'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Former Newcastle legend and current Match of the Day pundit Alan Shearer has tipped Manchester City to challenge the might of Manchester United and Chelsea next season in the fight for the Premier League title. Shearer underlined the importance of new players coming in between now and the end of the transfer window, and the impact they would have on the title race.
Speaking to The Mirror, Shearer admitted that the current City side would fall short once the season began, but said that Mancini would surely bring in more players with City’s financial pull behind him, and the Eastlands outfit might well become a force to reckon with come the end of August.
He said-
“I think City will have something to say about the Premier League domination of United and Chelsea.
“There are still around six weeks to go before the transfer window closes and City’s spending power could still change the picture.
“As it stands now I don’t think City can win the league, but ask me again in six weeks’ time and it could be totally different with the players they can afford to bring in.”
Shearer confessed that losing Carlos Tevez would be a big blow to City, but was sanguine about the whole affair, saying that losing important players was a part and parcel of the game, and cited the example of Manchester United while saying that it just had to be dealt with. He also said that City had the monetary resources to make up for the loss of Tevez by buying someone even better.
He said-
“It looks like City will lose Carlos Tevez, but they will have plans to take care of it.
“Big clubs lose big players.
“Manchester United have shown that over the years and still gone on to be successful.
“City may lose a great player, but they have the financial capability to blow everyone out of the water to get someone equally as good.”
Shearer stopped short of actually tipping City for the title however. He still maintained that the experience and ability of Man United and Chelsea would trump over plain financial clout. He said-
“Roberto Mancini’s side will have a big say in what happens, but when push comes to shove I think it will again come down to United and Chelsea. It will be very tight because I believe this season more teams will beat each other than ever before.”
It remains to be seen whether Shearer is proven right over his comments, or if City fall behind the pecking order next season. Stay tuned for more in this regard.
