NICK FEINBERG: REDS SPENDING LIKE A BIG CLUB

HELLO my good football people... Trust we’re all happy out there! It’s amazing to think we’re less than a month away from the new Premier League season!

The Club World Cup has played some part in filling the football void and before you know it, in 19 days’ time, FA Cup winners Crystal Palace will be taking on Premier League Champions Liverpool at Wembley in the FA Community Shield. Known as the traditional season opener to all of us…To Arsenal a piece of “silverware”! But yeah, the transfer window is still in full swing and as we get closer to kickoff, the biggest question remaining is: Can Liverpool retain their crown?

Last season, the Scousers coasted to a title win under a new manager, more than simply allaying fears of a post-Jurgen Klopp meltdown and it looks like they’re not messing about. They are spending like they’re Manchester City (or Chelsea), I guess even the most loyal fan has to admit, they’re no different to any “big” team, buying big players, piecing together big squads to win big trophies!

And to be honest, I haven’t met a single Liverpool fan who isn’t happy that the Fenway Sports Group are sanctioning the kind of signings that (on paper) really strengthen the side, making them (for me) favourites to win the league title again!

Here is a quick look at the traditional top four from recent times, starting with the eye-watering Anfield spending spree (which is set to continue), of nearly £300 million (R7.2 billion)! Florian Wirtz (£116m), Hugo Ekitike (£69m), Milos Kerkez (£40m), Jeremie Frimpong (£29.5m) and Giorgi Mamardashvili (£25m).

That’s some great depth added to Liverpool’s attacking and defensive options. They’ve definitely made the decision to push on in a position of real strength.

Meanwhile, Pep Guardiola’s City have been “rebuilding” after a dodgy season by their standards. The loss of playmaker Kevin de Bruyne is a symbolic moment, as a tired team appears to have run its race.

The new signings are very much “freshening” things up and it does feel like the Citizens may well be the only hope of stopping Arne Slot’s Reds this time around! By most accounts, City are not finished in the transfer market. They have already secured the services of; Tijjani Reijnders (£46.3m), Rayan Cherki (£34m), Rayan Ait-Nouri (£31.8m) and of course Omar Marmoush (£59m), bought in January and already making his mark.

Arsenal continue to invest, but perhaps not as fans would have hope for? There will be more through the door (most likely a striker?). But so far? Mmmh, if I were a Gooner, I wouldn’t be too impressed.

And what is this bizarre obsession Mikel Arteta has in buying Chelsea rejects? I think he has bought five or six under his tenure, with the latest being Noni Madueke (£48.5m), who had Arsenal supporter groups abusing him before he even walked through the door.

Is he simply Bukayo Saka’s back-up? He is hardly the type of player who’ll really take the Gunners to the next level?

Martín Zubimendi (£60m) and Christian Norgaard (£15m) make up the opening acquisitions. With the way everyone is improving around them, I’d say a top-four finish should be Arteta’s target.

And finally Chelsea, the biggest club in London, world champions. Hahaha. Nah, biggest in London, definitely nowhere near the best in the world, despite thumping the “world’s best” in Paris Saint-Germain. The Blues have brought in three new players so far… Liam Delap (£30m), Joao Pedro (£49m) and Jamie Gittens (£48.5m). All excellent for me.

As much as I’m a fan of Nicolas Jackson, Joao Pedro just looks like he is going to bring a spark that has been missing.

Gittens was great at Borussia Dortmund and Delap is definitely underrated, or should I say, because he played at Ipswich and “only cost £30m” most new-breed fans have already written him off.

I still believe the Blues are an experienced player or two short of a team that can really start challenging, you know, like a John Terry in central defence.

For that reason, despite the massive confidence the kids will be feeling after beating PSG, third or fourth should be a realistic target.

Did someone say “Spurs?” did I hear a faint “Manchester United?” a distant echo of “Newcastle?” naaah, must be hearing things.

Chat next week, bye bye.