So, a fresh, juicy new Premier League season is once again here. Feels good, doesn't it? I managed to catch a couple of games and together with the beer or three, I enjoyed them just a wee bit!

But looking at the results and the table, is there anything new we've learnt from this opening round of games? I know it's kind of stoopid to look at the table after only one game, but it does have a feeling of been there, done that, seen the movie about it...look at Chelsea perched high with a nice goal difference already in their favour. And that bottom three of WWW - West Ham, Wigan and West Brom - you've got to say that if those three teams stay there it won't come as too much of a shock.

The only real surprise that you can really call a surprise is Blackpool's amazing 4-0 win at Wigan. It has catapulted them into second spot, given them a much needed boost to their first ever season in the Premier League, and also put them in the eye of the media a bit, which can't hurt any plans to sign up some players before the transfer deadline kicks in. How long they'll stay in the top half of the Premier League table, that's a different story...

Of the games I saw, Arsenal and Liverpool seem to be continuing on from last season. Arsenal still really need a classy keeper what with Almunia flapping about at corners, and in my opinion should snap up the seemingly available Shay Given (Joe Hart was in awesome form for Man City against Spurs, and looks to have closed the door on Given's City career). Liverpool started poorly but Joe Cole's sending off actually inspired them and they played like the Liverpool of a couple of seasons ago...only to blow it in the closing minutes. And of the two Manchester sides, United look to be the better bet. They had the easier opening game, against newly promoted Newcastle, but they did more than enough to convince us all that they'll be there come May time. Man City will need some work though, they have some classy players but will need time to gel.

It's great to have Premier League footie back!

The summer has been and almost gone (if you're in northern Europe there are probably only a few more days of shimmering sun to catch, sob, sob), but with new seasons across Europe about to kick off (August 14th - Premier League, August 20/21 - Bundesliga, August 22/23 - Serie A and August 29 - LaLiga), there are still plenty of transfer rumours to keep us wishing/hoping/expecting, depending on who you support of course.

In England it looks like Manchester City still haven't put away their checkbook. With rumours aplenty that Fernando Torres isn't the happiest camper over at Liverpool, a huge, ginormous bid is expected to be winging its way over top Anfield any day. With deep, deep pockets it's perhaps surprising that they've recalled Robinho from his loan spell at Santos. Though if the Brazilian star doesn't fancy playing in rainy Manchester there's not a lot they're going to be able to do, except ship him on and flesh out the bank balance a bit.

Liverpool and Manchester United have appeared perhaps a little too quiet on the transfer rumours circuit this summer. Despite having a new manager in Roy (Woy) Hodgson, Liverpool look like they're going to having a rebuilding year or so. Whether Torres stays is a critical question, but with just over 2 weeks to go before the start of the Premier League, my money's on him staying at Anfield. His teammate Mascherano however looks to be on his way, with Inter Milan (now bossed by his former manager Rafa Benetiz of course) and Barcelona, who almost snapped him up last year, favourites to grab him. As for Manchester United, they appear to have done all their purchases looong ago (including Mexican starlet Hernandez of course), and despite plenty of big names getting talked about, the transfer rumours for United fans are nothing but, well, rumours. I'm choosing to ignore the very latest rumour hitting us that has Man United apparently lining up a £25 million bid to sign Werder Bremen midfielder Mesut Oezil (pictured below), one of the stand-out stars of the German World Cup campaign. Fergie won't go for that. Or will he?

Londoners Arsenal, Chelsea and Spurs have also been fairly quiet on the transfer market, though Arsenal have splashed the cash on Chamakh and are rumoured to be lining up a top goalkeeper (yes, plenty of transfer rumours about Russian Arshavin "selling" Arsenal to his compatriot, goalkeeper Akinfeev, but who knows if there's any truth in it). Sol Campbell is also rumoured to be on his way out, with Newcastle now favourites to land him. Chelsea have been mentioned as a potential target for Torres, but will they be pipped to his signature by moneybags Man City? And if they don't sign him, are they strong enough to defend their title?

As the big names and big clubs wheel and deal on the sidelines, it might be worth mentioning Real Madrid legend Raul, who is one big name definitely on the path of a new career. Whether it continues in England or Germany remains to be seen, as he's still unsure, though Schalke remain favorites to snap him up. He may be 33 but he's still got some football left in him, he'll be a great addition to any team.

So the Premier League season draws near once again. The excitement is slowly building up, I can feel it already. All the big clubs are in their usual pre-season mode, already in training of course, while trying to close any last-minute deals for players (the season starts in less than a month by the way, so those deals had better be wrapped up pretty sharpish!) to get them integrated into their squads in time for D-day. Transfer rumours abound of course, though deals usually take a bit of work before the i's are dotted and the t's crossed...

But one Premier League club that doesn't seem to be too worried about crossing t's and dotting i's is Manchester City. With more money available than they really know what to do with it, City have already splashed the cash and have built themselves up quite a formidable squad for the coming season. Big name signings include David Silva from Valencia and Yaya Toure from Barcelona, while the latest transfer rumours have them linked with Didier Drogba, Balotelli and Aleksandar Kolarov of Lazio. No question that their shopping spree isn't quite over for the summer...

Look too at who they've brought into their coaching ranks this summer. Former England skipper David Platt and Italian Attilio Lombardo (he of the bald head and who starred for Crystal Palace in the Premier League back in the 90s). The backroom staff is an area often critically overlooked, but could it be that City are building themselves an empire of sorts and are laying down the foundations for seasons to come?

Some might say that all that money being spent will build an empire, but will it build a team? There's no doubting that City possess a very talented squad with world-class individuals, but do they have what it takes to go all the way in the Premier League? Will spending even more money on players like Drogba guarantee them a title? Let's face it, Jack Walker's money gifted Blackburn the Premier League title, and without Roman Abramovich's money Chelsea would still be only the second or third best side in London. So yes, money can buy success.

But will all that flash cash turn Manchester City into a club despised and ridiculed, much in the way that Chelsea were in the early days of Abramovich? Nobody likes having wealth flaunted before them, and perhaps City are leering dangerously in that direction. Especially with players like Adebayor on their books. For a club that was just a few seasons ago languishing in the third tier of English football, they've come a long way: financially, spectacularly so over the last year or so. Not that it's gone to their heads, but that club always yo-yoing between leagues, with seasons always poised to end in either success or tragedy, is no more.

And when I stick my fanciest football predictions hat on for the coming season, I see that Manchester City won't be walking away with the Premier League trophy. They should break up the Old Top Four, but I can't see them quite surpassing Chelsea and Manchester United. At least not this season...

With the transfer rumours merry-go-round kicking off big-time, it looks like our favorite big spenders are about to splash the cash. Yep, Manchester City, with their sugar-daddy sheikhs behind them, were probably expected to go a little crazy with their cash this summer, especially after almost striking it big in the Premier League this past season, and news this morning looks set to confirm all suspicions. "Almost" obviously isn't going to be enough for ambitious owners wanting the fame and fortune of a trophy winning side, so cash will certainly be forthcoming to, er, well, Mancini for the moment...

The news from UEFA this morning, that all clubs wanting to play in the Champions League must break even financially by 2012 if they want to take part in European competitions such as the Champions League and Europa Cup, may just mean that we see one last year of excessive spending (and an abundance of even more juicy transfer rumours!) by some of the bigger clubs like City and Chelsea. But we think it's a good thing, Michel Platini's new financial platform, and a lot of clubs will have to adjust their philosophy to the following: you cannot spend more money than you generate. Quite alien to some of these sugar daddies I'm sure, but if it makes for a more level playing field we're for it.

In the meantime of course, City are probably warning up their cheque books for a big session this summer. Transfer rumours are already hotting up, with City being linked to some of the biggest talent in football. It looks like Real Madrid stars Fernando Gago and Gonzalo Higuain, two players who were more than just bit-part players last season, could be in talks with City, while another hot target is Wolfsburg striker Edin Dzeko (though City will be in a dog-fight with Spurs over his signature). Other big names could follow, of course, and I wouldn't be surprised to see a star or two from the upcoming World Cup on Man City's books for the coming season...

Manchester City to go big-time this coming season? Possible title contenders? Me thinks it will be down to who they sign over the summer. So, keep your eyes out for those transfer rumours!

Before I get too carried away, hats off to Jose Mourinho who proved he's the man of the moment by adding the Champions League to his impressive resume. It wasn't pretty, but I'm guessing there's many a footie fan out there who'd be more than happy to have The Special One at the helm of their club. It looks like Real Madrid is his summer destination, and I wouldn't be surprised to see him weave his magic there too in the coming season or two.

But that just about wraps up the season, doesn't it. Now we've got about three weeks of World Cup warmups...and a heck of a lot of transfer rumours! They're starting to fly in thick and fast and even if most are mere fiction or rumour, they'll keep us entertained. Here's a round up of some of the latest football rumours:

• Yossi Benayoun is heading to Chelsea. Or Roma. Or Dynamo Moscow. What do you think?
• Thierry Henry will be joining West Ham.
• Chelsea are after Torres.
• Steven Gerrard is off to Real Madrid or Arsenal.
• Schweinsteiger is heading for the Premier League.
• Fabregas will be joining Barcelona in the coming days

We'll be following most of these transfer rumours and working out which ones are just leading us down the garden path, and which ones are spot on. You can also help us out - if you hear of anything juicy and exciting we'd love to know. We'll put your thoughts on the blog or on a new section (we haven't decided yet) and then get everybody to vote on the latest transfer rumours, be they fiction or fact.

Go get rumour mongering! 

Whatever you think about Chelsea, they have certainly been the side to beat this season in the Premier League. They might not play as sexily as Manchester United or Arsenal, but they have that ruthless efficiency that true champions possess. Yesterday's victory over Portsmouth in the FA Cup Final at Wembley grabbed them the elusive Double. When you take into account they are only the seventh side to grab the Double - and this in Ancelotti's first season - it makes this season's haul even more impressive.

So our hats are tipped very firmly in the direction of Stamford Bridge this morning, they fully deserve their success.

And with rumours of strengthening the team gathering pace (Torres has apparently been targeted, as suggested by the rumour-mongering press in the UK) this summer could see Chelsea turn into the ultimate footballing machine. Just imagine a line-up next season of Torres and Drogba. If I was a central defender I think I'd pull a sickie on match day...

By the way, if you're looking to keep track of some of the latest football transfer rumours over the long, hot summer, check out the forum, where some of the latest, hottest transfer rumours are being posted. Fully verified, of course! :-)