WHAT an off-season it has been in the English Premier League.
With 18 days to go before the first game kicks off, all the markets are beginning to take shape.
And it’s a battle of familiar foes at the top, with Manchester City leading the way at $3.25, ahead of cross town rival Manchester United at $4.50.
Most of the hum about Manchester City surrounds its new manager Pep Guardiola. One of the most successful bosses in the world, Guardiola won the La Liga title with Barcelona three times, and then did the same thing with Bayern Munich. He has also won the Champions League twice and brings with him great expectations for the Sky Blue side of Manchester.
His only major signing to date has been Borussia Dortmund midfielder Ilkay Gundogan.
Gundogan provides a depth in midfield, but also loves to attack and take on defenders. He can score goals, but it will depend on how Guardiola chooses to deploy him.
If the hype surrounding Guardiola was big, it is nothing compared to The Special One’s reign at Manchester City.
One of the most charismatic manager’s in the world, Jose Mourinho has taken the helm at the Red Devils.
He’s begun by making this the summer of Zlatan, the wonderful Swedish striker who has finally made the move to the Premier League after years of dominating Serie A and French Ligue 1.
One bloke who is excited by Ibrahimovic’s move is United legend Wayne Rooney. At 34, it remains to be seen if he Ibra can have an impact in the world’s toughest league, but there is no doubt the pair are among the best goal scorers to have played the game.
“I am looking forward to it,” Rooney said when asked about playing with Ibrahimovic.
“I think he has been one of the best strikers in world football over the last 10 years and he has always won trophies everywhere he has been.
“He is a huge character so I am looking forward to getting back, training with him and hopefully forming a good partnership and being successful together.”
One United star who doesn’t appear to be as happy with the move is French teen Anthony Martial.
Martial is apparently dirty that United has given Ibra his number 9 jersey, the number traditionally worn by goal-scoring centre forward.
Couple that with the fact that Martial has used AM9 as his branding, it really throws a spanner in the works.
It seems strange that United would do this without telling a kid who should be leading the club into the future, especially for a player who may be past his best.
It would not surprise if he fell out with Mourinho, who has never been one for flash.
One club that would certainly suit Martial is perennial top four finisher Arsenal.
Third favourite at $6.50 for the title, the young Frenchman would seem a perfect fit for Arsene Wenger.
Gunners fans have launched a campaign to “Make Mart Ours” in the hopes Wenger will capitalise on the delicate situation at United, especially given they have again been quiet, making just the one big money move for Borussia Monchengladbach midfielder Granit Xhaka.
There has been little love for last season’s champion Leicester City, the Foxes are way out at $26 to win the title, despite retaining the services of star striker Jamie Vardy.
Vardy snubbed a move by Arsenal to secure his services in order to stay loyal at King Power Stadium.
The club’s only real loss so far has been a big one – N’Golo Kante has made a big money move to rival Chelsea, but that has been offset by the signing of Ahmed Musa from CSKA Moscow.
The club has just Tweeted a squad picture that does not feature Riyad Mahrez, enhancing the chances of the superstar player of the year making a move to potential suitors Arsenal or Liverpool.
Of the other chances, the bookies think Chelsea is a chance of rebounding from a stunningly bad 2015-16 season, rating the Pensioners a $7 chance to top the table.
Tottenham fell over the line last season, but CrownBet.com.au has it at $8, with Liverpool just behind at $9.
Hardy finished just one goal behind Tottenham’s Harry Kane in the Golden boot race last season, equal with Manchester City’s superstar Sergio Aguero.
But he is a $17 long shot to go one better in 206-17.
Aguero, as always, is the favourite at $4.20, with Kane, who bagged 25 goals last campaign, next best at $7.
Ibrahimovic is the only other player in single figure odds at $9.
At the other end of the table, newly promoted clubs Hull City ($1.85), Burnley ($1.90) and Middlesbrough ($2.60) head the list of clubs to be relegated at season’s end.
Of the incumbent Premier League squads, Watford is the warmest favourite to make the drop at $3, while West Bromwich Albion is just behind at $3.25, equal with Sunderland.
2016-17 English Premier League champions market
Manchester City ($3.25)
Man Utd ($4.50)
Chelsea ($7)
Tottenham ($8)
Liverpool ($9)
Leicester ($26)
West Ham ($81)
Southampton ($101)
Everton ($151)
Stoke ($301)
Crystal Palace ($501)
Swansea ($801)
Bournemouth ($1001)
Middlesborough ($1001)
West Brom ($1001)
Sunderland ($1001)
Burnley ($1001)
Watford ($1001)
Hull ($1001)
Odds provided by CrownBet.com.au
2016-17 English Premier League Golden Boot winner
H Kane ($7)
Z Ibrahimovic ($9)
R Lukaku ($13)
M Batshuayi ($17)
Diego Costa ($17)
J Vardy ($17)
O Giroud ($21)
D Sturridge ($21)
A Sanchez ($23)
C Benteke ($34)
A Martial ($34)
K Iheanacho ($41)
J Defoe ($41)
V Janssen ($41)
W Rooney ($41)
E Hazard ($41)
Kevin De Bruyne ($41)
S Mane ($51)
H Mkhitaryan ($51)
D Payet ($51)
Nolito ($51)
C Austin ($51)
M Rashford ($51)
R Mahrez ($67)
D Welbeck ($67)
S Rondon ($67)
D Origi ($67)
S Long ($67)
S Berahino ($67)
J Rodriguez ($67)
A Carroll ($67)
A Negredo ($67)
C Wilson ($67)
O Ighalo ($67)
W Bony ($67)
T Walcott ($67)
Heung-Min Son ($67)
T Deeney ($67)
R Firmino ($67)
A Musa ($67)
Odds provided by sportsbet.com.au
2016-17 English Premier League to be relegated market
Hull ($1.85)
Burnley ($1.90)
Watford ($3)
West Bromwich ($3.25)
Sunderland ($3.25)
Bournemouth ($3.75)
Swansea ($5)
Crystal Palace ($6)
Stoke ($11)
Leicester City ($15)
Southampton ($15)
Everton ($21)
West Ham ($26)
Liverpool ($251)
Tottenham ($301)
Chelsea ($301)
Arsenal ($501)
Manchester United ($501)
Manchester City ($501)
Odds provided by WilliamHill.com.au