How on earth do you spend £147 million?

So... Barcelona finally got their man. £147 million is what it took for Liverpool and Jurgen Klopp to finally let go of their number 10. The 'little magician' Philipe Coutinho. Now the Merseyside club find themselves with a huge transfer kitty but without their best player.


However, the month is still young. With 24 days left until the transfer window slams shut, Liverpool have to act fast. But simply, how do you spend £147 million in just over three weeks?


Step one - Thomas Lemar.


Despite a deceivingly average first half of the season, the French midfielder has bags of ability. And he contains plenty of the same traits as the man he would be replacing. Excellent on the ball, with a technical prowess unmatched by his team mates at Monaco, it's easy to see why Klopp has been so keen to get him in. A brilliant eye for a pass, as well as a keen ability to shot from range, Lemar is Coutinho if the Brazilian was French. One more plus point is the Frenchman's ability from dead ball situations, a trait of Coutinho's that will perhaps be missed the most. So the addition of Monaco's number 27 could go a long way to filling the hole at Anfield.

Reports are coming out now saying that the club WON'T try to sign Lemar in January. This appears to be down to Monaco's insistence that they will not sell. However, that doesn't rule out a pre contract agreement. £70 million and a sell on clause could persuade Monaco to let him sign for Liverpool on July 1st.


 Persistence is key in this market to get the man you want. Much like Barcelona's constant attempts to sign Coutinho, Liverpool should employ similar tactics to bring in Lemar.


 £147 million - £70 million = £77 million remaining.


 Step two - A NEW number one.


 Simon Miglonet and Loris Karius. Both keeper had shown signs of greatness before signing for LFC. And both keepers appear to have lost it almost instantly. It's time for change between the sticks and  anyone involved with the club can clearly see, if there is one position Liverpool can't compete with the other top 6 teams in. It's in goal.


 So where, and more accurately, who is the money invested in next?

 Roma's Alisson and Atleti's Oblack both are rumoured to be targets. Now if LFC stuck the whole £77 million left from the sale of Coutinho on Oblack, it MIGHT be enough for Atleti to sell. I haven't seen enough of Alisson to compare him to Oblack, but he looks far and away better then what Klopp currently has at his disposal. And much like Ederson to city, could be a wise investment. Around 30 million seems like a sensible price as that is the current record signing fee for a goal keeper (Ederson from Benfica to Man City in the sumer of 2017.)


 Also reports that Mignolet could be used as part of a swap? The addition of the Belgian keeper to the deal would see the asking price fall and get a big wage bill off of the books. Let's say then the club pay £25 million + Mignolet for Alisson.


 £77 million - £25 million (And Mignolet) = £52 million remaining.


 Step three - Van Dijk's centre back partner.


 With £52 million left after the signings of Lemar and Alisson, you could argue the remaining money could be invested in two or three players to help boost the squad. And to this point I say. Liverpool need another centre back. VVD looked completely comfortable and at ease during his debut against Everton in the FA Cup. But, frighteningly better then his partner, Joel Matip. Now the likes of Matip, Klavan or Lovren would make for suitable rotation players, but no more then that. If Klopp is to take his team to the places he sees, Van Dijk needs a partner up to his standards.

Now this is tricky, as over the last six months the only defender talked about joining Liverpool was VVD, with other names and rumours being turned aside almost instantly. Klopp set on getting his man and refusing a plan b. However one name sticks on the head. Koulibaly.


 Napoli (in the summer) were reportedly looking to offload the defender, for a fee of around £57 million. Now while they challenge for the title in Italy, I imagine they would not be looking to sell Mane's international team mate. And i'm sure, with January very much being a sellers market, Napoli would be in no rush to change their minds again. However though. Much like Mignolet being part of the deal to bring Alisson to the club, maybe Klopp could persuade Napoli with a name. Dejan Lovren. Dejan. With the signing of a new centre back, in the eyes of most at least, would fall to AT LEAST fifth choice centre back. Behind the likes of VVD, Matip, Klavan and of course the new addition, in this case, Koulibaly. And this is without taking into consideration the rapid improvement of youngster Joe Gomez, which, by the summer, could see Lovren as Klopp's sixth choice.


 An offer of £45 - £50 million for Koulibaly, with Lovren added for good measure, could be enough to tempt Napoli into selling.


 £52 million - £50 million (And Lovren) = £2 million remaining.


 That does actually leaves £2 million, which we'll just say FSG can keep. So for the £147 million the club will make for Coutinho, Klopp gets: his first choice replacement in Lamar; a potentially world class keeper in Alisson; and solid partner for VVD in Koulibaly.


As well as two big wages bills off of the books in Mignolet and Dejan and FSG still turn a profit. Then January ends, February begins and the club push on. Right now, Liverpool are in a strong position to qualify for the Champions League next season, a competition they are still in this time around, facing FC Porto in the round of 16. Klopp's side are also still within a shot of winning the FA Cup, Liverpool being one of the favourites at this stage.


 And then, just like that, the season ends. The world cup happens over the summer, and then it all starts over again. But in this scenario, Klopp has HIS team, a side he has built, and a side he will mould to go on and do great things.


 (Or they'll just blow the whole £147 million on Southampton players like Liverpool did with the Suarez money!)

The calm before the storm - The day before deadline day.

August 31st is a strange day for football, the summer transfer deadline day! Over 100 days for clubs to do their business and over the years so many have left it right until the last minute to bring in the players they want for the upcoming season. This summer has been one of, if not the most, crazy transfer periods in football history. We have already seen the first two £100 million + players this summer, and could very possibly have a third and a fourth by 11pm tomorrow. So many clubs spending way over the odds for players in a market so overran with TV money, that no clubs REALLY need to sell. Some of Europe's giants have floundered, not willing to put their hand into their pockets, while others have spent fortunes. So much can happen between now and the window closing, and I am going to go into what could be making the back pages when August becomes September.

Coutinho to Barcelona - Okay, so lets start with the big one, the longest running story of the summer so far! I have written an entire article on the Coutinho saga already, so in summary. Barcelona want Coutinho, Liverpool don't want to sell Coutinho, Coutinho hands in and sees his transfer request rejected, Coutinho has a 'back injury' (back injuries are notoriously used when a player wants out of his contract as it's close to impossible to tell if the player involved is lying) and hasn't played or trained for Liverpool while the saga has gone on. However what has changed in the past 48 hours is that, Coutinho has been training for Brazil, and has been cleared fully fit by the national teams doctors. This all but proves his injury was entirely fabricated by either Coutinho or his representatives. Also this week it was reported that the Brazilian has asked NOT to be in the Champions League squad for Liverpool, this is because if he was to play for Liverpool in the competition and then sign for Barcelona in January, he would be cup tied and unable to play for the Catalan club in said competition. With all of this going on, Barcelona's final offer of £148 million is still on the table, and within the last hour Coutinho has reportedly sent a message to Klopp saying if he is not allowed to join Barcelona, there is no going back. Stating that things will never go back to normal, from both a performance and relationship stand point. It is being reported that Liverpool and FSG are close to caving to Coutinho's demands and representatives of the club are on their way to Barcelona to finalise the deal. If the deal is completed the Brazilian will become the second most expensive player of all time, over taking Barcelona's newest signing Dembele from Dortmund for a reported total of £138 million. For the first time in weeks this deal looks like it is going to happen, but where does that leave Liverpool? Well...

Liverpool (Van Dijk, Lemar and Oxlade-Chamberlain) - ... I right now can say with confidence, Liverpool don't really need Coutinho. Now before I am attacked by thousands of Coutinho fans, of which I am one, I am not saying it wouldn't be a huge loss for the reds to lose their number 10. From a technical standpoint he is in a class of one, and throughout the summer I have been firmly behind Klopp's stance to insist he stays. But not only have Liverpool looked sublime going forward early in the season, knocking in 14 goals in 5 games so far. The huge injection of funds could lead to the few deals currently in the pipeline being pushed over the line. At the time of writing this Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain is scheduled for a medical with the club, transfer fee and contract negotiations have both been finalised and the deal is all but done. Naby Keita FINALLY completed his move to Liverpool earlier this week, however will not join the club until the summer of 2018 but this is still a massive step going forward for the club. The question marks are around two players who could both break Liverpool's transfer record, Thomas Lemar and Virgil Van Dijk. Starting with the French wide man Lemar, this deal looks certain to be completed if Coutinho does leave. Liverpool have offered a reported £60 million so far and Monaco have demanded £70 million, that extra 10 million will feel like pocket change to FSG should Barcelona get their man. The French international is one of the brightest young stars in football today and has been linked with a move to Arsenal all summer, however over the last couple of days it appears his has his eyes on a move to Anfield. He will offer a very similar ' it factor '  to Liverpool's side that will be lost with Coutinho, and should the move be over the line by 11pm tomorrow it could be huge for Jurgen Klopp and his side. Reports are also coming from France that, despite an offer not yet being agreed, Monaco has given Lemar permission to undertake his Liverpool medial TONIGHT.

And then of course, we get to the only saga more messy then Coutinho to Barcelona this summer... Virgil Van Dijk. The player was on his way to Liverpool months ago, however Southampton reported Liverpool for tapping up and the deal was dead in the water. However over the last two days it appears Liverpool are making one final swing at it. No offer has been made official yet but it is suggested that a £75 million offer will be made, and there is massively contrasting reports going around suggesting how likely the deal is to be completed. Now I am fairly confident a bid will be placed tomorrow, the problem lays with how committed Southampton are to sticking to their guns to 'sell to anyone apart from Liverpool'. If Van Dijk was to sign I feel like Liverpool could place a claim for the best transfer window out of any Premier League side. It will be a case of better late then never, but the Dutch centre back is exactly what Klopp needs in the heart of his defence, and the Southampton captain is improving every day. Without a transfer Van Dijk will be left, it appears, to rot in the reserves for the remainder of the season and maybe beyond and with no other buyers coming in as of yet, Liverpool seem to be back in the drivers seat. It could all of course be a case of wishful thinking on the part of the reporters, Southampton have given off no indication what so ever that they will sell Van Dijk, and until an offer if officially made there is no confirmation that Liverpool are even going in for him. However I can see this deal in particular being VERY active over the next 24 hours.

Alexis to Manchester City - Alexis Sanchez played his first game back for Arsenal at the weekend in a 4-0 defeat to Liverpool. A picture really can tell a thousand words. It has been clear all summer the Chilean has no intention of staying at Arsenal, and he has been linked with many clubs in the process. However only one has came in for the man, and that club is Manchester City. On Monday, City came in with a £50 million offer, which was instantly shot down by Arsenal. It has been clear since day one that Arsenal do not want to sell, and Wenger would rather Alexis ran down his contract then left for money this window. So £50 million, in today's market, does seem a little low for a player of Sanchez's ability. It is however being reported that Arsenal would be willing to consider a money plus player offer, with Raheem Sterling being used to account for the rest. City favour a straight money deal (of course they are the richest club in the world) but it has been reported that Sterling would be open to the idea, as the signing of Sanchez would see him fall down the pecking order at the Etihad, this despite his impressive start to the season. Manchester City are reportedly coming back in with an improved offer, whether or not that will include Sterling is another matter. I feel like this is a move that has been dragged out so much longer then it should have been, Manchester City have made their approach so late they risk not getting their man at all. And Arsenal have held onto him, expecting their number 7 to still be the same player he was for them last season, but against Liverpool he looked like a shadow of his former self, he simply doesn't care. For the sake of the player, both clubs involved, and the fans who want to see a world class footballer play some world class football, I do hope and expect this deal to be finalised by the deadline.

Mbappe to PSG - A deal that has flown relatively under the radar with everything else that has been going on, and it is perhaps the most interesting! Teenage Kylian Mbappe fired himself into the limelight in last season's Champions League and the world has't stopped talking about him since. When it became apparent that he wanted out of Monaco, the likes of Manchester United and Real Madrid have been rumoured to be coming in for the Frenchman. However it looks as if he will be staying in France, just moving to the capital and Paris Saint Germain. That's right, PSG are set to spend close to £200 million for the second time this summer, but much like the Neymar signing, the details of the transfer are really quite strange. Mbappe is to sign for a reported £166 million... next summer... after a season long loan at PSG. This is purely to give the French club more time 'balance the books' to ensure they stay within the guidelines of financial fair play. The signing of Neymar would make this impossible if the permanent switch was made this summer, and what is even more strange is Monaco agreeing to this. The current champions of France could get £100 million + for Mbappe from several clubs around the world, but they're willing to not only sell to their main rivals, but in such a way that PSG are likely to avoid reciprocation for violating FFP. Now although the deal is yet to be agreed to by all parties, Monaco have jumped the gun and announced the signing of Stevan Jovetic, and the forward was given Mbappe's number 10 to wear for the season. Mbappe will potentially become one of four players to be signed for north of £100 million this summer, and this is even more incredible when you consider Mbappe is 18 years old. If this deal comes off and Mbappe can help PSG push for the Champions League this season, and he continues to grow then it is great for all parties, what is essential however is that the teenager does not let the huge figures get to his head. It was however reported earlier this month that, when in contact with Real Madrid, Mbappe demanded a wage so high that the Madrid representatives simply responded with 'good luck in Paris'. A wage demand so high that even Real Madrid won't pay it, hopefully this isn't a sign of things to come and we have a new Thiery Henry on our hands and not another Mario Balotelli.

And the rest (Renato, Aurier, Barkley, Drinkwater, Sakho) - I'm just going to run through the 5 Premier League deals that, although won't end up going around the world, could have huge impacts for the future. Renato Sanches, Euro 2016 winner, 2016 Golden Boy winner, £30 million move to Bayern Munich, on loan to Swansea City. Pick the odd one out. Swansea manager Paul Clement worked as Carlo Ancelotti's number two at Bayern before taking the job in Wales, and this incredible deal you can imagine is down to the managers contacts within Bayern Munich. Spurs are FINALLY spending some money, Serge Aurier of PSG has been granted his work permit and with negotiations progressing at a very fast pace, Pochettino could finally have his Kyle Walker replacement. Ross Barkley was told if he did not sign the contract offered to him in May that he would have no future at Everton, yet the club have rejected an offer from Chelsea for the Englishman? A £25 million offer was turned down by the Toffee's, the champions however are ready to come back with an improved offer! This isn't the last you will hear of this. Another English midfielder who could be on his way to Chelsea is Danny Drinkwater. The Leicester man has handed in his transfer request, and a £40 million move is on the table. No official approach has been made by Chelsea, this is all just a rumour at this point, but reportedly both parties are very keen on the deal being completed, and with Chelsea in need of more squad players, Drinkwater could fit that bill. Liverpool and mainly Jurgen Klopp have been trying to push Sakho out of the door for over a year now, however when Liverpool finally received an offer for the French centre back, an offer of £25 million from Crystal Palace, it was rejected. Liverpool are holding out for £30 million for the defender, but Palace are confident they can get the deal done before the deadline. Much like Southampton with Van Dijk, there is really no point Liverpool keeping Sakho for him to rot in the reserves.

No matter how many potential deals you cover in the build up to the final day, there simply is no way to predict deadline day. In a summer where we have seen records broken and history made, it would not be at all surprising to see this years deadline day be the busiest ever.

The Coutinho Saga - Are both Liverpool and Barcelona trying too hard to prove a point?

In the last game of the 2016/2017 Premier League season, an inspired performance by the amply named 'little magician' saw Liverpool secure a place in the top four, and Coutinho's status as a fan favourite was solidified even further. A very impressive season, alongside signing a new 5 year deal to make the Brazilian the highest paid player in the clubs history, Liverpool's number 10 appeared at home at Anfield and set for a long and fruitful future at the club, under the leadership of manager Jurgen Klopp. Then came the summer, and the yearly rumour mill started up again. Instantly 'Coutinho to Barcelona' was published in every news outlet across England and Spain. Liverpool, and particularly Jurgen Klopp were adamant, Coutinho was not for sale at any price. The deal appeared to be dead in the water, and with no official bid made, it looked as if Philipe would be playing his football at Anfield for another year. And then... well let's start from the beginning.

£200 million. That is how much Barcelona received for the sale of Neymar to PSG. Now due to the extraordinary details of the transfer, unlike most big money moves in football, the full amount was paid instantly, not in instalments which seems to be the trend right now. And just like that, Neymar was off. What were the details of the transfer? I'm glad you asked! Due to Spanish transfer laws, a club can not pay out a buyout clause, only the player himself can. So the Qatari owners of PSG paid Neymar a reported £400 million, half of it was to be used to pay his way out of his contract with the Catalan club, the other half to work as a representative during the 2022 World Cup. Neymar then signed a deal with PSG. So effectively Qatar bought Neymar, not PSG. At no point did the £200 million directly go through the French club, meaning they theoretically can't be touched by financial fair play rules. It's both genius and incredibly dodgy but it's Qatar? What more did you really expect? Anyway back to Coutinho. So all of a sudden, Barcelona had a massive Neymar sized hole in their side, and an extra £200 million to play with. Now Barcelona have always been a rich club, but have shied away from spending the real big bucks, the kind of money the likes of their huge rivals Real Madrid spend on their 'galacticos'. The philosophy has always been to grow players from within, to find a replacement in their youth set ups. But this was different. This wasn't the typical, an older player fading out as a young up and comer pushes through the ranks. This was a Balon D'or nominated, world beater, the proclaimed future of the club being taken, and they simply did not and do not have the time for a youngster to grow up to Neymar's level, so they need a replacement now! SO what did they do? Well they needed a replacement. Typically someone good on the ball. Capable of playing wide left but also able to drift inside. Someone the Catalan fans would love, and someone who appeared quiet enough to play under Messi. Also a Brazilian would be a big bonus. Who had Barcelona already contacted this summer? Who had they been interested in for years? I don't know why I'm asking all of these questions, it's been obvious since I wrote the title... It's Coutinho. Now the signing of the Brazilian midfielder had initially been seen as a way to keep Neymar around, with him and Philipe being childhood friends. But since that was first theorised Countiho has grown into a world star, a simply incredible player and a perfect fit for Barca.

Barcelona had to show their intentions, so an official bid was made. £90 million! A bid that, a month earlier, would have been a world record amount. Rejected. Liverpool's owners FSG held their stance, Coutinho was not for sale. At this point we had heard nothing from the player himself. Barcelona come in with a second offer, reported to be around £100 million plus add ons. Rejected! Still no word from Coutinho, it looked as if Liverpool were being true to their word. But then came one of the most confusing days of the summer for Liverpool fans.

10th August 2017 -

10am - FSG gave out an emphatic statement, saying that, under no circumstance will any offer for Coutinho be considered. Shutting the door on ANY possibility of the number 10 signing for Barcelona.

11am - Jurgen Klopp repeats FSG's comment in a press conference. Stating that FSG had been 100% on their stance with the Coutinho rumours.

1:30pm - Coutinho's family hit out at FSG and Klopp. Criticising the club for the way they handle their big players and their wishes to leave, quoting Luis Suarez. This criticism was meant to have came straight from Coutinho's mouth.

2:30pm - Reports leaked to the media that Coutinho had 'emailed' in a transfer request. Almost instantly afterwards more reported suggested that FSG had rejected the request.

3pm - Liverpool Football Club release a statement that they have not received a request of any sort from Coutinho or his party.

5pm - Liverpool confirm they have received a transfer request from Philipe Coutinho, and officially refuse it. Once again stating that he will not be going anywhere.

With the news of a transfer request being handed in, Barcelona continued their pursuit of Coutinho, which brings us to Friday 18th August, Barcelona approach Liverpool with an offer in the sum of £114 million. Which, of course, was rejected immediately. But this is where it gets strange. Barcelona stated that Liverpool had until 8pm on Sunday 20th August to reconsider and accept the offer, or they would end their pursuit of Coutinho. Now Barcelona know they're offering an amount way over the odds for Coutinho, and you'd imagine in any other summer,  Liverpool would accept. But Liverpool had been and continue to be very stern with their stance, so the ultimatum just indicates that Liverpool have won, when in reality. No one really has won.

Okay so that brings us to today, the 8pm deadline has passed, so Barcelona have reportedly ended their interest in the Brazilian. It's been two weeks since the deal for Neymar to leave was drawn out, and we have just 11 days left in this summer's transfer window, and Barcelona have just wasted 2 weeks chasing a player they were told months ago would not be joining them. Why? Pride. That's why. Barcelona are one of the biggest clubs in the world, but right now, they don't look so good in the eyes of the world. They have, as I previously mentioned, just lost one of their big hitters in Neymar. Also they were humbled, twice in the space of four days, by Real Madrid in the Spanish super cup, as summers go it's been a very poor one! That could be why the Coutinho deal is so big to them, because a genuine star, with bags of potential, coming to Barcelona could help to mask the summer that has been nothing other then a failure so far. Simply put, Barcelona aren't used to being told no. Even though Coutinho has handed in a transfer request, and his representatives have spoken of his desire to play for Barca, the deal is no further along. The idea of 'player power' that has been growing for years usually means that if a player wants a move, he gets that move. But as we've seen this summer with Keita, Van Dijk, (More on them later) and Diego Costa, potentially the power is swinging back in the clubs favour, and contracts are starting to mean something again! Now, as a Liverpool fan, I know just how good Coutinho is, he is world class, but £114 million? No amount of 30 year screamers will make Philipe worth that kind of money! So why are Barcelona offering it? Because their pride won't let them come out. They're being stubborn, almost like a child who loses his toy, they'll kick us a fuss until they get what they want. After being seen to be weak all summer, a monumental deal would be enough to show Barcelona still are a world power house. Barcelona could have gone after Eden Hazard, you'd imagine £80/£90 million would be enough for bring the Belgian to Spain? Even Garath Bale from Real. Yes he'd cost silly money but Madrid are looking to sell the Welshman to raise funds and... Barcelona are offering silly money for Coutinho. But now the deadline has passed they'll probably move on to another target right? Well actually reports are suggesting Barcelona are lining up a 4th bid... with 11 days left in the transfer window, for a player they've been told, over and over and over, will not be joining them for any amount of money. It appears that, in the eyes of anyone, football fan are not, the Catalan giants are trying to prove they're just that, giants. In a year where their main rivals have towered above them, Barcelona are throwing their weight around to prove they're still number one, and that seems to result in offering insane amounts of money for Coutinho. SO why have Liverpool said no? Well...

Pride. Yes I'm saying that both of the sides are coming out as losers because of their pride. Let's go back a couple of months, to when Liverpool looked set to bring in both Keita and Virgil Van Dijk. Now the accusations posed by Southampton towards Liverpool are mainly what stopped the deal for Virgil to join Liverpool, afterwards the Saints have been very clear, holding strong 'We will not sell to Liverpool.' And then we have Keita. Since day one, RB Leipzig said their big midfielder was not for sale. But Liverpool kept going in. £40 million bid, £50 million bid, £60 million bid, all categorically rejected. Leipzig, much like Southampton, stood by their word and would not budge. What Leipzig and Southampton have done to Liverpool is exactly what Liverpool have done to Barcelona, despite all along, the bidding club looked the favourite because of the numbers being thrown around, the selling club saw no need and had no desire to sell. You'd imagine the way clubs have dealt with Liverpool this summer has effected the way they have dealt with Barcelona. Taking the power away from the players and giving it back to the club. So good for Liverpool right? Staying strong and keeping hold of their best player right? The same player who, hasn't been in the squad for the first three games of the season due to an 'injury', an 'injury' barely mentioned by anyone surrounded by Liverpool as it appears simply Coutinho has no desire to play for the club while this all goes on. Either that or Klopp doesn't want to play the want away Brazilian. So the German currently has a £114 million midfielder, sat at home, not playing, not training, all to prove a point? Let's just look at that number again... £114 million! That is a massively over inflated price for Coutinho, if Barca had came in with that offer BEFORE the problems with Keita and Virgil, Liverpool you'd imagine would have snapped Barca's hand off to accept it. In a summer where FSG seem reluctant to spend the money promised, bar the primary targets of Salah, Keita and Van Dijk no one of note has even been considered, and a huge injection of cash could lead to Liverpool reinvesting in their incredibly leaky defence and light weight midfield. Lets face it, with or without Coutinho, Livepool will score goals. Going forward they have the numbers, they have the depth, it's everywhere else where the problem lays. With the potential money for Coutinho, Klopp could have bought in 3 or 4 players to go straight into the bottom two thirds of the side, and to give much needed depth to the squad. An incredibly thin squad being asked to play in four competitions this season. In yesterday's victory against Palace, Klopp named a weakened side to 'rest' certain players ahead of the Champions League qualifier in the coming week. There is NOTHING wrong with that... four months into the season. But the SECOND league game of the season! If that doesn't show how paper thin Liverpool's squad is nothing will. From my point of view, I can see more positives from Coutinho leaving then i can from him staying, well I'd have said that if this had taken place two months ago. But now, with the season started and only 11 days left until the transfer window slams shut, Jurgen Klopp could find himself in the same position as Barcelona if he does sell. Trying to replace your best player with very little time to go. And in a market like this one, where as £114 million would have bought  3 or 4 guaranteed world beaters two months ago, now that isn't a guarantee. Clubs simply have enough money now that they have no need to sell, and if they are to sell their star players, they ask for incredibly high sums. (See almost every Everton signing so far.) So what are we left with? I'd say, right now, Liverpool simply can't sell Coutinho, one because there is no time to replace him, and two because they'd look incredibly weak after holding such a strong stance all summer.

As I've mentioned already there is 11 days left in the transfer window, and Barcelona are still without a replacement for Neymar and are looking the weakest they've looked in years. With a thin squad, and a new manager with an incredible lack for experience who looks way out of his depth. Not to mention ageing top stars and a lack of youngsters to integrate into the team, as well as Real Madrid looking stronger by the day, leaving the Catalonian's in the dust. Then we have Liverpool, who have held onto their star so far, but he is either refusing to play or the manager has no desire to play him. Their squad simply isn't big enough to fight on all fronts this season and the problems from last time out haven't been addressed so far in the window due to lack of investment. When, I say again, they have a £114 million midfielder who hasn't played a single minute of football during the first three games of the season.

Both Barcelona and Liverpool are five time European champions. Both sides are the second most successful side in their domestic leagues history, and both sides have had very busy transfer windows without getting much work done at all. Both the English and the Spanish side have done everything they can to look strong this summer, to look like they won't back down, and somehow, are both worse off then they were before this whole ordeal began. So who has came out the worse?

Well if Liverpool, get Coutinho to play for them again, and he reaches the heights of last season. As well as finally investing in their defence and bring in some depth before the end of the window, I'm sure fans will see this summer as a positive.

And if Barca do now show the intelligence to stop with their pursuit of Coutinho, and instead complete a move for the likes of Hazard, or much more likely the Frenchman Dembele from Dortmund, they will have saved face. If new manager Ernesto Valverde can take the world record sum his club received for Neymar, and spend it on much needed reinforcements for their squad, then Barca could save their season before it really gets bad!

Only time will tell if either of these sides have made a good decision with their actions this summer, but you can't deny it has made for very good viewing! And hopefully good reading.

Premier League Predictions - 2017/2018 Season.

With less then two weeks to wait until the start of the 2017/2018 Premier League season, the 20 top flight sides are well underway preparing their squads for the coming 12 months. We have seen huge contrasts across the division so far in terms of transfer activity. Both Manchester clubs have been splashing the cash like there is no tomorrow, and last season's runners up Spurs are yet to make a move. Lower down the table we have seen the likes of Bournemouth bring in a number of top class Premier League players to help their climb up the table, we have also seen however Championship winners Newcastle spend very little, keeping their squad very similar to the one which gained them promotion in May. So I'm going to throw my hat into the ring today, and give my main predictions for the upcoming campaign.

Let's start from the bottom.

20th - Burnley

Turf Moor was a fortress at times last season for Sean Dyche's men, for the first half of the campaign Burnley had one of the best home records in the league but as 2016 turned into 2017 that form appeared to abandon Burnley. Being placed in mid table coming into January, they ended the season in a relegation battle and just managed to scrape survival, reaching just 40 points. I can see Burnley carrying that same poor form into the upcoming season, and the loss of star defender Michael Keane could be a big part of that. The £30 million Burnley received from Everton for Keane is yet to be reinvested in the squad, so now they have an England international shaped hole in their defence and no one what so ever so fill it. Last season Burnley's defence is what kept them up, conceding the least goals out of every side in the bottom half of the table, in stark contrast however they struggled to find the back of the net. The only three sides to score less then Burnley last season all got relegated, and with their star defender no longer at the club, this weak attack will be even more exposed. Now I have little doubt that if Burnley go down, Dyche will find a way to bring them back up, that's just what he does. But their squad simply isn't improving, and I feel like this will be one step too far for the clarets.

19th - Huddersfield

This one pains me to say just a little bit, because towards the back end of last season, I was seriously rooting for Huddersfield to get promoted, and doing it through the drama of the play offs was an incredible story. But despite bringing in as many players as just about anyone in the league so far, (Including Tom Ince from Derby, giving Paul Ince's son another chance to prove he can live up to his family name) I just can't see them staying up any longer then a year. The style of football Huddersfield play is one which certainly drawers the eye, and when you notice their manager David Wagner was the manager of Borussia Dortmund's second team, and was an understudy to Jurgen Klopp during his time there, it is easy to see why. But in a similar vein to Blackpool in the 2010-2011 season, I feel their style of football will gain many plaudits, but will ultimately lead to their relegation. they quite simply aren't strong enough to play an entire season in the way they do, with the players they have, and survive! I feel like this is the prediction I am least confident about, maybe that's me being optimistic as I hope Huddersfield do retain a place in the top flight for years to come, but we'll just have to wait and see.

18th - Swansea

Much like Burnley who I have previously mentioned, Swansea spent the back end of last season in a fight for their lives, but managed to survive in no small part to new manager Paul Clement. The Englishman came in while the Welsh side were in free fall and he managed to get them organised, and keep them afloat. One man who had a huge part to play in the survival was Icelandic play maker Gylfi Sigurdsson who, at the time of writing this, is still a Swansea city player. But that is where I believe the problem lays, with the future of their best player. A £50 million price tag has been slapped onto Sigurdsson, one which has scared of a few potential suitors, but reports suggest Everton have matched the price tag and that the deal will be completed 'within days' as confirmed by Clement himself. This move could have drastic consequences for Swansea, an average squad, probably not strong enough for the Premier League has been being held up by one truly top drawer player. A top drawer player who, in a side which finished 15th with 41 points last time around managed 10 league goals and provided 13 league assists last season, Sigurdsson played a part in HALF of Swansea's top flight goals during the campaign, and without him I can't see a way the Welsh side survive. Even with the £50 million coming in, the climate of this transfer window, and the amount of time remaining in it means it will be harder then ever for Paul Clement to bring in a replacement for his star man. They've become almost a staple of the Premier League throughout this decade, but I feel like this season will be their last for now.

What about a place in mid table obscurity? Mid table in the Premier League is a strange place, for example Southampton ended last season in 8th with 46 points, a tally which was closer to 18th placed Hull then it was to 7th place Everton. It's not really a place anyone wants to be, but at least it's better then being in a relegation scrap! And if you can solidify a place in mid table obscurity for a number of seasons, it gives the club a foundation on which to build and push up the table. So let's have a look at a few of the top contenders.

11th - Leicester City

So that thing I just said about growing? That is both true and very very not true about Leicester. On one hand, they finished 12th last season, so 11th is one place higher, therefore growth right? Well if the 2015/2016 season didn't happen, and there wasn't a time when Leicester were the champions of England anyway. So you can either consider this as the continuation of the bubble bursting for Leicester fans, or an attempt to reach the heights of last year, is your glass half empty or half full, that sort of scenario. If I may be serious for a moment, I feel a place in mid table next season will be a good thing for Leicester. Despite the underwhelming defence of their title last time out, their run in the Champions League meant that the fans had their heads well and truly in the clouds. Finishing in mid table again will hopefully ground the fans, the players and the club into realising where they fit in regards to the Premier League. It sounds like I'm being overly negative so far, I am from Leicester and have sat in a pub, watching City in the Champions League, there is no doubt that the success has done a huge amount of good for the club and the city itself. And I do feel like this season can be a stepping stone towards big things again for the club in the long run. The signing of highly rated defender Harry Maguire from Hull could be the first step towards building a younger, more versatile defence after Huth and Morgan were found out last season. And despite the signing not being completed as of yet, Kelechi Iheanacho is set to complete his move from Manchester City, a move with bags of promise. With 12 Premier League goals to his name despite very few starts, and 6 goals in his only 10 international caps, he has shown he knows where the goal is. Maybe Iheanacho could be the answer to the question, who should partner Jamie Vardy? And with Mahrez reportedly on his way out, the Nigerian striker could fill in with the missing goals. I'm not saying they'll go on the win the league again, but don't expect to see the foxes in a relegation dog fight any time soon.

10th - West Ham United

Now West Ham have had a year to settle in to their new home in the London Stadium, there really is no excuse for West Ham anymore, and despite this I still see the London club finishing mid table. There is no doubt the Hammers have had one of the most successful transfer windows so far by their standards. Bringing in Joe hart on loan, Pablo Zabaleta on a free, Javier Hernandez from Bayer Laverkusen for £15 million, a bargain in the current climate. And finally, a club record signing, £20 million, potentially rising to £25 million for Austrian maverick Marko Arnautovic. So why won't West Ham be able to push up the table? First of all there is the factor that their first three league games will all be played away from home. Due to the World Athletics Championships taking place at the London Stadium, West Ham will start their campaign on the road, which at any other point of the season might not be too bad. But with every other team wanting to start the season of strong in front of their home fans, it could be a very tough beginning to the season for West Ham. Then, a complete opposite argument. Once West Ham return home, I can't see it getting any better, purely because no matter what happens, West Ham can't seem to adjust to their new home. The lack of atmosphere seems to drain energy from the side, and no amount of new signings can change that. So I can see their season starting off poorly, losing away from home, and then getting worse when they return. I'm not saying it will stay like this, they simply will have too good of a side to be involved in a relegation battle come 2018, and I do believe they will eventually learn to win games at home, leading to a finish which could have been a lot worse, mid table once again.

9th- Bournemouth

Eddie Howe and his side just seem to go from strength to strength at the moment. The smallest club in the league by quite some distance managed to chalk up a very impressive 9th place finish last season, and I'm backing them to match it this time around. For a club the size of Bournemouth, 9th is not only a respectable finish, but a very impressive one. The owners have proven they are not shy about backing the club, and the additions of Asmir Begovic and youngster Nathan Ake, both coming in from Champions Chelsea prove that the sea side club are trying to breed a winning mentality into the side. Also proven goal scorer Jermain Defoe has joined on a free from Sunderland, and with the World Cup in 2018 to earn a spot in, Defoe will be out to prove he still has it in the coming campaign. With everything pointing towards Bournemouth improving again in the coming campaign, why have I got them remaining in 9th position. Simple, the glass ceiling. Maybe they could reach 8th at a push, battling it out with Southampton for the crown of 'best of the rest' but the top 7 of English football right now is effectively a league of it's own, as I mentioned earlier, more points separated 7th from 8th, then separated 8th from 18th, the gap is huge. The only way, seemingly, to break into that group seems to be massive spending! That is how Manchester City joined the party almost a decade ago, and Everton have been steadily spending big to stay on the fringes, still on the outside looking in. Bournemouth, despite being heavily backed by their owners, simply aren't a big enough club to push on any higher. It does happen, Leicester defied the odds and broke their way in, but it was short and sweet as they failed to keep up with the spending power of the top 7. And this is why I can't see Bournemouth finishing any higher next season, not because they won't impress, because I'm certain they will, but because to get any higher, the league would have to change course dramatically.

Not quite Europe's elite -

6th - Arsenal

What's that saying about London busses? You wait forever for one and then two come along at once. For 20 straight years Arsenal finished in the top four of the Premier League, last season Liverpool beat them to the post on the last day of the season and this time around I think they'll go one better (Well technically one worse) and I think they'll drop another place into 6th. Now Arsenal fans, calm down. Yes you signed Lacazette, a huge signing, a world class striker, something you haven't had since RVP. But what's even worse, is this wasn't your biggest problem. With the likes of Alexis Sanchez, Theo Walcott, Mesut Ozil, Oliver Giroud, Arsenal have never struggled to score goals. Now yes, Lacazette is a better natural striker then anyone on that list, but to spend a club record amount on a player who shouldn't have been their top priority, that is cause for concern. For years it's been obvious that a leader, a strong midfielder, has been what Arsenal needs, and with their defence looking more and more frail by the day, they needed serious back up in front of Cech. Other then Lacazette they have signed one player, Kolasinac, a full back on a free from Schalke. Now the young defender has shown potential, but he certainly isn't the answer. They will still have far too strong of a team to fall any lower in the table, and with a month left of the season they could still bring in reinforcements but everyone they're being linked (Including Monaco winger Thomas Lamar) with fall into the same category as Lacazette, world class, but not what they REALLY need. Plus there's the fact Alexis looks all but certain to be on his way out, which much really suck for Arsenal as he is potentially the best player in the league, and if he goes to, like the rumours suggest, Manchester City then that would feel like a real kick in the teeth. Truth be told I feel like it will be more of the same at Arsenal, a group of incredibly talented attackers, made to look stupid by a mediocre back line, and a manager who is scared of change. If they hold onto Sanchez, they might challenge for a top four place, but without him, I can't see them getting close.

5th - Spurs

So I know writing this that I am potentially going to be made to look REALLY stupid in a years time, when Spurs have, once again, impressed and have challenged for the title against the odds for the third successive season. But if there is a year where the growth of Spurs will suffer, it is surely this year. At this point in the summer, Spurs have had the worst transfer window out of anyone in the league. They have brought in exactly no one, have been linked with virtually no one, and have lost a member of their first team in Kyle Walker, to title rivals Manchester City. Last season Spurs relied on their consistent side, when a member of that side was out with either an injury or suspension, they struggled to fill the hole. When Harry Kane was out last season, Spurs really seemed to struggle in front of goal, with Jansen failing to step up to the plate, Spurs struggled to pick up points. Kane missed 10 games in all competitions between September and November of last season, Spurs only won four of those outings. These stats surely would have made it obvious that, coming into this campaign, strength in depth would be essential? But no, no additions have been made to the squad, and they could face the same problems they did last season. Despite this however, they still finished second, so why have I placed them in 5th? Well not only do I feel every side around them seems to be improving where as Spurs are making no positive transfers, but they will play their home games next season, at the home of English football, Wembley stadium. Now I go more in detail into this factor in an article I wrote in April, titled 'Spurs to Wembley - is this a good move for anyone?' but to use the highlights, in the 10 years since the opening of the new Wembley, Spurs have won only 2 of their 10 matches there, and after building their success from the last two years off of the back of an incredible home record, which has seen them lose one home game in two years in the league, playing the next season at Wembley, could be a game changer for Spurs. Even if they where to lose just three of their home wins from last season, Spurs would drop into the position I have placed them in today, it is that tight at the top. Like I said, I wouldn't be surprised if they proved me wrong, and once again spent the season fighting at the top of the table, but we'll have to wait and see.

A place among Europe's elite -

4th - Manchester United

Now placing Manchester United down in fourth is very much going against popular belief at the moment. Many people are saying that Jose's men will be up at the top, challenging for the title. They're certainly spending the money to back up those claims as well, £75 million on Lukaku and £40 million on Matic speaks volumes. And as last season went on, record signing Paul Pogba was starting to find his form. Everything is pointing towards a huge improvement on last seasons league performance. But I just feel like something is still missing, I can't quite put my finger on what, but something is missing. I feel like the addition of Lukaku won't be enough to move away from the stagnant, boring style of play we saw from them last season. The Belgian is coming in to try and fill Zlatan's boots, which I don't believe he will be able to. he isn't the finished article, and although on his day, Lukaku is capable of greatness, I don't feel like he will be able to win a game from nothing in the style of the Swedish striker. If Romelu isn't getting the service, he struggles, plain and simple. At times last season Ibrahimovic was feeding off of scraps, and like you need from any world class striker, managed to produce the good from them. Not to say Lukaku wont succeed for the red devils, I'm sure he'll still fire in the goals like he has been for Everton in previous seasons. I just feel like everyone is expecting the big front man to hit the ground running because of his huge price tag, last season we saw where that left Pogba. And not to mention, they still look very questionable at the back. Phil Jones and Chris Smalling have proven that they can't be trusted to anchor a defence for an entire campaign, and with new signing Victor Lindelof struggling in pre season so far, it could be another tough defensive season for United. Then there is the elephant in the room with United... no not Ronaldo coming from Real Madrid, but David De Gea going the other way. Now it looks like for the time being that the deal has gone quite, but you never know with Madrid, their spending has been lose for Los Blancos standards, and I wouldn't out money for them coming back in for the Spanish number one before the end of the window. I feel like the slow, boring style of player United portrayed last season was a way to mask weakness at both ends of the field, and I wouldn't be surprised to see more of the same in the coming campaign. If Lukaku fires, Pogba finds his form, they hold onto De Gea and Jose manages to craft a strong defence, then there is no reason they can;t challenge for the title. But until I can see it in action, in the Premier League, I don't see them at the top.

3rd - Liverpool

The five time champions of Europe secured a place in the coming season's Champions League on the last day of last season, and I can see them pushing on and going one place better this time around. The main criticism of Klopp's side last time out was the lack of a plan b, how it seemed that if they weren't firing on all front, that the opposition could find a way through their weak defence. Towards the back end of the season they seemed to find that plan b, winning more games that they would have lost or drawn earlier in the campaign. The front line Liverpool posses is one that would strike fear into any opposition. Coutinho, Mane and Firmino leading the line throughout last season fired in the goals, as despite not have any one attacker featuring in the race for the golden boot, Liverpool finished as the 4th highest scorers in the league. The only problem with this line up was Countinho playing out wide left. The Brazilian has always been a more natural number 10, and despite him settling in on the left with relative ease, you could always see he wasn't quite at his best. In the final two games of the season Philipe moved back into his favoured position and scored three, as well as assisting two in two of his best performances of the season. This was just a glimpse of what could be a full time arrangement this season, with the addition of Mo Salah, to fill the second wide position. The frightening pace of Salah and Mane down the flanks could prove to be very fruitful for their side. With Daniel Sturridge and new signing from Chelsea, Dominic Solanke, looking very sharp in pre season, Liverpool's attack has strength in numbers as well. However with Barcelona sniffing around Coutinho, there is the potential that the star man could be pinched before the season gets under way. Klopp has sternly said that he is not for sale, but with a rumoured £100 million offer in the pipeline, we'll have to wait and see. Liverpool have however failed to address their other major weakness, their defence. As it stands, full back Andrew Robertson is Liverpool's only new addition to their back line, a talented young full back who in the future could answer Liverpool's on going left back problem. But the Scot's signature isn't the final piece to the puzzle. The potential signing of Virgil Van Dijk could be however. Now the controversy surrounding this deal is extreme, Liverpool had been accused of 'tapping up' the Dutchman, a deal between the player and the club appeared to be agreed, before the accusations killed to move. Since then Van Dijk has gone on strike, stating he wishes to leave current club Southampton. The defender was not taken on the clubs pre season trip to France, and has been training alone, it is clear he wants out. Now it appears to be a matter of time before Liverpool come in with an offer, rumoured to be in the range of £60 million, to convince The Saints to part ways with their want away captain. Should this deal go ahead I feel Liverpool will have everything they need to push a potential title challenge, overall however having to fight on four fronts, with a squad considerably smaller then that of the other potential title challengers, it all points towards them falling short. However, 3rd will still show signs of progression, and with potential challenges in Europe and in the cup competitions, Liverpool could continue to impress as they grow.

2nd - Chelsea

And runners up next season will be the current champions of England, Chelsea. Any other year I'd say Chelsea were a certainty to retain their title, they have invested well all over the pitch, they have a manager who knows how he wants his team to play, the fans are optimistic and the players know they're a part of something great. A club record £60 million was spent on Spanish striker Morata, who looks set to become Chelsea's new first choice striker. German centre back Rudiger could turn out to be one of the signings of the summer, the solid defender starred for Germany in the Conflagrations Cup cup this summer, and his £30 million move looks like a bargain when compared to some of the other signings floating around. And then we get to Tiemoue Bakayoko, the French midfielder anchored the Monaco midfield on route to their Ligue 1 win last season, and impressed on route to the Champions League semi finals. he was one of Chelsea's primary targets when the window opened, and slotting in along side Kante could form one of the best central midfield pairings in the country. And it appears the champions aren't even close to done, with rumours linking them to long time target Alex Sandro of Juventus, their defence could get even stronger. There is however a bit of uncertainty towards the top of the pitch with Chelsea. Diego Costa has been told he will play no part in the coming season, leaving the striker in limbo, with no club effectively. Eden hazard is the latest player to be linked with Barcelona, the Catalan giants of course coming into money with the sale of Neymar to PSG all but completed, and with speculation Conte isn't entirely sold on Hazard, the Belgian winger could be out the door. But in reality that is it, there is nothing else to say. All in all Chelsea look very strong from back to front, and they should been seen as one of the favourites to win the title. So why don't I have them as my predicted winners? Well...

Champions of England -

1st - Manchester City

Because I feel like this will be the year Pep gets it right and the year this Manchester City side finally click into gear. The problem last season was obvious, the players just weren't right to fit the style of play their Spanish manager wanted, so this summer, they have spent big. £50 million on Kyle walker, and £52 million on Benjamin Mendy, two attacking, natural wing backs, a huge part of Pep's style that simply didn't exist at the Etihad last season. Brazilian Ederson has been brought in between the sticks, he could be the answer to City's goal keeping dilemma, a capable keeper with the ability to play out from the back. Manchester City had perhaps the biggest and strongest squad in the league already, but they're even improving on strength in depth this summer. Bernado Silva is the latest player to come to England from Monaco, and the Portuguese midfielder has been turning heads during his time in France. Very good on the ball with an eye for a pass, he also can chip in with a goal too, putting him along side Kevin De Bruyne in the ranks of goal scoring midfielders at City. Not to forget the incredible roster of talent already at Pep's disposal. Gabriel Jesus showed everyone just how good he was during his brief stint last season, scoring goals, providing assists, and asking a huge question of the manager. Jesus or Aguero. The Argentinian is no doubt on the the best strikers on the planet, and if he can stay fit for the entire season, he will no doubt be in the running for the golden boot. Then you have the solid midfield pairing of Yaya Toure, and Fernandinho. (Not Fernando, he's off to Turkey) These two are capable of not only protecting the defence, which as times can be CIty's weak link, bit they are both capable on the ball, both at creating chances and taking them. So City look set, from back to front they can put out arguably the strongest team in the league. And in terms of depth no other side can stand with them, the question now is if the side can buy into Pep's philosophy and produce the goods. History shows that once a Guardiola side gets going, they're hard to stop, and I really can see this year being the year for the blue half of Manchester. The title race this season I think will be very tight, which is a concept Pep won't be used to, but if he is the manager everyone seems to think he is, then he should be able to adapt, and thrive under the pressure. They had the manager, they had the players, now they need to go and win the silverware.

So there we have it, my main predictions for the upcoming Premier League season. Now I could be drastically wrong on a few of these (Just waiting for Spurs to make me look stupid) but I feel whatever happens, we could be in for one hell of a season. The top 6 is ridiculously hard to call, with so many world class talents, managers getting to grips with their teams and money being spent like it;s going out of style. Then at the other end we have plenty of teams set to be for a dog fight to maintain their place in the top flight. I for one can't wait, the opening weekend can't come close enough.

Standout team of the year - Who will make the 2017/2018 season, their season?

Season after season we see a new group of players stepping up and taking the games their involved in by the scruff of the neck, season after season we see a new group of players announcing themselves to the world as truly stand out talents, season after season we have breakout stars. We don't just have players coming from no where and showing what they can do to the world, we have the already established names stepping up a level and becoming world class. It's those kind of players I'm going to focus on now, the players who are already known to the fans, but the players who I can see changing up a gear and running their respective divisions over the next 12 months.

Goal Keeper - Gianluigi Donnarumma (AC Milan)

The Italian shot stopped right now might not even be the best Gianluigi in the Italy national team (Then again there is no shame being second to the greatest of all time) but Donnarumma is destined for great things. In 2016, at the age of 17 years and 189 days, he became the youngest player to represent the Azzurri in history, just under a year prior, at the age of 16 years and 242 days, he became the second youngest player to even play in the Seria 'A'. At this moment in time he is the number one for his boyhood club AC Milan, and has just signed a new 5 year contract, despite controversy over whether or not he wanted to leave. It's easy to forget that he is just 18 years old and has potentially over 20 years of a professional career ahead of him, he truly could grow to become the greatest keeper of all time. But why is next season such a big deal? Well because of Milan's transfer activity so far in the window. They have spent over £100 million so far, which includes £35 million on Donnarumma's Italy team mate Leonardo Bonucci, arguably the best centre back on the planet! As well as Ricardo Rodriguez from Wolfsburg for £17 million and Mateo Musacchio from Villarreal for £15 million. Milan have built almost an entirely new defence, and supporting the back line will be Gianluigi. With the new foundation to their side we could see the 7 time European champions beck in the big time very soon, so for the Italian keeper to start making his way up the ladder, the time is now.

Defender - Kyle Walker (Manchester City)

£50 million. That's how much Manchester City spent on the English full back, making him the most expensive defender of all time and the most expensive Englishman of all time. During his time in the limelight so far Kyle has came under fire for his attacking mindset, saying he spends far too much time high up the field and not enough time actually being a defender. But that is where people are going wrong, Walker's primary focus isn't defending, it's attacking. He's a wing back, and this is why the huge price tag makes perfect sense. Pep Guardiola has a reputation for loving attacking wing backs, and during his time at Manchester City so far he has tried to force a 5 at the back system without the players to make it work, the English full back slots perfectly into that system. And when you look at the £50 million that was spent on Walker, and you look at the context of the deal, it isn't as shocking as it appears. This summer has seen £75 million spent on Lukaku, £30 million spent on Jordan Pickford, £53 million spent on Alexandre Lacazette, right now you have to pay to get the players you want, and if the signing will help your team going forward in a big way, the cost of the player is almost irrelevant. You could say the best right back over the last decade is former Barcelona star Dani Alves, a player mentored and moulded by Pep, if the Spaniard can have a similar effect on Walker, this season could really see the Englishman moving into up in the world. 

Defender - Antonio Rudiger (Chelsea) 

Rudiger has flown relatively under the radar over the past couple of seasons. Anchoring the second best side in Italy, the German has came on leaps and bounds to earn his big money move to English champions Chelsea. Antonio has spent this summer so far winning the Confederations Cup with Germany, staring in the final against Chile and marking Alexis Sanchez out of the game on the way to a clean sheet and the winners medal. When the signing of Rudiger was completed, Bonucci was still available, the Italian centre back was a favourite of Conte's for the national side and the former Juventus centre back has been heavily linked with Chelsea since Conte arrived last summer. So going for Rudiger over Bonucci shows the faith the Italian manager has in his new centre back, and by joining the best defence in the country Antonio is only going to improve. Last season we saw David Luiz go from a heavily criticised, some would say 'laughing stock', of a defender have an outstanding season under the coaching of Antonio Conte and if we see that same improvement undergone by Rudiger, a player who is already forcing himself into the most heavily stacked defence in the world, the German national team, the sky is the limit! 

Defender - Danielle Rugani (Juventus)

At 22 years of age, the young Italian centre back now has the opportunity of his life to reach his incredible potential. Playing in the Juventus back line is the perfect place for any defender to grow and develop their game, the Italian champions have perhaps the best defence in the world, but that defence is in a period of change right now. Dani Alves and Leonardo Bonucci have both already left, with Alex Sandro reported to be close to sealing a move to Chelsea, now is the biggest chance Rugani has ever had to break into the side. The Italian only featured in 15 league games last season, as he struggled to push his way into the defence, strong armed by Bonucci, Chiellini and Barzagli. However with Bonucci's departure that leaves a stop open, and with Juve's history of complete Italian hearts of defence, Rugani has to be the favourite to take his place. Also, with Chiellini and Barzagli both north of thirty years of age, Rugani could be the youthful injection into the defence that it needs to keep going. Also there aren't many better pairings in the world to learn from, then Barzagli and Chiellini. Both men are closing in on 100 caps for the national team and have a winning mentality ingrained into them by now. Rugani has been tipped for greatness since breaking into the first team, but his first team opportunities have been limited, now is his chance, and there isn't a better place for him to show the world how good he is then Juventus. Now is his chance, if he takes it, he can be world class!

Midfielder - Marco Verratti (Paris Saint Germain)

When you're a primary target of Barcelona you know you must be doing something right! Verratti is the latest in a long line of talented Italian midfielders, with his style being viewed very similar to that of Andre Pirlo. With an eyes for a pass and the ability to unlock the defence it is no surprise PSG are trying their hardest to hold onto the 24 year old. His creative footballing brain would be a perfect fit in Catalonia, and the opportunity to learn from the great Andres Iniesta is one which could see Veratti take the next step. One was he differs from the comparisons is his incredible work ethic. Marco covers huge amounts of ground during a game and he knows when to put in a tackle, he is a very well rounded and almost perfect midfielder. The only downside to his game is his tendency to let his aggression take control. Despite his short stature the Italian isn't one to back down from anyone, a quality many see as desirable, not one which has seen him pick up 9 yellow cards this season as well as one red card. Now picking up cards is all part of playing in the midfield, and don't let that distract you from just how good a player Veratti can be! Unlike most of the players in this side, I don't expect Veratti to reach his potential in the next 12 months, all he needs to do is continue to improve. Once again, the comparisons to Andrea Pirlo comes into play, the dynamic style the PSG star plays is great, but his stand out attributes are, and always will be his technical abilities. On the ball there are few better in world football, and once he drops into a more Italian style of midfielder I can see him reaching, and perhaps surpassing the levels Pirlo reached. To hit this heights however I feel he shouldn't spend too much more time at PSG, and the move to Barcelona should be one he jumps at! I say again the chance to learn from Iniesta could see Veratti fine turn his game in the style he needs to become a decade defining midfielder, a level I, and the world know he is capable of reaching. 

Midfielder - Phillipe Coutinho (Liverpool) 

Last season Coutinho continued to do what he has been doing for a few seasons, showing the world how big of a bargain Liverpool got when the brought him in from Inter Milan for just £8 million. Coutinho scored 13 league goals and provided 7 assists during the 2016/17 season, which becomes even more impressive when you consider he was playing out of position for the majority of his games last season. The Brazilian has always been a tricky, creative number 10, playing just behind the striker and finding those key passes to create goals, as well as chipping in with a fair few himself. However with the lack of a left sided midfielder, and Klopp's insistence to play a three up top system, Coutinho moved into a left side role, a role which he took to incredibly easily. The Brazilian continued to win games for Liverpool, providing a moment of magic whenever it was needed, however it still didn't feel right. That was until the final two games of the season, where due to an injury for Sadio Mane, Klopp adjusted his line up and moved Coutinho back into the number 10 role, where he scored three goals and provided an assist in two games, securing Liverpool Champions League football. Recently PSG enquired into how much is would cost to buy Phillipe, and Liverpool responded with an £88 million price tag, showing just how much the club value their number 10 at. With the signing of Mo Salah it looks certain that we will see Coutinho permanently moving back into the attacking midfield role, just behind Roberto Firmino, with Sadio Mane and Salah out wide. The fire power up top for the five time European Champions truly is a sight to behold, and with the Brazilian pulling the strings it is a frightening possibility for any opposing defence. And you can always bank on the Brazilian to pick the ball up, 25 to 30 yards from goal, on his right foot, and find the top corner with extreme accuracy! Now Coutinho is on the verge of being one of the world best, injuries and a paper thin Liverpool squad have hampered him so far, but if he manages to make it through the entirety of the upcoming season, the potential next legendary Brazilian number 10 could could end the campaign and go into the 2018 World Cup in Russia as just that.

Midfielder - James Rodriguez (Bayern Munich - On loan from Real Madrid) 

What else is there to say about the Colombian that hasn't been said already? he's been tipped form greatness and truly announced himself at the 2014 World Cup, before earning a huge move to Real Madrid. However since then it hasn't all gone James' way. He was been forced out of Zidane's team, watching from the sidelines and he's wasn't getting the game time he needs to develop. Now however, Rodriguez is with the German champions, Bayern Munich, and the fan fare around his signing was huge! Now it is a loan deal, for two years, with an option to buy for £35 million, with is a steal for a player the quality of Rodriguez. Bayern may be walking to the Bundesliga title season after season, but their side isn't getting any younger, and the 26 year old has plenty of years ahead of him as he reaches his prime. He can strike a ball, moving or dead, as clean and as crisp as anyone in world football, and his ability to pull the strings could be exactly what help Bayern Munich hack to the top of European football. James Rodriguez, my word this boy is a star. I keep going back to that line because it perfectly captured the ability of one of football's greatest prospects. There has been a bump in the road, but I see this move to Bayern Munich becoming the biggest master stroke of the decade. It is now that James shows just how good he is, it is now that he will become world class, truly on another level. 

Midfielder - Victor Wanyama (Tottenham Hotspur)

Victor Wanyama last season had a very similar campaign to that of N'golo Kante in the season prior. He was the clubs signing of the summer, held the midfield and played an integral part of a season which went above and beyond expectations, and despite this he was over shadowed by two star attackers. For Kante at Leicester it was Mahrez and Vardy, for Wanyama at Spurs it was Ali and Kane. Victor Wanyama's role in the Spurs midfielder can not be over estimated, the Kenyan holding midfielder played 36 league games last season, only Dele Ali played more, and game after game he ran the midfield, picking up loose balls, throwing in solid tackles and giving the likes of Dele Ali and Christen Eriksen freedom to roam. He is the heart of the midfield and was instrumental in Spurs' incredible final season at White Hart Lane. Despite this he went drastically under the radar, but like Kante last season, I can see Wanyama truly being recognised as the class act he is in the coming campaign. For Spurs to reach the heights they want to, they need to compete on all fronts, and having a player the likes of Wanyama to fall back on, game after game, knowing exactly what they're going to get, will go a long way in Spurs ending their run on no silverware. With the sale of Kyle Walker to Manchester City, an extra £50 million has just been made available to spend, and if Pochettino can strengthen his side in the areas he needs to, I can see Tottenham carrying on from where they left off last season, challenging for the title. And if they can reach those heights again, I'm certain that Wanyama will be at the fore front, and will get the recognition he deserves. 

Attacker - Yannick Carrasco (Atletico Madrid) 

At the time of writing this, 16th July 2017, Chelsea have just made an approach for the Belgian winger Yannick Carrasco. Reportedly Carrasco has been offered a 5 year deal and upwards to double his current wages if he is to join Chelsea. No official response has been put forward by Atletico so far but if the deal is pulled off, Chelsea will have once again, gotten a hold of one of the brightest young stars in European football. Since arriving from Monaco for a reported 20 million euros, Yannick Carrasco has turned heads, and earned many plaudits for his performances. He fired in 10 league goals last season, 14 in all competitions, only being topped by Antoine Griezmann and Kevin Gemeiro. As well as racking up four assists in the previous campaign, he also scored the equaliser in the Champions League final against Real Madrid in the 2015/16 season. He has also broken into the national team, scoring four goals in his first 19 caps for the red devils of international football, it is no surprise that Chelsea want him at Stanford Bridge. Carrasco is said to be intrigued by the possibility of playing in England, and it is now down to Simeone to convince him to stay. Carrasco is an incredibly skillful winger, with an eye for goal and a brilliant final ball. He is incredibly unpredictable, with the defenders never knowing what he will do, and that is what sets him apart from the rest. He makes it all look so simple, and if he does make the move to Chelsea, I'm certain he will fit right in. But even if he stays at Atletico, he really has the chance to make the world stand back and watch. He will be entering his third season in the Spanish capital, and now he has planted himself firmly in the first team for both club and country, it's time to push on. Despite staying around for now, the possibility of Griezmann leaving Atletico in the near future is still very large, and I can see Carrasco being his lined up replacement headliner. In the history of Atletico Madrid, they never let a top star go without someone ready to step into their boots. With Torres is was Aguero, with Aguero is was Forlan, with Forlan it was Falcao, with Falcao is was Costa, with Costa it was Griezmann, and with Griezmann I think it will be Yannick Carrasco. If the Belgian can continue to improve, and handle the responsibility of being made the star of the show, international team mate Eden Hazard may have some competition as the most talented member of their squad. 

Attacker - Timo Werner (RB Leipzig) 

Klose, retired. Gomez, inconsistent. Muller, adopting a midfield role. Timo Werner? The RB Leipzig striker is coming off of a breakout season in Germany, scoring 21 league goals and impressing the world with his pace, his eye for goal, and such incredible composure at such a young age. At just 21 years old Werner just helped lead German to the Confederations Cup, winning it for the first time in their history, he started in the final and created the only goal of the game. This is before being awarded the golden boot with three goals in the competition as well as two assists. Despite this, as of right now, no big clubs are coming in for the young German which is great for Germany, and it's great for Werner. With Leipzig qualifying for the Champions League next season, Werner will have his first glimpse of top level European club football, and he will have all the opportunities to develop. Should he continue to improve at the rate he is, next on his radar will be the 2018 World Cup, with Werner heavily fancied to be the latest German number 9. At such a young age Timo has the chance to become world class, and he has shown signs of it already in his very young career. With all of the supply in the world, Werner could make staring for the national team a regular thing, he has averaged a goal every other game for the first team, a very impressive strike rate at International level. And last season in his first for Leipzig he scored 21 league goals in 31 league games, again a very impressive strike rate. He has proven he has the talent, he has the ability to make it, the next test is if he has the endurance to go for a full season. Coming off of the Confederations Cup he will have the Bundesliga, German Cup and Champions League all to compete in, with Leipzig looking to challenge and replying on Werner to be their star man. And then of course to cap it off we will have the World Cup, with Werner, if he continues to bang in the goals, potentially leading the line for the world champions. That is a massive responsibility, and if he can live up to it, he could be a future world beater. 

Attacker - Douglas Costa (Juventus - On loan from Bayern Munich) 

Being one of a host of talented Brazilians at Shakhtar Donetsk, the world has been watching Douglas Costa for several years year. And after a 30 million euro move to Bayern Munich in 2015, everyone got to see what he could do up close and personal. The speed he runs with the ball at is frightening, full backs never know what he's going to do next, and with the ability to beat anyone who challenges him, Costa truly is the perfect modern day winger. The only thing missing from his game is goals, he only managed 8 league goals across his two seasons with Bayern Munich, before he penned a loan deal to Juventus, for two years, with the option of a permanent move valued at 40 million euro at the end. Costa has already played 21 times for Brazil, and will be hoping this season he can earn his spot on the plane to Russia. Now with the raw pace and skill Costa possess, he can make it work in any team, in any league, what he needs to do is add more goals to his game! This is why the move to Juventus could be massive for the winger's career. The old lady are currently champions of Italy, and have won six Scudettos in a row, a record for the Seria 'A', this means Costa is all but guaranteed the chance to improve his game in front of goal. Juventus tend to dominate possession in their games, and have Dybala and Higuain leading the line and finding the net, what they don't have, is a player like Costa, a player who can beat a man and get into the box with relitive ease. Juventus played an almost flawless season last year, with Real Madrid in the Champions League final their one slip up. They got found out in that game, but that is where Douglas comes in. Much like Mane at Liverpool, like Reus at Dortmund, like Mbappe at Monaco, Costa has a unique ability unlike anyone else in his team, no matter how the game is going, if he has the chance to run at an opponent, you know he will create a chance. His raw ability is right up there with the very best, there are just a few points of his game that need fine tuning to truly reach his potential. But when he reaches it, he could be seen on par with Neymar. 

There we go, there are some of my predictions for the stand out players of the upcoming season! And i'm sure some of these players won't quite meet expectations because on football, you can't predict anything, you can just sit back and watch. But if any of what I have just said turns out to be true, there could be a hand full of future world stars in this article, and even potential future Balon D'or winners. We'll just have to wait and see.