Well folks…it’s finally here! The 2019/20 Premier League season is upon us and we’re in for another roller coaster ride…
European Champions Liverpool will raise the curtain with a game against newly promoted Norwich City on Friday night. Jurgen Klopp has had a quiet summer and has already started the mind games, saying that Manchester City has a bottomless pit of money to help them in their quest for a third consecutive league title.
The pre-season SBOBET odds say the Citizens will be successful, but not because they are the biggest spenders. By the time we all had our first coffee on deadline day that title was held by their neighbours, Manchester United.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has spent big over the summer, splashing £145m on Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Daniel James, and the headline grabbing capture of Harry Maguire. £80m seems an awful lot of money to spend on a defender, but Maguire’s move to Manchester United from Leicester City went through at the beginning of the week and that deal alone could end up costing the Red Devils £150m. The England star
has accepted a wage rise from the 75k a week he earned at Leicester to £190k per week.
Meanwhile, Manchester United fans have been wondering whether they would start the season with Paul Pogba and Romelu Lukaku, both the subject of intense transfer speculation the minute the 2018/19 season drew to a close.
It looks like Lukaku has finally got his move, taking a medical at Inter Milan on deadline day with a £77m fee agreed between the two clubs. And that means OGS may well be back in the market for a like-for-like replacement. It’s all about Premier League 2019 results for Ole, after a difficult first season in charge.
Across the road Pep Guardiola know that all too well, and he has moved this summer to continue to strengthen his 2018 and 2019 league winners. Manchester City signed midfield lynchpin Rodri from Atletico Madrid for a club record £62.8m fee. Rodri, 23, joins on a five-year deal and is City’s second signing of the summer after defender Angelino rejoined from PSV Eindhoven.
There s more to come with right back Joao Cancelo joining the Sky Blues, and Danilo heading the other way to join the Bianconeri, and that looks like concluding the business at the Etihad.
Spurs fans have been hoping Mauricio Pochettino would add to the signing of the impressive Tanguy Ndombele who we think could be one of the players of the season. The Premier League 2019 betting odds see Manchester City and Liverpool battling it out again this season, but with a couple of new additions Spurs will hope to stay in the race a little longer than last season.
North London rivals Arsenal will have something to say about that. The Gunners have agreed to sign full back Kieran Tierney from Celtic in a £15 move, but Unai Emery’s marquee signing has been the recruitment of winger Nicolas Pepe in a £72m switch from Lille.
Of the teams starting life in the Premier League, and those looking over their shoulders, Aston Villa have been the most ambitious, spending well over £100m to try to ensure their stay is longer than one season.
Sheffield United has been more careful, signing Oli McBurnie in a £17m deal from Swansea City to improve their strike force. Norwich City has brought in a defender, Ibrahim Amadou arriving on a season long loan from Sevilla.
Brighton has signed Brentford striker Neal Maupay, while Bournemouth has picked up midfielder Phillip Billing from relegated Huddersfield.
Last minute deals?
With most of the business done, a few teams are still scrabbling around to try to get a last minute signing done.
Spurs fans look set to get their wish with Giovani Lo Celso arriving for a medical in advance of a £55m switch from Real Betis, and they have also agreed to pay £30m to bring Ryan Sessegnon from Fulham to Spurs.
But the Whites could be overshadowed by their rivals as David Luiz looks set to complete a £8m transfer from Chelsea to Arsenal as he doesn’t seem to be in Frank Lampard’s plans at the Bridge.
Manchester United are weighing up a move for striker Mario Mandzukic as a possible replacement for Lukaku.
But the saga surrounding Wilfried Zaha rumbles on. He has been offered £200k a week to move from Crystal Palace to Everton; and he has handed in a transfer request. The Eagles have already landed Real Betis playmaker Victor Camarasa on loan, with an option to buy.
And Burnley might have landed a big signing. The Clarets look set to sign Chelsea midfield star Danny Drinkwater on a one year loan.
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