With the ‘big four’ a thing of the past I have produced a club summary of business/potential business conducted by the top 6 from last season so far during the 2011 summer transfer window.
With most of the clubs below having the need for quite big changes I feel we are in for some surprises next season. With the start of the 2011/2012 season not long away how are they faring with their rebuilding programs?
Also where I think they will finish next season if they sell players and improve their squads with some of the players they are being linked with.
Key
Completed – (Black)
Strong Links – (Blue)
Arsenal
In: Carl Jenkinson, Gervinho, Karim Benzema, David Villa, Gary Cahill
Out: Samir Nasri, Cesc Fabregas, Nicolas Bendtner, Manuel Almunia, Denilson, Emanuelle Eboue.
Potential area/s that needs strengthening: centre back, centre midfield, left back.
Summary: Unhappy ex players and fans with a slow summer window to date. Will the gooners hold onto their top players, if not they will need replacements which will gel quickly as a top four finish will the hardest to achieve since the premier league began!
PREDICTION: 5TH (Down a place)
Chelsea
In: Andres Villas-Boas (manager), Luka Modric , Romelu Lukkaku, Neymar, Thibault Courtois.
Out: Nicolas Anelka, Yuri Zhirkov, Paolo Ferreira.
Potential area/s that needs strengthening: centre midfield, right wing, wing backs.
Summary: A few deals in the pipe line so far this summer but not much else, Chelsea made a strong finish to the season after adding Torres and Luiz with a change of manager and adding another one or two additions they will have a strong squad. Will an inexperienced manager in the toughest league prove costly?
PREDICTION: 3rd (Down a place)
Liverpool
In: Steve Keen (coach), Charlie Adam, Stewart Downing, Jordan Henderson, Alex O’Hanlon, Doni , Jeffren Suarez, Bojan Krkic, Jose Enrique.
Out: Sami Lee (coach), Paul Konchesky, Milan Jovanovic, Christian Poulson, Maxi Rodriguez, Nabil Eh Zhar, Emiliano Insua, David N’gog, Brad Jones.
Potential area/s that needs strengthening: centre forward, left back, centre back.
Summary: Big fees for the new British signings so far, a change from the clubs overseas fifty percent success rate in the past. Liverpool had a strong finish (second highest points total since Christmas 2011) to the season and with big investment will see a top four finish as a must. With no European challenge this season can ‘King Kenny’ spring a shock and challenge the leaders for the title?
PREDICTION: 4TH (Up 2 places)
Manchester United
In: Ashley Young, David De Gea, Phil Jones, Wesley Sneijder, Marek Hamsik.
Out: Wes Brown, John O’shea, Paul Scholes, Darren Gibson, Edwin Van Der Sar, Nani, Owen Hargreaves.
Potential area/s that needs strengthening: wing backs, more experienced backup goal keeper needed.
Summary: Made good business in the window, replacing Van Der Sar was important and dealt with relatively early on. Spent big to get in top quality targets they needed after the hurt of Wembley in May.
PREDICTION: 1ST (Champions)
Tottenham Hotspur
In: Cristian Ceballos, Brad Friedel, Sergio Aguero.
Out: Peter Crouch, Robbie Keane, Nico Krancjar, Roman Pavylchenko, Jonathan Woodgate, Wilson Palacios, Luka Modric.
Potential area/s that needs strengthening: striker/s, ring wing, right back, attacking midfielder.
Summary: Slow business so far in the window, surprising since they acted similarly in the January window and paid the price for not investing to chase down Arsenal and Manchester City.
PREDICTION: 6TH (Down a place)
Manchester City
In: Gael Clichy, Stefan Savic, Sergio Aguero, Kaka, Fabio Ceontrao, Alexis Sanchez, Samir Nasri.
Out: James Milner, Jerome Boateng, Shaun Wright-Phillips, Emmanuel Adebayor, Craig Bellamy, Carlos Tevez.
Potential area/s that needs strengthening: left back, right back, striker.
Summary: Squad needs to be lightened as they have too many players. Adding two or three quality players could be all that is needed to add to this big expensively assembled squad. City have been lining up their options in the window quietly thus far and will probably have a big say fee wise before the kick off in August. A busy final few weeks expected.
PREDICTION: 2nd (Up a place)
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