CHELSEA are going to win the Premier League next season, according to one talkSPORT host.
Adrian Durham made several bold early predictions for the upcoming campaign, tipping a few teams to exceed expectations.
That includes Chelsea who will start from fresh beginnings following the appointment of Enzo Maresca.
The Italian coach led Leicester to the Championship title this season and Durham thinks he is ready to repeat the same feat in the top flight.
He said on talkSPORT: “Do you want a bold prediction for next year? Chelsea are going to win the title.
“I take it nobody agrees? Do you think no chance, honestly?
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Chelsea finished the season strongly with five consecutive wins but Mauricio Pochettinto’s departure combined with potential departures mean there is plenty of uncertainty at Stamford Bridge.
Crystal Palace are another side who could lose key players this summer, including Eberechi Eze and Michael Olise, who could make a £60million move to Manchester United.
But if they hold onto their important players Durham thinks they are capable of qualifying for the Champions League.
He said of their chances: “The other thing I think is, if they all stay together, [Crystal] Palace will challenge for top four.”
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Durham also predicted Aston Villa would have a season to remember, claiming Unai Emery’s side will improve once again and challenge for the Prem title.
He added: “I’ll throw one from left-field. I think, given the finance they have and the manager they have, [Unai] Emery could build a side to challenge for the title. Not win it, challenge for it.
“My argument for that is this. Liverpool came from 25 points off the pace to challenge for the title from nowhere, Arsenal were fighting for fourth place one minute, suddenly they’re challenging for the title. They didn’t have the squad last year, they were better second time around.
“Also, Emery has a body of work if you look across everything he’s done, with Villarreal he took a team of rejects and got to the Champions League semi-final.
“He’s a winner, and if you give him the finance and you give him the team… Villa had three players out with ACL’s this season, am I right? They had a striker [Ollie Watkins] who was decent, who was turning in elite Premier League numbers this season.”
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
