WHAT do you do when you’re Manchester City and don’t win the English Premier League?
That’s easy.
Spend, spend, spend.
With less than a week to go until the start of the new Premier League season, the giants – with a seemingly endless barrel of cash – have splurged more than $170 million AUD on players so far this off season.
The haul is impressive and that is why the Sky Blues are a $3.40 favourite with WilliamHill.com.au to win the title this season.
Schalke’s attacking midfielder Leroy Sane heads a star cast, including Gabriel Jesus – dubbed the ‘New Neymar’ – Borussia Dortmund hard man Ilkay Gundogan, teenage Colombian striker Marlos Moreno, FC Ufa’s Alexander Zinchenko and talented Spanish attacker Nolito.
It’s a haul that makes City an even more formidable foe, after it finished second last season, but still leaves question marks over a defence that is said to be in need of reinforcements.
Gabriel is perhaps the club’s most intriguing signing.
He has been hailed as the best young striker in the world and was named ‘best newcomer’ in the Serie A Campeonato in Brazil last year.
He has 26 goals in 67 first team games for Palmeiras and consummated his move to England while on duty with his home nation Brazil at the Rio Olympics.
“Manchester City is one of the best clubs in the world so I’m really pleased to sign,” Jesus said. “We have many great talents in the team and a fantastic manager in Pep Guardiola that I can learn so much from.
“I’m looking forward to showing the City fans what I can do and I think we’ll have a great future together.”
City’s director of football Txiki Begiristain was gushing about his young prospect.
“We are delighted that Gabriel has chosen to join us.
“He is one of the most exciting young prospects in world football and plays the game in a spectacular way.
“We look forward to him making a big impact at Manchester City in January.”
But, it’s all well and good to spend money, but that does not necessarily guarantee success.
City spent in excess of $150 million last year, but was trumped by a team that spent just $80 on its entire team.
It appears, though, the bookies have been blinded by the bright lights again, giving reigning Champion Leicester City very little chance of going back to back and taking out the title.
The Foxes are rated a $26 chance with WilliamHill.com.au. It’s a far cry from the $5000 to $1 you could find with some bookmakers at the start of last season, but it is still not a quote befitting of a club that holds the title and has largely kept its line up together.
The Foxes have held onto gun striker Jamie Vardy, despite a big money move from Arsenal, and it looks like the Gunners could be in for more heartbreak, with the $7 fourth favourites warned by Leicester City coach that last season’s PFA player of the year Riyad Mahrez if not for sale.
The only key player to have left the club this off-season is bullish defender N’Golo Kante who departed after Chelsea ($6.50) triggered a release clause in his contract.
“The chairman told me at the beginning, when we spoke, that we want to keep everybody,” Ranieri said this week.
“Kante had a clause and wanted to go, but the others stay with us.
“It is not a distraction for me.
“I am used to speaking about these things.
“But it is important that my players believe in the new moment.
It is normal others want Riyad and other players, but we must focus on the job.
“I speak with him a lot and I hope I can help him.”
The Algerian star still has three years to go on his contract at the Foxes, but it will be interesting to see if the big money does come for him, how easily they find it to resist – and how badly he wants to stay, given the lure of the big clubs.
Still, the Foxes are in the Champions League and many of these guys played key roles in getting them there, so they may just want to stay on and finish the job.
Manchester United, with the Special One as its new manager, has also splashed the cash, but their most popular signing is Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
Ibra is one of the most well known players in world soccer and the Red Devils are in the money as a $4.25 second favourite, thanks to Jose Mourinho’s off season moves.
2016-17 English Premier League winner market
Manchester City ($3.40)
Manchester United ($4.25)
Chelsea ($6.50)
Arsenal ($7)
Liverpool ($9)
Tottenham ($10)
Leicester City ($26)
West Ham ($67)
Everton ($81)
Southampton ($151)
Crystal Palace ($401)
Stoke ($501)
Middlesbrough ($501)
Swansea ($501)
Sunderland ($751)
Watford ($751)
Bournemouth ($1001)
West Bromwich ($1001)
Burnley ($1001)
Hull ($1001)
Odds provided by WilliamHill.com.au
2016-17 English Premier League Golden Boot market
Sergio Aguero ($4.50)
Harry Kane ($7)
Zlatan Ibrahimovic ($9)
Romelu Lukaku ($13)
Diego Costa ($15)
Jamie Vardy ($17)
Michy Batshuayi ($19)
Alexis Sanchez ($21)
Daniel Sturridge ($21)
Olivier Giroud ($21)
Anthony Martial ($34)
Christian Benteke ($34)
Kelechi Iheanacho ($34)
Vincent Janssen ($41)
Wayne Rooney ($41)
Odds provided by CrownBet.com.au