-back, with James Milner or Joe Gomez having to play out of position to make occasional shifts at full-back.
Liverpool have signed left-back Kostas Tsimikas this summer and have welcomed back 20-year-old striker Rhian Brewster who had a successful loan spell at Swansea.
Liverpool have also been linked with Bayern Munich midfielder Thiago Alcantara, who would undoubtedly add quality to an already brilliant Liverpool midfield. But a move for a back-up centre-half may make more sense for the Merseysiders.
#2: Manchester City (Rating - 7/10)
Manchester City endured a sub-par campaign last season. The Citizens lost nine EPL games last season, three more than what they did cumulatively in their two previous seasons.
City's defence has come under much scrutiny in recent times, especially after the departure of long-standing captain Vincent Kompany. This summer, they have added Nathan Ake from Bournemouth for £40 million.
City have also managed to replace Leroy Sane by signing Ferran Torres from Valencia for £21 million. With Phil Foden tipped to be David Silva's successor at the club, City need to focus on adding another quality centre-half to their ranks this season.
Kalidou Koulibaly has been linked with a move to Manchester City. His signing would send out a red alert to the rest of the EPL.
#3: Manchester United (Rating - 3/10)
Manchester United finished in third place in the EPL last season after they garnered 66 points. Their final flourish at the end of the season, where they went on a 14-game unbeaten streak, helped them achieve a top-four finish
It was apparent towards the end of last season that Manchester United suffered from a lack of options upfront. Their back-line was also subject to a lot of criticism, with fans and pundits not convinced with the pairing of Victor Lindelof and Harry Maguire due to their lack of pace.
With time running out this summer, Manchester United have only managed to sign Donny Van de Beek from Ajax for €40 million. The need for a quality attacker and centre-half is glaring.
Manchester United have also failed to find new homes for the likes of Chirs Smalling, Phil Jones, Marcos Rojo, Diogo Dalot and Andreas Pereira, all of whom have reportedly been informed that they do not have a future at the club.
United, like in other seasons, have been linked with a host of promising young players such as Jadon Sancho and Dayot Upamecano but have failed to add to the signing of Van de Beek. With only a month left in the transfer window, United may want to look at alternative options to bolster a squad that is expected to mount a challenge for the EPL title this season.
#4: Chelsea (Rating - 10/10)
What a transfer window it has been for Chelsea! The club, who suffered from a transfer ban that lasted two windows, have really made up for lost time. Frank Lampard has been provided with the funds needed to add quality players to a squad that mainly comprised of youth products last season.
Chelsea have strengthened every position in their squad by adding Timo Werner, Kai Havertz, Thiago Silva, Ben Chilwell, Hakim Zyiech and Malang Sarr. Their only weakness, however, is the goalkeeping position where Kepa Arrizabalaga has failed to impress during his two seasons at the club.
Chelsea have spent over £200 million this summer on transfers and are reportedly not done yet. The London club, who finished fourth in the EPL last season, have been linked with moves for a goalkeeper, Edouard Mendy and West Ham midfielder Declan Rice.
There will be a lot of pressure on Frank Lampard to produce the expected results in the EPL this season, given the amount of investment the club has made.
#5: Tottenham Hotspur (Rating - 5/10)
Much like Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur had a squad that lacked depth and quality last season. With injuries to key players hampering their progress under new manager Jose Mourinho, the club must look to sign quality players this summer and move on any deadweight from the club.
Tottenham have added Pierre-Emile Hojberg from Southampton and Matt Doherty from Wolves to their ranks this summer. What the North London club really need, however, is a backup striker for Harry Kane, a centre-back and a left-back.
Joshua King is a striker who recently endured EPL relegation with Bournemouth and may be available at a cheap price. He is a proven EPL goal-scorer and may be the perfect backup for Kane. Tyron Mings is a left-footed defender who could be the perfect replacement for the recently-departed Jan Vertonghen.
Mourinho has been a serial winner throughout his career, but with this Tottenham squad, it may be foolish of us to expect him to win the EPL title. A top-four finish will, however, be a bare minimum requirement from Mourinho in the 2020-21 EPL.
#6: Arsenal (Rating - 8/10)
Arsenal had a very poor EPL campaign last season, finishing in eighth place and winning just one away game all season. Their FA Cup and Community Shield triumphs, however, have been a source of hope and positivity for Arsenal fans.
Arsenal's main problem has always been their defence. Although they have two young talents at full-back in the form of Hector Bellerin and Kieran Tierney, their centre-back pairing of Shkodran Mustafi and David Luiz has given the fans nightmares.
The Gunners have managed to sign Pablo Mari and Cedric Soares in long-term deals after their respective successful loan spells and have now also added defenders Gabriel Margalhaes and William Saliba to their ranks this summer.
Arsenal also signed Willian from Chelsea this summer on a three-year deal. Willian will add quality and experience to a youthful-looking Arsenal squad. However, their most important 'move' this summer has undoubtedly been the one where they managed to tie club captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang to a new contract.
Arsenal, however, need to sign a midfielder this summer and move on deadweights like Mesut Ozil, Matteo Guendouzi and Lucas Torreira who have been reportedly told by Arteta that they do not have a future at the club. The Gunners have been linked with the likes of Thomas Partey and Houssem Aouar this summer, both of whom would definitely improve Arsenal's midfield.
The reigning FA Cup champions, who finished eighth in the EPL last season, are a young and developing team whose future looks bright under Mikel Arteta. Therefore, a challenge for the European places would be a reasonable expectation from the squad..
