Manchester City will be going for the quadruple this coming season, because what else is left to achieve? A quintuple, perhaps, if you count the Community Shield, and why not? With that in mind, they want to sign the Leipzig defender Josko Gvardiol in time for Sunday’s big showdown with Arsenal, a signing they intend to follow up quicksmart with the Crystal Palace prospect Michael Olise and Rennes winger Jérémy Doku. After that, the conquering of Mars and beyond.
Chelsea are in for Tyler Adams, one of the few Leeds success stories from last season. If they can’t get the 24-year-old USA midfielder, they’ll turn their attention to Edson Álvarez of Ajax and Mexico.
Liverpool want the Fluminense midfielder André to plug that Jordan Henderson-, James Milner-, Naby Keïta-, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain- and Fabinho-shaped gap. They’re still also interested in Roméo Lavia, but Southampton are digging their heels in for £50m so the Reds may turn to Ryan Gravenberch of Bayern Munich instead.
Everton intend to replace the Fulham-bound Demarai Gray in their attack with West Ham’s Michail Antonio. Arsenal want the Brentford keeper David Raya and will offer £40m for the 27-year-old Spaniard. Tottenham are interested in spending a similar sum on the Nottingham Forest striker Brennan Johnson.
Meanwhile, even Harry Kane appears to be getting real tired of the saga linking him to Bayern Munich. The German champions reckon they can persuade Daniel Levy into letting the striker go for £90m. Kane, who has witnessed how Levy rolls at close quarters, is reluctantly resigned to staying put if nothing can be agreed by the start of the season, as he doesn’t want the story to drag on any further. Selfless.
And now we come to think about it, City will be competing for the Super Cup and Club World Cup as well, so they’ll be going for a septuple this season. Say what you will about footballers’ wages, but Gvardiol, Olise and Doku will earn their corn this year all right.