The transfer market has only just re-opened, teams are beginning to take shape and strengthen but already we are getting a sense of who might be a title challengers next year.

Below is a run-down of the big clubs, where they are at the moment and what they they need to do in the close season in order to push on and challenge for the Premier League title.

Liverpool

Having waited three decades for a league title might Liverpool be able to win two in a row?

It seems unlikely that the Merseysiders are going to lose any of the core of the team that saw them obliterate all comers in the 2019-20 season and as such they will surely be in the reckoning come next Spring. However, the Premier League title is famously difficult to defend with Man City's back to back wins of 2018 & 2019 the only example of a side winning it in consecutive seasons for over a decade.

Jurgen Klopp has been quick to stress that he doesn't see the need to make big changes in the squad over the summer, preferring instead to try and maintain harmony on the training ground. That being said he must be somewhat disappointed by Liverpool's finish to last season with the Reds taking just 17 points from their closing 9 matches post-lockdown and a bit of a shake up might not be a bad idea.

Of course, what Klopp says and what he does may be two very different things. We know for example that there was a long standing interest in Timo Werner before his move to Chelsea and that they are still very much in the hunt for Thiago Alcantra from Bayern Munich. It doesn't look like there will be big changes at Anfield over this close season but any transfers they do make will be for high-quality proven talent.

There is however that lingering doubt about what would happen if one of Mane, Firmino or Salah were to miss a significant portion of the season? Divock Origi has proven a good back-up option in the past but his failure to kick-on last season and really push those ahead of him must be a concern. Liverpool, as with any club, will find it difficult to convince genuine talent to come when they know that there are so many established names ahead of them in the pecking order. If rumours are to be believed then the Reds also missed out on the signature of Victor Osimhen from Lille for precisely this reason.

However, while looking for reasons that Liverpool might not win the Premier league in 2020-21, it's important to remember just how good they've been over the last couple of years. After all, they have arguably the best centre-back in world football, the most dynamic full-back pairing going and a front three to die for not to mention strength across the entire pitch.

Perhaps the biggest challenge for Liverpool in 2020-21 is how they will cope with having finally shaken the monkey off their back after underachieving in the Premier League for so long. Will it be a case of them believing that the job is done or will this side have the killer instinct to go on and dominate the Premier League for years to come? My feeling is that it will be the later.

Prediction: Liverpool already have the most balanced side in the league and a couple of key acquisitions will help strengthen their options and keep those in possession on their toes. This is a squad that knows how to win and shows little sign of having lost their appetite for silverware.

Odds: William Hill's offer of Liverpool to win the 2020-21 Premier League @2.75 looks like fantastic value. I've no doubt that their challengers will strengthen over the close season but they still have a long way to go to close the 18 point gap that Klopp's men won by last year.

Manchester City

Manchester City, as they have been for the last several years, will be many people's favourites to win the 2020-21 Premier League.

Given their near endless supply of cash and the fact that not even football's governing bodies can stop them spending it, it's not difficult to see why. In that vain City have already completed the signings of Nathan Ake from Bournemouth and Ferran Torres from Valencia. Torres arrives as a straight-swap for Leroy Sane while Ake will provide much needed reinforcement across the back line.

In fact, defensive frailties are one of the key reasons that City finished so far off the pace last year. A failure to replace commanding centre-back Vincent Company really cost them in 2019-20 and I would imagine that they are still very much in the market for a player who can fill his shoes. Napoli's Kalidou Koulibaly would certainly fit the description and there has been rampant speculation that he will form the centre-piece of Pep's new defence.

However, it's not just rebuilding in one position or area of the pitch that is required. Guardiola will also have to come to terms with the departure of David Silva who has been such an influential player for such a long time at the Ethiad. Equally, the likes of Fernandinho and Aguero are no longer the forces they once were and despite the endless mountains of cash, Pep has yet to uncover genuine replacements for them.

Beyond world-class quality, what those players leave behind is a knowledge of how to win Premier League titles. No one could argue that City aren't the best footballing team in the country but the question still remains as to whether they can win when they are not at their peak? Last season this weaknesses was highlighted in the fact that they lost 7 matches away from home in the Premier League a record that surely must be addressed if they are to live up to their billing as favourites for the 2020-21 season.

Prediction: Guardiola and City will certainly have a point to prove after an underwhelming Premier League season last time out. They will hope to put the off-field problems behind them and concentrate on playing the type of football that delivered them a hundred points in 2019. I would be highly surprised if the Premier League in 2020-21 is as one sided.

Odds: William Hill's offer of even money on Manchester City to win the league in 2020-21 might well be worth jumping on early before they announce even more big money signings that will push those odds ever shorter.

Chelsea

Having served their transfer ban, Chelsea have re-entered the market with a splash moving early to sign striker Timo Werner and winger Hakim Ziyech. If negotiations for Kai Havertz prove successful then Chelsea will have reshaped most of their offence line over the summer and boast some of the brightest talent that the continent has to offer.

Of course, this is on top of the domestic youngsters who have been able to emerge this season and with James Reece, Callum Hudson-Odoi, Mason Mount and Christian Pulsic already showing what they are cable of at the highest level then there is reason to believe that Chelsea will be a credible threat to the top 2 not just this season but for quite some time to come.

The one area of concern that Chelsea may have to go back into the market to address is defence and they finished last season having conceded more goals (54) than any other team in the top half of the Premier League. Getting the balance right at the back and cutting down on errors would boost Chelsea's points haul no end

A left-back seems to be very much on Frank Lampard's shopping list and rumours that Ben Chillwell will make a big money move to West London persist while replacing the much maligned Kepa in goal looks to be another priority for the Blues with pretty much any half decent goalkeeper in Europe linked with a move to Chelsea this summer.

Prediction: Chelsea are going to be an exciting team to watch next year and given the youth in their squad you would imagine that they will be able to improve on last season's efforts. Tightening up at the back and improving on their home form would see an immediate impact on points and with the 2020-21 season looking likely to be a lot tighter than in years gone by then don't be surprised if the Blues aren't challenging for greater honours come May.

Odds: With Abramovich loosening the purse strings and Chelsea showing no signs of slowing down in the transfer market this could be a great time to get in early on some very decent odds on Chelsea to win the league @ 13.0. Expect these odds to shorten over the coming weeks if Lampard is able to secure defensive reinforcements for 2020-21.

Manchester United

The Red Devils late season form has gotten a lot of their supporters excited! Certainly of any team in the Premier League, Manchester United seemed to benefit the most from the 2 month break in football to roar back to life and secure a Champions League finish. That momentum coupled with some shrewd business in the transfer market could well see them back where they belong at the top of the league.

Negotiations to make Jadon Sancho one of if not the most expensive British footballer in history continue and his addition to an already talented and pacey forward line that is full of goals would be very exciting indeed.

Behind them, Paul Pogba finally seems to have settled down and struck up a partnership with the newly arrived Bruno Fernandes who has quickly established himself as a fan's favourite at Old Trafford. Equally don't underestimate the role that Nemanja Matic plays behind those 2 winning the ball back and setting attacks on their way.

Much like Chelsea there is probably cause to believe that United could strengthen at the back and the future of David De Gea who for so long has been a rock at Old Trafford now looks uncertain but of course in that respect the Red Devils do have Dean Henderson waiting in the wings should the Spaniard finally move on.

Prediction: The feel good factor seems to have returned to Old Trafford for first time in many years and the quick turnaround between seasons could well help United maintain that momentum. While United have been able to deliver some thrilling displays against lesser clubs in recent weeks, it should also not be forgotten that they showed an ability to pick up points against their fellow title challengers last year and again that should stand them in good stead for the 2020-21 season which is expected to be that much closer.

Odds: Again Manchester United's odds @10.0 to win the 2020-21 Premier League are only going to shorten with the imminent arrival of more world class talent this summer so get in on this price while you can.

Other notable odds to win the Premier League in 2020-21 include...

Arsenal - Despite a disappointing season, the Gunners still managed to return silverware in 2020 and Mikel Arteta certainly seems to have his squad moving in the right direction. A couple of key acquisitions as well as holding onto the talent he has will certainly improve their league standing. You can bet on them to win the Premier League title @41.0

Spurs - Just across the road and another new manager hoping to improve his side's fortunes in his first full season in charge is Jose Mourinho. Spurs still boast an impressive array of talent and there were signs late in the 2019-20 season that Mourinho's methods were beginning to take hold at Tottenham. A reshape in midfield and defence is underway so expect Spurs to be a difficult nut to crack next season. You can bet on them to win the Premier League title @51.0

Leeds - How about a real long shots? Leeds United are back in the big time and one of England's most successful clubs of all time will be hoping to stay their for the foreseeable future. You can back them for an immediate return to glory @201.0

Newcastle - Could the Saudi investors return? If so expect big signings and a significant drop in the current price @501.0 for the Toon Army to deliver its first Premier League title.

Aston Villa - Getting into dreamland now. Could Villa "do a Leicester" and avoid relegation one season to become Premier League Champs the next? You can have a flutter on them to do just that @1001.0

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