Is Dietmar Hamann Right to Predict a Manchester City Title Win?

In an interview with talkSPORT, former Manchester City midfielder Dietmar Hamann has said he believes Manuel Pellegrini’s new look side are the favourites for this season’s Premier League.

Hamann said:

"

For me, they had the best squad last season. How they never made a fight for the Premier League or Champions League was a travesty.

Clearly there were problems with Mancini last season, but this guy [Pellegrini] seems to be a lot more clever and better with the players.

They have addressed the problems they had last season, when they didn’t score enough goals. In Navas, Negredo, Jovetic and Fernandino they have bought four top players.

I think they could run away with the league this season. City were at least as well-equipped as Man United last season and they have brought in four top players for £90million. I think they will make an immediate impact.

"

So, is he right?

It’s a bold claim to say City will ‘run away’ with the title, especially when Manchester United and Chelsea are far from done in terms of signing players themselves. With just under a month to go before the transfer window shuts, there’s still plenty of time for those two teams to strengthen.

However, there’s no doubt that there is some cause for optimism at the Etihad, most notably their new, decisive approach to transfers. Whereas other top sides in the Premier League are struggling to bring players in, City already have four new signings playing preseason matches and getting to know how their new teammates play.

Lessons from last season’s debacle, which saw City dither and lose out on their top transfer targets before a last-minute trolley dash for expensive flops led to a disjointed opening to the season, have clearly been learned.

This summer has seen a more organised and aggressive transfer policy.

Having ear-marked Falcao and Edinson Cavani as their top targets, Txiki Begiristain and Ferran Soriano, the men now in charge of transfers, moved swiftly on to other players once it was clear they weren’t prepared to match the eye-watering sums of money being thrown around by Monaco and PSG, with Stevan Jovetic and Alvaro Negredo joining the club.

Last summer, when Brian Marwood was leading the recruitment drive, things were very different.

Take the case of Javi Martinez. Mancini, quite rightly, singled him out as the club’s top midfield target. After a series of impressive displays for Athletic Bilbao, it was clear that he was Europe’s finest young defensive midfield player, and Mancini was desperate to land him. Bayern Munich eventually secured Martinez’s signature, and City didn’t have an alternative. Looking lost and undecided who their next target should be, they eventually finalised a rushed deal for Javi Garcia on deadline day, but he failed to get anywhere near the level of performance required.

Then there was Robin van Persie. Again, Mancini was clear in his assertion that van Persie was a vital acquisition if City were to push on after winning their first title in 44 years. He saw in van Persie a skillful goalscorer who knew the Premier League; a player whose injuries were behind him and goalscoring record was second-to-none. City lost out to their rivals and van Persie made the difference as United reclaimed the title at a canter. City had no alternative player lined up and scored 27 fewer goals than in their title winning season.

Compared to last season's woeful summer period, this one has been serene. By moving quickly in the market, City are giving their new recruits the best possible preparation for the Newcastle game on August 19.

Hamann is also right to mention Pellegrini’s more measured approach to man management than that of his predecessor. It’s clear that Mancini had a much more distant relationship with his squad, which led to fractions and cracks in the ranks. City were lost and disjointed by the end of the Italian’s reign, which almost certainly had an adverse effect on results.

Pellegrini, on the other hand, is known for his man management skills, with former players often very keen to sing his praises. If he can unite this squad of very talented players, City will be a much stronger proposition than they were last season.

It was also clear that many of City's biggest players underperformed last season. Yaya Toure, David Silva and Sergio Aguero, in particular, were all some way short of the level they reached in 2011/12. If the new manager can get those three players back to their best, City will be a force before the new signings are even factored in.

Hamann may have been hasty in writing off City’s closest challengers before the transfer window has closed, but he’s right to suggest that City have reasons to be optimistic going into the new season.

Rob Pollard is Bleacher Report's lead Manchester City correspondent and will be following the club from a Manchester base throughout the 2013-14 season. Follow him on Twitter here @TypicalCity