PUBLISHED ON 6 JUNE, 2012
The 20th FA Premier League season will go down as one of the best in its history.
There were plenty of shock results, glorious goals, memorable matches and a finale that is unlikely to be matched for many years to come.
Here is a preview of last season’s top six, what they might need to do in challenging for honours and who they need to hold onto.
Blue dreams need to move onto Europe
Manchester City’s long wait for league silverware ended in dramatic circumstances with Sergio Aguero’s late winner to beat QPR and edge out their neighbours from Old Trafford on the final day.
Roberto Mancini will now want to launch a proper assault on the Champions League after their group stage exit first time round before Christmas.
Who might leave? – The future of Carlos Tevez will remain in the air after last season’s furore in Munich. Tevez seemed happier towards the end of the season and might stay.
It is difficult to see both him and Mario Balotelli staying at the Ettihad Stadium and Bayern Munich have made tentative enquiries about Edin Dzeko.
Injury-prone Owen Hargreaves has been released along with reserve goalkeeper Stuart Taylor and high-earners Wayne Bridge, Roque Santa Cruz and Emmanuel Adebayor don’t have a long-term future at Eastlands either.
Who might arrive? – It is always difficult to predict names with the club but with the wealth at their disposal, City will be able to attract anyone.
They need centre back cover as when Vincent Kompany and Joleon Lescott were out injured in March, their formed dipped dramatically with the ageing Kolo Toure and the inadequate Stefan Savic.
If Tevez, Balotelli or/and Dzeko all leave, then expect another goalscorer to arrive and another attacking midfielder to cover for Yaya Toure’s departure to the African Cup of Nations in January would be ideal.
Prediction – They will start next season as ominous favourites. Years of dominance could be about to begin on the blue side of Manchester.
Time to spend for the Red Devils
No trophies at the end of last season will have hurt Sir Alex Ferguson and Manchester United.
His side is young but showed forms of naivety throughout the campaign and losing an almost unassailable eight point lead in April means change is required at the Theatre of Dreams.
Who might leave? – Paul Scholes has signed a new one-year deal but the days of relying on him and Ryan Giggs frequently have to disappear.
Michael Owen has left and Dimitar Berbatov will almost certainly be heading for another European league, with PSG being a potential destination. The rest of the squad will probably stick together for a new season.
Who might arrive? – The first business has already been done by Ferguson, with the capture of £12 million Japanese midfielder Shinji Kagawa from German champions Borussia Dortmund.
Kagawa is not well known to many but he scored 13 goals last season as Dortmund did the domestic double.
What the club needs is an experienced midfielder and with Inter Milan not in the Champions League next season, Ferguson might go back in for one of his targets last summer, Wesley Sneijder.
Another striker as cover for Wayne Rooney, Javier Hernandez and Danny Welbeck would help should an injury crisis strike and potentially, a right back as Rafael hasn’t quite lived up to his potential and Phil Jones is still learning about his versatility in defensive areas.
Prediction – Never write Manchester United off, you can be sure that the boss will want one final piece of glory, both domestically and on the continent.
Holding rather than buying for North London
Arsenal and Tottenham finished third and fourth last season but for both clubs, it will be holding onto key players that might make or break their summer activity.
Who might leave? – For Arsenal, the most important business has to be signing captain and goal machine Robin Van Persie onto a long-term contract.
The Dutchman is expected to open negotiations after Euro 2012.
Chelsea’s Champions League glory has relegated Tottenham into the Europa League and this will make it harder for Harry Redknapp to try and hold onto his prized assets, Gareth Bale and Luka Modric. He will do well to keep both.
Who might arrive? – Arsenal have already signed German striker Lukas Podolski from Cologne and seem interested in acquiring young French midfielder Yann M’Vila.
With absolutely no support for Van Persie last season from an attacker, Arsene Wenger will need to buy another forward and Luuk de Jong would fit the bill perfectly after his exploits in Holland with FC Twente.
Emmanuel Adebayor has hinted of making his loan deal from Manchester City into a permanent move at Tottenham, which will be a massive boost for the club.
Tottenham don’t spend much on a regular basis and their activity will depend fully on what happens regarding the futures of Bale and Modric.
Prediction – Arsenal have to win some form of silverware next season as excuses are running thin on the ground at the Emirates. Tottenham have great potential but will need more depth to stop alarming slides like they did in the spring, ultimately costing them Champions League football in 2012/13.
Proud Pardew aims to move into the elite
Newcastle United became a joy to watch last season and Alan Pardew fully deserved to win the Barclays Manager of the Year award.
With European football back on Tyneside, the club looks like an attractive proposition again.
Who might leave? – The stunning performances from Demba Ba, Papa Cisse, Yohan Cabaye and Hatem Ben Afra amongst others mean a lot of the top continental clubs will be interested in their services.
The Magpies need to convince these stars that their exploits last season weren’t a one-off.
Who might arrive? – 22-year old French midfielder Roman Amalfitano has already signed up to join the St. James Park squad.
He will arrive from Reims on July 1 via the Bosman ruling.
Pardew did brilliantly to sign so many players last year on a budget and it is likely he will operate down the same avenue again this summer. Like Tottenham, it will be holding onto stars that are the key.
Prediction - A great squad but need to add to it if they want to take it to the next level.
Roman to splash the cash
Sixth place for Chelsea was their lowest Premiership finish since 2002 last season but the heroics of Munich means the club will contest Champions League football this season.
A new Chelsea has to develop if they are to keep up with the men from Manchester.
Who might leave? – Didier Drogba has made an emotional goodbye to Stamford Bridge and he has been followed out of the club by defender Jose Boswinga and the unpredictable Salomon Kalou.
Fernando Torres's future looks far from settled, although recent indications of clearing the air discussions might be enough to keep him in West London.
Who might arrive? – It felt like a rendition of Guess Who, but highly-rated playmaker Eden Hazard (pictured) revealed on Twitter last week he has signed for Chelsea.
The move officially went through this week, for approximately £30 million.
The Blues might be about to splash even more out on Hulk from FC Porto and will aim for another top-class striker too. Europa League king Falcao and Uruguayan Edison Cavani are both believed to be high on Abramovich’s shopping list.
There hasn’t been official confirmation on the manager either, although it is difficult to see anyone but Roberto di Matteo getting the job.
Prediction - After Munich, anything is possible but they can't rely on experience. A change of the guard is required for further Premier League assaults from Chelsea. The signs in purchasing Hazard mean that the future is looking good.
In an economy that continues to look shaky with each passing day, football has often not fitted around the general struggles of the common person.
Expect plenty of money to be spent this summer, especially by those determined to stop Manchester City’s triumph becoming years of sustained success.
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