It is only just over a fortnight since one of the most dramatic conclusions ever to a Premier League.
A day to cap a thrill-a-minute season which left us guessing right until the end and included quite possibly the most famous six, mad, magic and monumental minutes ever known in English football.
And if you were a sucker for even more drama, it wasn’t until stoppage time of the 38th and final game of Leeds United’s season that we knew they would survive at the expense of Burnley.
Whatever your view of the 2021-22 campaign – and I agree with most of my colleague’s choices for his team of the season – it won’t be too long before Premier League highlights return and we are closely studying the SBOTOP Premier League betting odds once more.
With the transfer window set to open on Friday, certainly speculation is only going to increase and we await to see what deals are done and what impact already established players can have.
The club in need of the biggest transformation is Manchester United.
With a new manager arriving at a time when it is bidding farewell to at least five current or former internationals – all on free transfers – the task facing Erik Ten Hag is clear.
Based on the campaign just concluded, only two players emerged with any credit: David de Gea saved United from further humiliation and 37 year-old Cristiano Ronaldo netted 24 goals despite regularly being starved of service.
They both deserve much better.
Across the city, champions Manchester City have signed a phenomenal talent in Braut Erling Haaland from Borussia Dortmund.
Just imagining how good he can be is a prospect that must have City fans salivating, while others cower.
With Haaland and Julián Álvarez arriving at City, Gabriel Jesus could well be on his way out, which is a pity given he has been underrated by many.
The Brazilian has been linked with Arsenal who desperately need a striker with the news that Alexandre Lacazette is leaving the club this summer and the Gunners already failing to replace Pierre Emerick-Aubameyang following his departure to Barcelona in January. Don’t rule out Spurs coming in with an offer though.
Staying in the south, when no team would take a chance on Christian Eriksen in the New Year, Brentford gambled on the Dane and were duly rewarded.
The Bees beat the drop, accumulating more points (46) than fellow promoted sides Watford and Norwich combined (45), with Eriksen’s impact clear for all to see.
Seven of their 13 league wins came in his 10 starts, and attention in the 30 year-old has increased significantly as a result. Eriksen signed a short-term contract in January. Extending that deal could be Brentford’s most important business this summer.
Or could a big boy come calling? Perhaps even a return to Spurs?
Chelsea could be one of those interested, although their main priority will surely be in central defence now that Antonio Rudiger has joined Real Madrid, Andreas Christensen is set to move to Barcelona and Thiago Silva, while still supremely gifted, is at the tail-end of his career.
They have been linked with Josko Gvardiol who will not come cheap given that he is tied down at RB Leipzig until 2026, yet appears a good fit for the left-sided centre-back role.
Other questions remain such as will Youri Tielemans – the FA Cup match-winner in 2021 – leave Leicester this summer; is Sadio Mane set to wave farewell to Liverpool after eight years; can Ten Hag persuade fellow Frenkie de Jong to join him for a Dutch reunion; could Chelsea really bid farewell to club record signing Romelu Lukaku after less than 12 months – the Belgian supposedly desires to move back to Inter Milan – and who will Newcastle, now a lucrative destination, recruit?
It promises to be a busy summer on Tyneside with the club already reportedly in talks with Reims striker Hugo Ekitike, while it’s been announced midfielder Isaac Hayden has joined Norwich on a season-long loan.
Talking of one of the Milan giants, Spurs are in talks with Inter Milan to sign central defender Alessandro Bastoni.
The North Londoners, who have already signed Ivan Perisic from the San Siro, are keen to get as much of their transfer business done ahead of pre-season and Bastoni played under manager Antonio Conte when Inter won the Serie A title last year.
Meanwhile, Liverpool are reportedly winning the race for a young player regarded as one of the most talented teenagers in European football.
Calvin Ramsay has been one of the shining lights for Aberdeen as they endured a tough season in the Scottish Premiership and it seems Merseyside is his favoured destination.
As the speculation increases, much will become apparent in the two months ahead with the Premier League set to begin on August 6. Little over two weeks after the conclusion of 2021/22, it really isn’t that long!
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