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#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
