A new Barclays Premier League season is nearly upon us. Managers the length and breadth of the country have been splashing cash on new players over the summer in the hope of giving their teams that extra advantage in the coming season.
Where have the biggest changes been occurring? Manchester United has taken Jose Mourinho on board as the new manager. Mourinho has taken a hatchet to the squad with Adnan Januzaj, Andreas Pereira, Bastian Schweinsteiger, and Paddy McNair being left out of the team. Schweinsteiger is in the reserves and the others have been told to find new clubs. A deal to move Paul Pogba to Man United is almost complete, although the player recently told fans in the USA he would be remaining at Juventus. Man United under Mourinho will undoubtedly be challenging for a Champions League spot this season.
Manchester City’s big hitting manager Pep Guardiola is attempting to stiffen up his defence by buying John Stones. Everton want big money and are waiting for Man City to break nerve before they’ll seal the deal. Man City have signed Brazilian Gabriel Jesus from Palmeiras for £28M after a transfer battle between Barcelona, Man United as well as Man City. At 19 years old Guardiola is hoping he settles at Man City after he moves from the Brazilian club. Watch Jesus at the Olympics to see what all the fuss is about.
Arsene Wenger at Arsenal may need to go £70M over the clubs £100M transfer budget. Swiss internation Granit Xhaka has been landed for £30M from Borussia Monchengladbach. Alexandre Lacazette from Lyons on his own is expected to cost more than £50M. That’s some big spending from Arsenal.
With Manchester United undoubtedly moving up the Premier League this season who is going to be squeezed out of the top three in 2016/17? 2015/16 saw the top three places blown apart by Leicester City and Tottenham hotspur, how are they going to fight off the big spenders this time round? Answers to these important questions should be apparent after the first few matches of the season. Not to mention the FA Community Shield between Leicester City and Man United Sunday 7th August, 16.00, Wembley Stadium.
Mauricio Pochettino is happy with his team having spent very little in the summer transfer window. After Harry Kane’s disappointing performance at Euro 2016 it’s anyone’s guess how Tottenham Hotspur will start the season.
Claudio Ranieri at Leicester City has signed Bartosz Kapustka from Polish club Cracovia. The 19 year old winger has signed on a 5 year contract. Jamie Vardy hasn’t moved to Arsenal as some predicted. Vardy is another player who had a disappointing Euro 2016 tournament, but, arguably less so than Tottenham’s Kane.
Odds for the top three positions in the Premier League outright winners market stand at Man City at 3.5, Man United at 4.33, and Chelsea at 6.5 all on Betfair. Last year’s winners Leicester City stand at odds of 29. Get a free bet on Betfair here.
Who is playing on the first day of the new Barclays Premier League 2016/17 season?
Hull City v Leicester City 12.30 Saturday 13th August
Burnley FC v Swansea City 15.00 Saturday 13th August
Middlesbrough v Stoke City 15.00 Saturday 13th August
Crystal Palace v West Brom 15.00 Saturday 13th August
Everton v Tottenham 15.00 Saturday 13th August
Southampton v Watford 15.00 Saturday 13th August