The Premier League transfer market is buzzing with activity. June was one heck of a month and there is no sign of any let-up.
With the 2022/23 campaign set to start on 5th August there is still over a month for the clubs to get their squads together, ready to go again. So let’s take a look at the ‘Big Six’ of the English league and make a call on how each club is faring in the race to put together a winning team.
Manchester City
Of course the Sky Blues had a head start on the others, as they were the best team in the 2021/22 campaign, winning the league for the fourth time in five seasons. And they made all the Premier League 2022 newsheadlines in June when they finalised the signing of Erling Braut Haaland for a bargain price of £51m. The former Borussia Dortmund striker has filled the gap left by Sergio Aguero and City fans, as well as the neutrals, can’t wait to see him in the English league.
Defensive midfielder Fernandinho has left the building and reports in the English press suggest Leeds star Kalvin Phillips is on his way to the Etihad for a price of £45m plus add-ons.
Verdict
Guardiola has addressed the striker issue and that will make the Sky Blues even harder to catch.
Liverpool
The Reds have made their own marquee signing by bringing Darwin Nunez to Anfield for a fee of £85m and here at SBOTOP we have picked the former Benfica striker as a potential dark horse for the 2022/23 Golden Boot.
And on Friday the news that all Liverpool fans have been waiting for finally arrived, as Mo Salah signed a new three-year deal worth a reported £54m. That’s money well spent for the Egyptian who has scored 156 goals in 254 appearances for the Reds since his arrival from Roma five years ago.
Verdict
The early Premier League 2022 betting odds back Manchester City for the title, but the deals to link Nunez up with Salah give Liverpool a fighting chance.
Chelsea
Rumours are circulating that the Blues are preparing to spend big but no one has yet appeared through the door at Stamford Bridge. Manchester City forward Raheem Sterling has held positive talks with head coach Thomas Tuchel and he looks likely to agree a move to London sooner rather than later.
Tuchel is also working hard to bring in one or two new defenders, with Inter’s Milan Skriniar and Napoli’s Kalidou Koulibaly on the radar.
Verdict
There is plenty going on behind the scenes but Chelsea have done nothing yet to suggest they can close the gap on the top two
Tottenham Hotspur
Spurs chairman Daniel Levy has had some sort of epiphany it seems, as the normally tight-fisted businessman has backed his head coach Antonio Conte to the hilt.
Ivan Perisic, Yves Bissouma and now Richarlison have all joined the club, from Inter Milan, Brighton and Everton respectively. And it has been reported that a loan deal has been agreed to bring France centre-back Clement Lenglet to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Verdict
Spurs have done their business early and look good for another top-four finish
Arsenal
The Gunners have already brought in Fabio Vieira from Porto for a fee of £34m and, as an attacking midfielder he will provide competition for Bukayo Saka and Emile Smith-Rowe. 19-year-old Brazilian winger Marquinhos has also been added into the attacking mix.
But the biggest deal of all is about to be unveiled as Gabriel Jesus, on his way from Manchester City, is hoping to join the Gunners in pre-season on Monday. The deal was agreed over a week ago to bring Jesus to the Emirates for a fee of £45m and we should see him in a red and white shirt very soon.
Head coach Mikel Arteta is also trying to bring in reinforcements at the back, and negotiations are underway with Ajax regarding their £40m rated defender Lisandro Martinez.
Verdict
Jesus is a fine replacement for Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, but Arteta is lagging behind Conte in the North London battle
Manchester United
Nothing seems to be going right at Old Trafford at the moment. After another underwhelming campaign the Red Devils have just received the news that Cristiano Ronaldo has had enough and wants out of Old Trafford – for a second time. He led United in scoring last year but, at 37, he wants to win more trophies which he feels he can’t in Manchester, where the club has been pot-less for five long years.
Napoli are rumoured to be interested in Ronaldo as they look to challenge in Serie A.
And it seems that Erik Ten Hag’s long-running pursuit of Barcelona midfielder Frenkie de Jong has hit the skids. Barcelona president Joan Laporta has insisted the Dutch master is staying at the Camp Nou, saying: “There are clubs that want him, not just United. We have no intention of selling him, he wants to stay.”
Verdict
Something needs to happen for Ten Hag soon, or it could be another long season at Old Trafford.
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