Manchester City and United have been busy during this transfer window as they gear up for the 2021/2022 Premier League season.
The Sky Blues, who are coming in as the defending champions, have been planning several moves since they know that every other club are coming for the necks given that they’ve been the champions of English top-flight in three of the last four years.
Pep Guardiola and co. remain the top pick in the pre-season Premier League 2021 odds to win. However, it isn’t as lopsided as most would think since the likes Chelsea, Manchester United, Leicester City, and Liverpool are just behind them.
Speaking of Manchester United, they have taken the spotlight too since they have completed two high-profile signings.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side have come close to win their first Premier League crown since the 2012/13 season and the pressure is on him to bring home a new trophy at Old Trafford.
As we anticipate the beginning of a new season, read on below as SBOTOP keeps you up-to-date with the latest Premier League 2021 news.
Manchester City closing in on Jack Grealish, Harry Kane adamant to join in
With everything that has happened this offseason, the Sky Blues cannot afford to stand still which is why they have their eyes set on getting Jack Grealish’s signature.
Known as one of the most prolific playmakers in the English top-flight, it isn’t surprising that the Sky Blues have been coveting him but his services won’t come cheap.
According to reports, Manchester City have offered £100-M to Aston Villa and it’s widely expected that the latter will accept the offer sooner or later.
Grealish’s City signing looks to be a mere formality at this point despite him training at Villa’s camp this week. Once the Sky Blues make it official, the 25-year-old winger is going to be the biggest signing in the club’s history which would complicate matters if they’ll continue their pursuit of Harry Kane.
Kane has reportedly been absent to his pre-season duties with Tottenham as a way to force their hand to move him at the Etihad.
Prior to Jack Grealish, City have made the same offer for Harry Kane but Daniel Levy remains reluctant to sell the 28-year-old striker.
Meanwhile, the Villans are already preparing for a new life without their captain as they recently made a signing of their own.
Leon Bailey has been signed for around £30-M and he can fill in the void that will be left by Jack Grealish seamlessly.
The 23-year-old winger was linked to several Premier League clubs last summer and it’s not surprising since he has played well for Bayer Leverkusen in the Bundesliga.
In his fourth year with Die Werkself, Bailey notched 17 goals in all competitions and he helped the team qualify for the Europa League.
Manchester United seal Raphael Varane’s signature
The Red Devils have finally confirmed the addition of Raphael Varane.
Varane, who has spent 10 years with Real Madrid, is the latest big signing for Manchester United weeks after acquiring Jadon Sancho from Borussia Dortmund.
The tall Frenchman is a significant upgrade at the Red Devils’ backline, which has been a weak point in the past few years.
Raphael Varane can fit in right away and form an intriguing tandem with team captain Harry Maguire. In turn, long-time starter Victor Lindelof will be relegated to the bench.
Sancho and Varane will undoubtedly fill United’s needs and help them be a viable contender in the Premier League. However, another position that they’ll have to address is the midfield.
Paul Pogba has been an enigma for the Red Devils since he has one more year left on his deal and he is heavily linked to PSG.
Pre-season is already underway
The pre-season friendlies have already started and we’ve been offered a glimpse of how certain teams would look like in the upcoming season.
Arsenal have been hit by the injury bug and they could be without first team regulars Gabriel and Thomas Partey in the opener.
Partey limped out of the first half during their 2-1 defeat at Chelsea while Gabriel has not featured in the preseason since he’s dealing with a knee knock.
Should both of them miss more time, Mikel Arteta will lean on to Granit Xhaka, who scored the lone goal against the Blues. And more importantly, new signing Ben White will be playing heavy minutes as well.
Meanwhile, there’s good news at the Molineux since Raul Jimenez impressed during their friendly draw against Stoke last Saturday.
The 30-year-old striker, who missed a huge chunk of last season due to a fractured skull, scored from close range at the half-hour mark to cancel out Danny Batth’s opener.
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