Manchester clubs challenge the Premier League.

(Baonghean.vn) - The 2017-2018 Premier League will officially kick off on August 12th. However, with what's happening in the summer transfer window, the two Manchester teams are challenging the entire Premier League.

Chelsea's comfortable Premier League title win has hurt the owners and fans of both Manchester City and Manchester United. As a result, both Manchester clubs have been spending heavily in the transfer market more than ever before.

The rich guy

As usual, 46-year-old Manchester City owner Mansour is the biggest spender. Hailing from the Abu Dhabi royal family, the most powerful clan in the UAE, Mansour controls numerous investment funds and was famous for rescuing Barclays Bank (UK).

Mansour has expanded into the sports sector by founding City Football Group, the owner of Manchester City, New York City, and Melbourne City clubs. To date, the Manchester club has spent nearly €250 million strengthening its squad. This amount represents a quarter of the total transfer spending of all 20 Premier League teams.

Surprisingly, of the five new signings that manager Pep Guardiola has brought to the Etihal, four are reinforcements for the defense, with only Bernardo Silva to strengthen the attack. Last year, Pep Guardiola also splashed out on 22-year-old John Stones, making him the most expensive defender in England at £47.5 million, and this year the same thing has happened again.

Kyle Walker. Photo: Internet

The Etihal-based team broke two records: making Kyle Walker (€50 million) the most expensive English defender ever transferred and Benjamin Mendy (€60 million) the most expensive defender in the world. Owner Mansour spared no expense in allowing manager Pep Guardiola to recruit extensively, along with a directive to overthrow Chelsea's dominance.

Although not as high-profile as Man City, their city rivals MU also managed to bring in two quality new signings: striker Romelu Lukaku (85 million euros) and center-back Victor Lindelof (35 million euros). In addition, Serbian player Nemanja Matic (40 million pounds) has arrived at the Carrington training center for a medical examination.

Of course, reigning champions Chelsea couldn't just sit idly by while their rivals strengthened their squads, especially with The Blues returning to the demanding Champions League. Chelsea's three new signings – Alvaro Morata, Bakayoko, and Antonio Rudiger – are all big-name players, costing over €150 million.

Manchester Derby

Without a doubt, even before the ball starts rolling, the Manchester derby is the most anticipated match in the Premier League. Last year, the Manchester derby, with just the 22 players in the starting lineup, was worth over £600 million, making it the hottest match in English football. Mourinho's team was valued at £328.1 million, while the Manchester City squad was worth approximately £289.25 million.

"The Special One" still has the world's most expensive player, Paul Pogba at £89 million, Eric Bailly at £31.5 million, and Luke Shaw, who cost MU £30 million. The attacking trio of Wayne Rooney, Juan Mata, and Anthony Martial cost over £100 million, with the only exception being the departure of captain Rooney. Pep's old squad still includes Raheem Sterling at £44 million, Kevin De Bruyne at £54.8 million, Fernandinho at £30 million, and David Silva at £25 million…

Romelu Lukaku. Photo: Internet

Given the current situation, last year's record of £600 million is about to be broken when Lukaku and Benjamin Mendy take to the field. This will undoubtedly attract more attention from fans than the London derby, due to the presence of continental stars in both the blue and red teams.

The Premier League continues to attract many expensive players, but it's clear that the rest of the league isn't spending lavishly like the Manchester giants. Surprisingly, in the top six, Liverpool has only signed two new players: Mohamed Salah (€40 million) and Andrew Robertson (€11 million), despite their extravagant spending sprees in previous seasons.

Among the big clubs, only Tottenham has yet to spend any money on transfers, despite their goal of competing for the title after a disappointing season. Meanwhile, Arsenal, known for their stinginess, has finally broken the bank with €53 million to bring striker Alexandre Lacazette from Lyon to Anfield. This is also the most expensive signing in the Gunners' history.

AT