The top guns have set the pace spending millions of pounds, on players both domestic and abroad. Below are five new signings who could decide the destination of the title this season.
John Stones to Manchester City
Manchester City is full of attacking talent, but that hasn’t stopped Pep Guardiola from adding the likes of Leroy Sane and Nolito to their ranks.
The Citizens have arguably the best assembly of forward players in the league right now. But the real signing that might tilt this title race in City’s favour is that of young English centre-back John Stones.
Manchester City tends to look vulnerable in the absence of Vincent Kompany, as Mangala and to a lesser extent Otamendi have failed to live up to their hype in the Premier League.
John Stones is proven in the Premier League and is the highest rated young centre-back in the country.
Pep Guardiola loves ball playing centre-halves, and there is no better person for that role than Stones. The attacking players might get all the plaudits for City this season, but the performance of John Stones will be crucial in Manchester City’s hunt for the title.
Ngolo Kante to Chelsea
Chelsea is another team littered with quality attacking players, with the likes of Eden Hazard, Willian, Oscar, and Costa right up there with the best in the league.
However one of the reasons Chelsea did so poorly last season was that Cesc Fabregas was not doing enough defensively, leaving Nemanja Matic exposed time and time again.
The capture of Ngolo Kante will likely be Chelsea’s most pivotal transfer move this season, as there is no one better in the country at screening the back four.
Last season in the Premier League, Kante average 4.64 interceptions (Squawka), the most of any midfielder in the league. Bringing Kante in to relieve Chelsea’s midfielders of their defensive duties might just be the genius move Chelsea need to win this league.
Zlatan Ibrahimovich to Manchester United
Last time Manchester United won the league, they won it due to the genius of striker Robin Van Persie.
A combination of injuries and poor form have robbed the Red Devils of a world class striker for about three seasons now, a problem which has been addressed with the signing of Zlatan Ibrahimovich.
The Swedish marksman finished as top scorer in the French League last season, with 38 goals in only 31 games (ESPN), finishing with 17 goals more than the striker in 2nd place, Alexandre Lacazette.
He has started the season well in England, contributing three goals in 3 league matches, and Manchester United might ride all the way to this league title on the back of their Swedish attacker.
Granit Xhaka to Arsenal
Last season, Arsenal’s title ambitions last season started to fade the moment Santi Cazorla and Francis Coquelin succumbed to injury, as they lost their best deep lying playmaker and their only proper defensive midfielder.
Arsene Wenger looks to have learned with the early capture of Granit Xhaka, who excels at screening the defence and dictating play from deep. Last season, Xhaka averaged 2.78 interceptions, 2.14 tackles per game, with a pass completion rate of 85% (Squawka).
He excels at both short and long passes, which should create more space for the likes of Mesut Ozil and Alexis Sanchez to work with.
Lastly, Xhaka isn’t afraid to get stuck in, which is rare for an Arsenal player. If Arsenal are to challenge the mega rich trio of Chelsea, Manchester City, and Manchester United, Xhaka’s will need to be a colossus in midfield.
Ahmed Musa to Leicester
If there was any position in the attack that Leicester could look to improve after their unlikely league win last season, it was the left wing position, as Marc Albrighton is more of a hard worker, than a game changer.
Ahmed Musa, who is lightning quick fits right into the Foxes counter-attacking plan. Instead of looking to only Mahrez and Vardy to get the goals, the Champions now have a third threat in the Nigerian International.
The 23-year-old contributed 18 goals and six assists in all competitions last season, as CSKA Moscow secured the title on the final day.
Teams will have watched several replays of Vardy and Mahrez, so Musa, who is still a relatively unknown quantity might be their joker as they look to retain the league title.