Next Season

We might be on the brink of a pretty exciting season ahead. For the first time in years, we're seeing top teams managed by individuals who seem ready to take their squads to the next level.

Manchester City are already a football juggernaut under Pep Guardiola. They're at the top of the pile right now, and honestly, there's no need for further elaboration. Guardiola's boys are setting the pace and the standard for everyone else.

*I'm obviously hopeful for an exciting season but there is definitely a chance, quite a strong chance in fact that City end up walking it - particularly after a full season of adapting Haaland into their side.

Manchester United. They've been through the wringer a bit in recent years, but with Ed Woodward finally off the scene and Erik ten Hag at the helm, things could be looking up. It's just opinion but I think Ten Hag could be the first manager since Fergie where you can really see the potential for them to become a longer term force again. It won't happen overnight, but there's a new sense of optimism around Old Trafford that hasn't been felt in a while.

Meanwhile, down in North London, Arsenal are coming off a great season. Despite the monumental bottle job at the end, it was a cracker of a year for the Gunners. Mikel Arteta had a bit of a rocky start to his time at Arsenal, not to mention the boatloads of cash he's spent, but he's managed to steer the ship around. With a young, promising squad and more top talent set to join this summer, things are definitely looking up for Arsenal - whether they can balance being in Europe with another charge at the league remains to be seen.

Moving west to Chelsea, well, they're a bit of a wildcard. They've got a knack for bouncing back from disaster in the blink of an eye. The appointment of Mauricio Pochettino has definitely piqued interest, and while it could all go pear-shaped, it's still an exciting move. Their squad might be a mixed bag, but there are quite a few players who had a great run before joining Chelsea, perhaps Poch can get a decent tune out of them yet.

Liverpool under Jurgen Klopp doesn't need much of an intro. Last season was a bit of a flop, there are gaps to fill and some of the star players aren't getting any younger. And then there's the spending restrictions they're dealing with. Despite all this, you can never write them off. If history has taught us anything, it's that Liverpool could easily be back up there challenging City for the title next season.

Tottenham fans might take issue with this, but bringing in Ange Postecoglou could be a brilliant move. After years of less-than-stellar football, there's a chance Spurs might finally get back to their attacking roots under Postecoglou. They'll need a bit of a cash injection to really compete, and Harry Kane's future is still up in the air. But there's more than a glimmer of hope in my opinion.

Newcastle had a excellent season last year and, like Arsenal, they'll now have more battles to fight on different fronts. This could prove tricky, but with the owners ready to invest in the squad, they should have the resources they need to hold their own. Even a repeat of last seasons league results would be a serious achievement in my opinion, anything on top of that while also playing in Europe would really cement the rep Eddie Howe is building at the club.

Lastly, we've got Brighton under Roberto De Zerbi. They've done a brilliant job so far, but how long can they keep selling their stars and replacing them? They might start to struggle sooner or later, but for now, they're a testament to smart management and scouting. Here's hoping they keep it up.