Jamie Carragher says Manchester City are ‘weaker than last year’ and makes Premier League title prediction
Jamie Carragher believes Manchester City are ‘weaker than last year’ and predicts the Premier League title. Jamie Carragher believes Manchester City are in a’slightly weaker’ position as a result of the summer transfer window.
However, the Liverpool veteran believes Pep Guardiola’s team is still the favorite to win the Premier League.
City begin the new season against Championship champions Burnley, who are managed by former City captain Vincent Kompany.
After winning a historic treble last season, the Citizens are now aiming for a fourth consecutive Premier League title, a feat no Premier League team has ever accomplished.
To do so, Guardiola has made two big signings: centre-back Josko Gvardiol from RB Leipzig and midfielder Mateo Kovacic from Chelsea.
But he has also lost two of his key players in winger Riyad Mahrez and former skipper and midfielder Ilkay Gundogan, and on the balance of this Carragher believes they’ve downgraded.
‘I think that right now Manchester City are slightly weaker than they were at this stage last year,’ he told Sky Sports.
‘The window hasn’t shut and I’m sure there’s more business to be done. It looks like they’re trying to get Lucas Paqueta from West Ham and I’m sure that deal will go through at some stage.
‘Yes they’ve bought Kovacic in but the goals Gundogan and Mahrez used to bring in, they’ve not filled that gap yet.
‘The defender they’ve signed [Gvardiol] looks the real deal. For his age, he looks already like a top centre-back. Best in class.
‘But even if the squad stayed the same and they didn’t add anything I’d still say Man City are favourites for the title.’
City appear to have agreed personal terms with Paqueta but it is said that West Ham have rejected a £95million offer and are holding out for £110m for their creative midfielder.
Other top sides like Arsenal, Manchester United, Liverpool, Chelsea, Tottenham and Newcastle have all invested heavily this summer, with the 2023/24 season looking set to be one of the most intriguing and closely fought in history.
