The most obvious of which is Arsenal. The Gunners led the title race for most of last season and it was only when City entered juggernaut mode and ran them down did they start to crumble. But it was a team not used to such pressures after jumping from a 5th place finish previously and should be better from the experience.
Arsenal have improved massively by beating City to the signing of Rice, who should add more drive and quality in the middle. Jurrien Timber appears to be a smart and versatile signing for the defence and Kai Havertz is a bit of a wildcard.
The German clearly has talent and put City to the sword in the Champions League final but it's not clear what his best position is or if he will live up to his £65million price tag. But if Mikel Arteta can get the best out of him they will have another exciting attacker. Arsenal are doing all they can to ensure last year wasn't a one-off.
Manchester United are also getting better. They have once again been unable to sell on much deadwood but the departure of David de Gea is significant. The goalkeeper was holding Erik ten Hag's team back due to his struggles on the ball but the likely replacement of Andre Onana has no such issue. A modern goalkeeper who can press high, is comfortable in possession and has great distribution should transform how United can attack and defend.When you've got Pep Guardiola, Erling Haaland and all the rest of Manchester City's incredible talent you're going to be favourites to win the Premier League. That's especially the case coming off the back of a historic treble.
But, for the moment at least, City are already a weaker team than the one that won the Champions League in Istanbul while everyone else is getting stronger. We won't know how Guardiola's side copes without influential captain Ilkay Gundogan until the season is underway but the Blues are undoubtedly worse off without him, right now.
Many legends have waved goodbye in recent years but unlike Sergio Aguero, Fernandinho or David Silva, Gundogan is not on the decline but instead playing the best football of his career. He was a crucial part of the treble-winning team and replacing him won't be easy.
Mateo Kovacic has come in to replenish the midfield numbers and while a very capable player in the same dynamic mould with plenty of trophies to his name, he isn't as good as Gundogan or as engrained in Guardiola's system. Additionally, Riyad Mahrez appears to be edging towards Saudi Arabia while the futures of Kyle Walker, Bernardo Silva, Aymeric Laporte and Joao Cancelo all remain uncertain.
City were unable to bring in Jude Bellingham or Declan Rice to upgrade and rejuvenate the midfield and it's gone quiet elsewhere on the transfer front. RB Leipzig centre-back Josko Gvardiol is the top target but there doesn't appear to have been much progress in a couple of weeks.
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