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17th Jul 2017

Gary Neville reckons the Premier League title race will be between two teams

Is it too soon to make predictions?

Robert Redmond

Is it too soon to make predictions for the new Premier League season?

The season starts on August 11, with Arsenal hosting Leicester City at the Emirates. The transfer window also doesn’t close for another six weeks and teams have only begun their pre-season tours.

A lot can change before the season starts, so it could be argued it’s too soon to make a definitive prediction on who will be champions.

However, Gary Neville reckons the title race will between Manchester United and Manchester City, and expects champions Chelsea to experience a dip.

“I said last season that the title would come to Manchester and I was wrong — but I think this year it will,” Neville told Sky Sports.

“I think Chelsea will dip a little bit. Not in a negative way, but just having the Champions League will bring different challenges. I think Tottenham will be strong, but I feel that either United or City will win it, but I’m not sure who.”

United have already signed Romelu Lukaku and Victor Lindelof, City have bought Kyle Walker, Ederson and Bernardo Silva while Chelsea have signed Tiemoue Bakayoko and Antonio Rudiger.

All three clubs, and their rivals, look set to sign more players before the window closes, and Neville reckons the title race will ultimately be decided by the side which recruits the best.

“I say it every year, whoever recruits best wins the league. Chelsea getting N’Golo Kante was a masterstroke and Eden Hazard and Diego Costa came back to form. All the clubs are going for the same players, they’re all expensive and controlled by agents. So, whoever has the best relationship, the best contacts and is willing to put the money in will probably do it.”