The 2023-24 Premier League season is on the horizon and this could be one of the most competitive campaigns we have seen from the big six in recent years despite the fact Manchester City are going to take some stopping.
Arsenal and Manchester United have improved their squads in the offseason, Liverpool are expected to bounce back to form, Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur are both starting eras under new coaches and Newcastle United will prove a thorn in the side once again.
It’s been a busy summer of transfers, so as the excitement builds for the start of the new season, let’s take a look at the big six’s incomings and outgoings.
Manchester City
The quietest member of the big six so far this window, Man City are the Premier League winner betting favourites as they seek a record fourth-successive title and they’ve brought in two Croatians to try and help them achieve that — Matteo Kovacic from Chelsea for £25m and Josko Gvardiol from RB Leipzig for £77m.
In terms of outgoings, Riyad Mahrez moved to Saudi Pro League side Al Ahli for £30m and Yangel Herrera joined Girona. Ilkay Gundogan and Benjamin Mendy both left for free, joining Barcelona and Lorient respectively.
Manchester United
From one side of the city to the other as Erik ten Hag continues his Old Trafford revolution. Mason Mount arrived from Chelsea for £60m and Andre Onana is set to become the Red Devils’ No.1 after a £47.2m move from Champions League finalists Inter Milan. Rasmus Hojlund has set them back a further £72m as Man United believe he is their answer to their striker issues.
Phil Jones, Axel Tuanzebe and David de Gea were all released at the end of their contracts, while Anthony Elanga joined Nottingham Forest and Alex Telles moved to Saudi side Al-Nassr after failing to impress at the Theatre of Dreams.
Liverpool
Sticking up north before going down to the London sides, Liverpool have also only completed two transfers at the time of writing. But Alexis Mac Allister (£35m) and Dominik Szoboszlai (£65m) add youth and quality to their midfield, an area that let them down last year. Jurgen Klopp will be keen to add another midfielder or two before the end of the window.
The Reds have an extensive list of outgoings, with Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, James Milner, Naby Keita and Roberto Firmino all moving on at the end of their respective contracts. Jordan Henderson left for Steven Gerrard-managed Al-Ettifaq for around £10m and Fabinho also moved to Saudi, joining Ittihad for £40m.
Arsenal
The biggest spenders in the Premier League this season, Arsenal capitulated down the stretch last term and ultimately handed Man City the title after leading for more than 90% of the campaign. Mikel Arteta is clearly keen to avoid that happening again this year as he’s brought in Kai Havertz, Jurrien Timber and Declan Rice for a combined £210m.
Former club captain Granit Xhaka, Auston Trusty and Pablo Mari are on the departures list, joining Bayer Leverkusen, Sheffield United and Monza, respectively. Ainsley Maitland-Niles is still without a club after being released upon the expiration of his contract.
Chelsea
It wouldn’t be a summer transfer window without plenty of dealings going on at Chelsea and the Blues have been as busy as ever this offseason. Mauricio Pochettino has added six new faces to the fold at the time of writing, with Christopher Nkunku, Nicolas Jackson, Lesley Ugochukwu, Angelo, Axel Disasi and Diego Moreira all confirmed. Roberto Sanchez could make it seven
Chelsea’s list of outgoings is as long as your arm. Tiemoue Bakayoko, Abdul Rahman Baba, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Cesar Azplicueta, N’Golo Kante, Ethan Ampadu, Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Edouard Mendy, Christian Pulisic, Kalidou Koulibaly, Kovacic, Mount and Havertz have all departed. More will surely follow in the massive summer clear-out.
Tottenham Hotspur
Tottenham Hotspur have also been busy this summer. Pedro Porro and Dejan Kulusevski made their loans permanent in North London and they’ve been joined by James Maddison, Guglielmo Vicario and Manor Solomon at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Ange Postecoglou isn’t done yet either, with Micky van de Ven’s arrival from Wolfsburg imminent.
Spurs’ departures are limited thus far, with only Harry Winks and Lucas Moura shown the exit. But Harry Kane’s future is in doubt and Tottenham fans will be waiting with bated breath as rumours of their captain and talisman moving to Bayern Munich continue to rumble on.
