sport news Where each top six club must strengthen to keep apace with Man City trends now

sport news Where each top six club must strengthen to keep apace with Man City trends now
sport news Where each top six club must strengthen to keep apace with Man City trends now

sport news Where each top six club must strengthen to keep apace with Man City trends now

Another year, another title. After four Premier League crowns in five seasons, it's often hard to imagine Manchester City getting any stronger.

Yet every summer, the Etihad chiefs splash out with consistency - Jack Grealish for £100million in 2021, Ruben Dias for £64m in 2020, Joao Cancelo and Rodri for a combined £118m in 2019.

In fact, the last time the champions failed to spend more than £50m on a single player was back in 2014, when Wilfried Bony, Eliaquim Mangala and Bacary Sagna were on the list of summer signings.

Erling Haaland's £51m move to City has continued to improve the Premier League champions

Erling Haaland's £51m move to City has continued to improve the Premier League champions

After quickly shelling out £51m on Borussia Dortmund star Erling Haaland and £42m on England international Kalvin Phillips, Man City have already strengthened ahead of another assault on the Premier League next campaign.

Liverpool are undoubtedly the closest behind the champions, having stretched Pep Guardiola's side to the final day once again last season, as they did in 2017-18.

Despite losing star winger Sadio Mane to Bayern Munich, Reds fans will hope that the arrival of Darwin Nunez for £85m - and the new contract for Mo Salah - will help propel Jurgen Klopp's troops to new heights and usurp Man City at the league's summit.

Meanwhile, Chelsea are just over one month into the Todd Boehly-led era, stacked with a consortium of five billionaires ready to splash out on summer signings.

Sadio Mane called an end to his six-year spell at Anfield as he moved to Bayern Munich

Sadio Mane called an end to his six-year spell at Anfield as he moved to Bayern Munich

Romelu Lukaku completed his loan to Inter less than a year after joining Chelsea for £97.5m

However, as overwhelming £97.5m transfer flop Romelu Lukaku returns to Inter and highly-rated defenders Antonio Rudiger and Andreas Christensen exit to LaLiga, Thomas Tuchel finds his squad a cut behind last season's two Premier League title-contenders.

After snatching Champions League qualification away from Arsenal in May, Spurs have supplied Antonio Conte with a glut of new talent in Richarlison, Yves Bissouma and Ivan Perisic.

And yet, much like the Gunners, who announced the £45m arrival of Gabriel Jesus last week, the north London club still have a long way to go before challenging Man City and Liverpool for the title.

Erik ten Hag was expected to oversee a summer overhaul but no signings have yet been made

Erik ten Hag was expected to oversee a summer overhaul but no signings have yet been made

Manchester United finally caught a transfer breakthrough on Monday as Christian Eriksen verbally agreed to a three-year deal at Old Trafford, but the club's long-time pursuit of Barcelona midfielder Frenkie de Jong is still yet to be finalised.

New boss Erik ten Hag has inherited a squad that finished last campaign with the club's lowest ever points tally and a star player in Cristiano Ronaldo who is eagerly pursuing an exit.

As Man City prepare to reload ahead of another title surge next season, Sportsmail has identified the positions in which each top six side must strengthen this summer, if they hope to keep apace with the Premier League champions.

Liverpool

The Anfield chiefs have done almost everything right so far in the transfer window.

Freshening up the frontline with star striker Nunez - albeit for a pricey £85m - and finding a new home for wantaway Mane before the start of pre-season has given Jurgen Klopp the best chance to settle his squad ahead of August.

Teenagers Fabio Carvalho and Calvin Ramsay joined Liverpool to inject a dose of youth into the squad, as Takumi Minamino exited to Monaco for £15.5m. 

Liverpool smashed their transfer record after sealing the £85m signing of Darwin Nunez

Liverpool smashed their transfer record after sealing the £85m signing of Darwin Nunez

Mohamed Salah signed a three-year extension worth £400,000-a-week at Liverpool last week

Mohamed Salah signed a three-year extension worth £400,000-a-week at Liverpool last week

And perhaps most importantly, the board managed to convince Mohamed Salah to sign a £400,000-a-week contract extension, keeping him at Anfield until June 2025.

The Reds have now shut the treasury this summer and are expected to head into next season with no more new additions, ready to lock horns with Man City in yet another title chase.

Klopp's side boasted the joint-best defence in the Premier League last campaign, as Virgil van Dijk cemented a fruitful partnership with Joel Matip, and Trent Alexander-Arnold and Andrew Robertson continued to prosper with goal contributions at full-back.

Andrew Robertson has developed into one of the world's best left-backs at Anfield

Trent Alexander-Arnold has created 12 or more Premier League assists in every season since 2018-19

Andrew Robertson (L) and Trent Alexander-Arnold (R) combined for 33 assists last campaign

Moreover, with inspired January addition Luis Diaz and new signing Nunez having bolstered the Reds up front, Klopp now has an embarrassment of riches in forward areas, with Salah, Diogo Jota and Roberto Firmino making up the German's star-studded five-man attack.  

But Liverpool, who are a little thin on the ground in terms of options in midfield, would arguably benefit from an extra playmaker in the engine room.

As 32-year-old captain Jordan Henderson and 36-year-old veteran James Milner continue to advance in years, Thiago has yet to play more than 25 league matches at Anfield since joining Liverpool.

Liverpool only managed 22 points from 33 whilst Thiago was injured last season

Liverpool only managed 22 points from 33 whilst Thiago was injured last season

Despite showcasing an impressive season, the Spaniard was plagued with a range of calf, hip and thigh injuries, causing him to miss 11 games.

Liverpool picked up just 22 points from a possible 33 whilst Thiago was sidelined, a crucial deficit which more than cost them the title.

Whilst youngsters Harvey Elliott and Curtis Jones have showed promise, Naby Keita and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain have yet to show dependability in the absence of Thiago and Henderson.

Liverpool once again heavily relied on their full-backs to provide creativity, with Alexander-Arnold and Robertson notching 33 assists in all competitions between them.

Even deputy left back Konstantinos Tsimikas managed the same number of assists as Henderson, who set up the most goals at Liverpool amongst midfielders.

Klopp undoubtedly favours industrious and hard-working midfielders to provide cover for the advancing wing-backs, but adding another playmaker into the engine room would seemingly help Liverpool in crucial matches against the top six.

Chelsea

First Raheem Sterling, now Ronaldo. Chelsea have been linked with some blockbuster moves, and there is certainly no denying Boehly's ambition.

However, despite the daily transfer links, the Blues have significantly regressed in terms of squad depth since the end of last season, having waved farewell to Lukaku, Rudiger, Christensen and Saul Niguez.

The return of England international Conor Gallagher from Crystal Palace is certain to bear fruit, although Chelsea are already well-stocked in defensive and attacking midfield ahead of next season.

Timo Werner has failed to impress with his goal scoring tally since arriving at Stamford Bridge

Timo Werner has failed to impress with his goal scoring tally since arriving at Stamford Bridge

A one-for-all approach to scoring goals can be profitable in the Premier League - just look at Manchester City - but Tuchel will be no doubt concerned as to the lack of natural goalscorers at Stamford Bridge.

The Blues have relied upon a goal-hungry striker during the club's last three title-winning seasons.

During both 2016-17 under Conte and 2014-15 under Jose Mourinho, Spanish hitman Diego Costa netted 20 times to crown Chelsea champions.

Two 20-goal seasons from Diego Costa helped Chelsea secure the title in 2014-15 and 2016-17

Two 20-goal seasons from Diego Costa helped Chelsea secure the title in 2014-15 and 2016-17

Rewind further and during Carlos Ancelotti's title-winning 2009-10 campaign, club legend Didier Drogba scored 29 goals.

By contrast, creative midfielder Mason Mount finished last season as Chelsea's top scorer with 11 goals, whilst strikers Lukaku and Timo Werner netted just eight and four respectively.

Kai Havertz, who also bagged eight last campaign, has become the favoured option at centre-forward under Tuchel but has only managed to score more than 15 league goals once during his senior

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