World Football: 10 Offseason Storylines To Watch in the Premier League
The 2010-2011 English Premier League season is over, and a flurry of headlines scoured the globe over the course of the past 10 months, including Manchester City's spending spree, Martin O'Neill's sudden resignation, Liverpool's horrendous start and courageous climb, among others.
As the summer wears on, changes in every which direction for every team will spark high expectations and excitement all around.
The transfer window is upon us, Chelsea will have a new manager, and Manchester United's new keeper are just the tip of what will happen in England's top flight.
Here are 10 offseason storylines to watch in the Premiership.
Will City Spend Again?
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Manchester City and spending may become synonymous with one another.
Last summer, Sheikh Mansour unloaded a bundle of cash to secure the likes of David Silva, Yaya Toure, Aleksandar Kolarov, Jerome Boateng, Mario Balotelli and James Milner, among others, all of whom are quite high profile footballers.
Then during the winter window, the club sought out Wolfsburg's Edin Dzeko with another handsome cash amount.
The team had set its sights on a top four finish, and it did just that, landing a concrete spot in next year's UEFA Champions League on the final day of the season.
But despite the vast influx of stars, Roberto Mancini still wants more, which means others must go.
How Will Aston Villa Rebound?
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Aston Villa had one of the more tumultuous campaigns of any club in the league.
Martin O'Neill shockingly resigned just days before the season began. James Milner's departure to Manchester City put a significant hole in Villa's midfield. Injury trouble and poor form from Gabriel Agbonlahor left much to be desired in the final third.
With the Darren Bent signing in January, Villa's future got a much needed injection. But can the club hold on to its valuable role players?
The quality of the club's future will rest on who can be lured in during the summer, managerial position included.
Carlos Tevez Future with Manchester City
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He said he was staying. Then, he said he was going. Then, his manager, Roberto Mancini, said he was staying. He was staying. Now, he says he is going.
Confusion is all around Carlos Tevez, and the City striker's future at Eastlands is highly volatile.
The Argentine shared the Golden Boot with United's Dimitar Berbatov, both netting 20 goals. Tevez's consistent and tenacious play helped carry City to an FA Cup trophy and a spot in next season's Champions League.
But the lingering question remains. Will Tevez stick around for another year at Eastlands?
He's expressed his intentions of speaking with his family regarding his decision, but if there is one certainty about Tevez's decision making, it is sketchy at best.
Money Bags
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During the January Window, a number of teams secured agreements that resulted in a significant cash inflow.
Newcastle immediately comes to mind with its selling of Andy Carroll to Liverpool for a reported £35 million, and with the Magpies maintaining its position in the Premiership, one has to believe that money will be spent on new talent.
But it is not just Newcastle that will be spending this summer. Liverpool will probably look to add a name or two to build a very competitive squad that will feature Carroll, another winter signing in Luis Suarez and Raul Meireles, among others.
The EPL is considered by many to be the best league on the planet, and if that is to continue, clubs will look around Europe for top talent at tremendous costs.
What Pieces Will Kenny Dalglish Add?
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Liverpool's tragic start to its 2010 campaign easily may have cost the club a spot in the Europa League in 2011.
Despite some who believe that this European competition is a fancy distraction conflicting with interests on the domestic side, participation still adds a glimmer of attraction for players looking to make a switch for more enthusiastic opposition.
The Reds will miss out on Europe next season, but they have an incredible load of talent assembled at Anfield. And with a couple of added pieces, Liverpool could be in a position to claim a top four finish next season.
The combination of Andy Carroll, Luis Suarez, Raul Meireles and Dirk Kuyt is a deadly force, but dropping key role players will be essential to the Reds' success in 2011.
The Bid for Romelu Lukaku
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The Belgian teen sensation has been a focal point since January, and he has been linked to a number of top clubs not just in England, but all over Europe.
Manchester United, Manchester City and Chelsea have all been connected in some form to the 18-year-old, but Anderlecht, Lukaku's current club, has claimed a hefty price tag on the 6'3" striker.
Hailed as a young Didier Drogba, possessing incredible strength, good pace, power and finishing abilities, any club who lands this starlet will have paid dearly for him. But he appears worthy of the hype.
Let the Lukaku Saga begin.
The Neymar Sweepstakes
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Strikingly similar to the Lukaku battle, clubs all over Europe will be vying for Neymar's services.
The Brazilian wonderkid has also been a center of attention over the past half-year, and he has made it public that he would like to join a top team. Barcelona and Chelsea have emerged as potential bidders for the 19-year-old playmaker, but naturally, other clubs will want to be heard.
A brilliant dribbler, finisher and creator, whoever signs Neymar earns a bonafide difference maker in the final third.
But how much money will the young superstar command? And how much is too much?
The Summer Transfer Window
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Already under way in the Premiership, the summer's transfer window is a time when clubs can make or break their next season by conjuring the proper changes to be had.
Last summer saw Manchester City bring in a horde of talented internationals, and its landed the club an FA Cup trophy and a spot in the UEFA Champions League.
Manchester United brought on Javier Hernandez, who has been an immediate success at Old Trafford.
Tottenham secured Rafael van der Vaart, easily Spurs' top performer in 2010.
But what makes the summer window irresistible is the juicy, and often times, ridiculous rumors that circulate constantly. With the transfer season concluding at the end of August, clubs have plenty of time to plan their coups of some of the world's best football talent.
Chelsea's New Manager
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By now, most of the football world has heard that Chelsea sacked its manager Carlo Ancelotti, the same boss that led the Blues to a double-winning season a year ago with titles in the FA Cup and the Premier League.
Midway through this campaign, Chelsea struggled with injuries and form, dropping points that kept them far from its hopes of a repeat crown in England's top flight. Although they did finish second in the league, nine points behind Manchester United, owner Roman Abramovich had had enough.
In what may be one of the hottest managerial tickets in Europe, Abramovich likely will be seeking out a big-time name to secure more trophies at Stamford Bridge.
Who Will Succeed Edwin van der Sar at Old Trafford?
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Well into the 2010 season, virtually everyone knew that Edwin van der Sar would retired at the end of the campaign.
The end is here, and Manchester United's search for its new keeper has begun.
A slew of names have been thrown into the mix, including Schalke's Manuel Neuer, Atletico Madrid's David De Gea, Ajax's Maarten Stekelenburg, Bayer Leverkusen's Rene Adler and CSKA Moscow's Igor Akinfeev, among others.
United will have to choice very well, as van der Sar's brilliance over the past has helped guide the club to four EPL titles, two League Cups, three Community Shields and one Champions League Cup.
Whoever takes his place between the sticks will have some gigantic boots to fill.
UPDATE: Sir Alex Ferguson said a deal for De Gea is close to fruition, according to The Daily Mail.
