The return of the English Premier League is officially upon us. There’s been plenty of transfer activity over the summer as the big boys have shuffled the pack to mount a challenge for the title.

Manchester United will be favourites to retain their title having added quality up-and-coming talents to their title winning squad. Ashley Young in particular is a huge addition to the squad, but a lot will depend on whether David De Gea is able to play up to retiring Edwin van der Sar’s standards.

Manchester City have continued recruiting, spending amounts that make Barrack Obama jealous, but have failed to excite in pre-season. City’s second half collapse against United in last weekend’s Community Challenge will have served as a warning to the big spenders that whilst they can buy the best players, that doesn’t mean they can buy the best team. Last year’s runner up, Chelsea, have been quieter than usual in the transfer market and will be relying on Fernando Torres rediscovering his electric Liverpool form to propel them back to top spot.

Liverpool themselves have added some high quality talent to their squad, but it’s all been about midfield. The Anfield outfit now surely has the best midfield options in the EPL, but it’s their weaknesses at the back that will most likely stop them making a serious challenge. The addition of a quality left-back would certainly help – and the news that Newcastle’s Jose Enrique is all but signed will be a boost for them.

Arsenal are always there or thereabouts at the end of the season, but with a lack of significant recruiting and the continued uncertainty over whether Cesc Fabregas and Samir Nasri will still be with the club at the end of the month there have to be major question marks this season. If the talented pair do leave, Arsene Wenger will be left with a huge transfer kitty but limited time to spend it. It will be interesting to see what he comes up with. Having threatened to break into the Big 4 last year, Spurs fell away at the end of the season and they’ve spent the summer fighting off attention for Luka Modric whilst looking to offload surplus players rather than bring in new talent. Harry Redknap will be looking for his team to repeat last year’s early form without the distraction of the European Champions League.

The battle against relegation looks to be equally tough, with Swansea, Queens Park Rangers and Norwich failing to excite in the transfer market, whilst Blackburn and Wigan don’t appear to have improved on last year’s squads. Elsewhere, Newcastle owner Mike Ashley appears to be doing everything in his power to propel Newcastle into a relegation struggle – recruiting anonymous Frenchmen whilst offloading and alienating your best players is no way to build a Premiership team. My tips – Manchester United for the title, Swansea, Norwich and Newcastle for the drop.