Premier League 2018/19: Top 6 preview, transfer rating and predictions

Manchester City

Can Man City retain the Premier League title?

Last Season: 1st

Players In: Riyad Mahrez (Leicester, €67.8 million), Philippe Sandler (PEC Zwolle, €2.5 million), Daniel Arzani (Melbourne City, free)

Players Out: Angus Gunn (Southampton, €11.3 million), Joe Hart (Burnley, €3.9 million), Olarenwaju Kayode (Shakhtar Donetsk, €3 million), Yaya Touré (released)

Transfer Rating: 6/10

Preview

Perhaps it says a lot about the incredible squad depth at Man City that their main signing of the summer is a player who is expected to start on the bench. Last seasons champions set all sorts of new records on their relentless march to the title and will look to carry that form into this season.

However, retaining the Premier League title is notoriously difficult and hasn't been achieved since Man United did it way back in 2009. Man City have all the quality to blow the competition out of the water again, but it is the unmeasurable quantity of their mental state that will determine whether they retain their title or not.

With the only major new face at the Ethiad being Riyad Mahrez, the entire Man City squad has already tasted Premier League success. Therefore, complacency is bound to become an issue throughout the long campaign ahead.

Another important side note is the relentless desire from both club and manager to win the Champions League. Guardiola hasn't tasted European success since his first job at Barcelona, while Man City are desperate for their heavy investments to produce a Champions League title. This is undoubtedly their primary focus this season.

While it is more of a hope than a guarantee for the other top six sides, any slip up by Man City could prove costly in May next year. However, the destination of the league title this season is totally in the hands of the Citizens.

With 19 points to spare from last season, they will need to really mess things up to surrender their championship.

Prediction: 1st