It’s been a fairly quiet summer on the transfer front but things are sure to hot up before the window slams shut on September 2.
This last minute rush always amazes me.
Premier League managers act like fifth-formers at the school disco waiting for the last dance to make that desperate late lunge.
But one club have been quietly buying players and bedding them in – and they are my tip for the title this year.
Man City have already spent nearly £100m during this window with most of the cash going on the talented quartet of Jesus Navas, Fernandinho, Alvaro Negredo and Stevan Jovetic.
Carlos Tevez and a few fringe players have been shown the door along with manager Roberto Mancini.
New boss Manuel Pelligrini is now in charge of the league’s strongest squad and his calm,pragmatic leadership should be able to steer them to another title.
Pelligrini is used to working under the spotlight following a spell at Real Madrid and worked under another billionaire owner during his successful stint at Malaga.
Man City are 23/10 for the title with Paddy Power and that looks the bet with question marks over their main rivals.
David Moyes has huge shoes to fill at Man Utd and a lack of spending is a worry after being spurned by his top targets.
The diversion of the Rooney show rumbles on and I can see the Reds falling a bit short this year.
Jose Mourinho’s Chelsea will be a force but they don’t have the quality of City’s squad and need a new striker.
Arsenal won’t challenge for the title, but Luis Suarez will be value for the Golden Boot if he joins the Gunners .
That’s the title sorted – but what else lies ahead for the season?
Here’s a few predictions, some of which might not come true…….
Sky Sports will invent a new adjective to describe just how great the Premier League really is
Sir Alex Ferguson will stay very quietly in the background at Old Trafford
The first manager will be sacked before the end of September
Sam Allardyce will launch a total football revolution at West Ham
Bemused Spanish supporters will wonder what all the fuss was about with Gareth Bale
Fans will get fed-up paying £50 a game to watch overpaid footballers
England will scrape through to the World Cup finals before people start talking-up our chances of victory
England are knocked out in the quarter finals by a better team who everyone under-rated
We launch another post-tournament review of skill levels among young players
Footballers who can’t control the ball with both feet will still get paid £50,000 a week.
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