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It’s that time of the year again. The new Premier League season is less than a month away and some of the biggest clubs in England have already played their hands in the transfer market. With the likes of Manchester City, Liverpool, Manchester United, and Chelsea growing in stature in recent years, it’s quite impossible to predict what we’re in store for this year.
The Premier League is no stranger to competitive title races and the 2021-22 season has a particularly interesting look to it at the moment. There are several factors influencing the title race this year, but the top four will likely feature the Premier League’s usual suspects.
The transfer market will play a massive role in this Premier League title race, with clubs having to make do with shoestring budgets as a result of the pandemic. Fifth place is up for grabs this year, and we’ll probably see another race for Champions League qualification towards the end of the season.
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Some of the biggest teams in the Premier League are yet to dip into their funds this summer. It does make you wonder if they are over their budget for the season or if they’re happy with the players they’ve got at the moment.
We may yet be in for a high-profile transfer in the coming weeks – it only takes a few transfer decisions to influence a Premier League title bid. Without further ado, here are my favorites for the Premier League top five this season.
#5 Leicester City
Leicester City are my favorites to secure a fifth-place finish in the Premier League, and for good reason. Brendan Rodger’s side have already defied skeptics across the country in recent years and have shown steady improvement despite the occasional setback in the transfer market.
Leicester City probably won’t repeat their heroics from 2016 and win the Premier League. There is one thing that puts distance between them and the chasing pack – an extraordinary sense of ambition. The Foxes are in no mood for a strawberry season and simply refuse to disappear after a successful season.
With Patson Daka and Boubakary Soumare joining Leicester City’s ranks this year, Rodgers has the ammunition he needs to mount another title challenge. Leicester City might not be able to win the Premier League title next year but they are certainly a bonafide top-five candidate.
#4 Manchester United
Manchester United have a strong squad and will be in the reckoning for the title this season. The Jadon Sancho factor is undeniably massive. He didn’t get the minutes he needed at the Euros, but that’s largely down to Gareth Southgate’s system with the England national team. When he did come on, he was certainly a handful and showcased his qualities admirably.
The goalkeeping situation at the club is interesting, and I’d say Dean Henderson is set to be Ole’s top choice in the Premier League. A change in between the sticks would cause a ripple effect, however, and the rest of the team could potentially need some time to adjust to the change.
It is unlikely that Manchester United will lose their fluidity but with Chelsea, Liverpool, and Manchester City as competition, the Red Devils can’t afford to concede an early advantage. If Manchester United take their time to establish themselves as Premier League contenders, we could be having conversations about whether they can catch up by Christmas.
Paul Pogba has become a focal point yet again in the transfer market. If I was in that changing room, I’d be like, “Here we go again!” The other players wouldn’t be too worried about it, though – Pogba’s transfer situation is always in the news and this summer’s discourse seems par for the course. Bruno Fernandes is also an important player for Manchester United, and it’ll be interesting to see how he performs this year.
There is a clear demarcation between the top three and the rest of the contenders at the moment, and Manchester United will need to do better this season. The Red Devils have plenty of quality in their ranks but often fail to match their talent with results in the Premier League.
Also Read: Jim Beglin column - Best possible starting XI for Liverpool next season
#3 Chelsea
The biggest ace up Chelsea’s sleeve this season is Thomas Tuchel. The German manager has been given a full pre-season to work with his squad – we’ve seen how important that is with Liverpool and Klopp a few years ago. Chelsea haven’t spent any money in the transfer market as yet, but they do have some players coming back from loan and it will be up to Tuchel to decide whether replacements are the need of the hour.
Thomas Tuchel is the improver, not the purchaser. He’s more than just a manager, he’s a fantastic coach. Tuchel improves players instead of just buying them, and he now has the time he needs to assess his options and work wonders with what he has.
Tuchel has an uninterrupted coaching schedule to work on his team and will likely be intent on improving the players he already has at Chelsea. With Olivier Giroud completing his transfer to AC Milan, however, Chelsea might be in the market for a striker. Giroud has been their focal point in attack and there remain a few question marks over Tammy Abraham.
Chelsea do have possibilities in the transfer market and have earned over £31 million this summer. The Blues could build on their Champions League triumph and become serious title contenders, and I expect Chelsea to come flying out of the blocks this season.
#2 Liverpool
Liverpool have pulled off only one big signing in Ibrahima Konate this summer, and it’s not bad business by any stretch of the imagination. I’d be very surprised if they – or any other big club for that matter – goes big in the transfer market this summer. Liverpool, in particular, could even look to sell some of their players and ease the burden on their wage bill.
Virgil van Dijk’s return is a huge plus for Liverpool and can even be seen as a new signing. Liverpool and their medical staff have taken their time with Van Dijk’s recovery and with the defender now back in training, they could become a formidable force in the Premier League.
It will be interesting to witness a fully-fit Liverpool squad going up against the likes of Manchester City and Chelsea. Suddenly, Liverpool’s squad is brimming with key players and remains one of the most well-rounded units in the Premier League. Georginio Wijnaldum’s absence does pose a few question marks but Jurgen Klopp has the firepower he needs to mount another title bid this season.
#1 Manchester City
I find it quite surprising that people still see Manchester City as big spenders – they’re £35 million in the green in this summer transfer window. It will be interesting to see where and how they’ll spend this money, given that they have a few players back from loan spells.
Manchester City have been linked with the likes of Haaland and Kane, but players of their caliber are going to cost quite a lot of money. These transfers also work against Pep Guardiola’s model – he often signs players most people don’t think about and turns them into champions. I don’t see Manchester City spending big this summer, but I’m well aware that they could prove me wrong in an instant.
In my opinion, Manchester City do hold the upper hand in the Premier League title race. It will be a close affair, however, and Guardiola would have learned a lot about his opponents over the past year. Manchester City are easy to back as title favorites because they’re always up there among the best in the Premier League.
Also Read: Paul Merson column - 5 most underrated players in the Premier League
