£1 billion makes the strongest championship year in Premier League history: Liverpool faces three major funders challengers

The Premier League championship battle has turned into a carnival that spends money. Before the 2025-26 season starts, it may cost more than £1 billion, and the clubs that ranked top four last season are updating their roster at an unprecedented pace.

Arsenal, Manchester City and Chelsea will try to win the championship from defending champion Liverpool. To date, the fiscal expenditure of these four teams has been quite huge. Teams such as Newcastle and Aston Villa that are trying to make up for the gap, as well as the already declining giants such as Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur, are facing the risk of further lag.

Arsenal: 180 million pounds, in exchange for a real No. 9?

If Arsenal signs Sporting forward Victor Giokelez for £63.5 million, it will break the £180 million mark. Previously, Arsenal had added midfielder Martin Zubimendi (£51 million), winger Noni Maduec (£48 million), midfielder Christian Norgad (£10 million) and goalkeeper Kepa Arizabalaga (£5 million).

The 2025-26 season may become the most intense championship battle in the Premier League since its founding in the 1992-93 season. Liverpool is undoubtedly the most difficult opponent to defeat, but Arsenal's spending this summer shows that they are determined to break the decline of missing the championship for three consecutive years and strive to win the championship for the first time since 2004.

If—or more likely, when Giokelez completes his transfer from Sporting Lisbon—Arsenal will have an experienced shooter that has been missing for three runner-up seasons.

Maduaik will strengthen the strength and depth of the forward side, while Zubimendi and Norgad will be an upgrade to Jorginho and Thomas Paltei, both of whom leave after their contract expires this summer.

Manchester City: When the blood exchange is in progress, the strengthening lineup of Manchester City in core reconstruction cannot be underestimated. Admittedly, in Guardiola's lineup, club legends Kevin De Bruyne and Kyle Walker leave the team this summer, and Jack Gallish may leave the team as well.

But Cherki, Reindes, Ait Nuri and Marmush, who were signed in January, have shown signs of being able to stand up. Meanwhile, Ballon d'Or winner Rodri returned to Manchester City's midfielder.

In January this year, Manchester City spent £175.9 million to sign four players (Nico Gonzalez, Omar Marmush, Abdukodir Husanov and Vittor Rez), and Manchester City has spent staggering £295.9 million so far in 2025.

Apparently, after Liverpool ended its four-season winning streak last season, Abu Dhabi seniors are determined to retake the club's top spot in the Premier League.

Chelsea: Club World Cup champion, transfer results are emerging

Meanwhile, Chelsea unexpectedly won the FIFA Club World Cup championship in the United States this summer, indicating that the club's transfer investment of more than £1 billion in three years may be about to pay off through ongoing Premier League challenges.

While Chelsea and Manchester City have to wait to know how much their chaotic summer schedule will affect the players' physical fitness in the coming months, Chelsea's positive performance in the Club World Cup was their victory over Champions League champion Paris Saint-Germain in the final.

head coach Enzo Maresca beat Paris Saint-Germain's Luis Enrique in the tactical contest with his attitude towards the team and his finals.

João Pedro, who signed in the mid-season for £60 million in the championship, seemed to have immediately improved the team's frontcourt strength with his goals and tacit understanding with Cole Palmer.

Liverpool: No one is more proactive than the Reds, but no team has made their position as firmly as Liverpool. They adhered to the old motto of "winning among the strong", and invested £185.5 million for Arne Slott's team. Later this week, the Reds will sign Frankfurt striker Hugo Ekitic for £69 million.

Previously, they had signed Leverkusen midfielder Florian Werz for £100 million (with an additional £16 million), breaking the club's transfer fee record. By then, Liverpool's summer transfer spending will reach £254.5 million - after they signed Milosh Kelkez (£40 million), Jeremy Flynnon (£29.5 million) and George Mamaldashvili (£29 million).

The Reds are still interested in signing Newcastle striker Alexander Isaac for more than £130 million. Isaac could be an important target if Darwin Nunes, Luis Diaz and Federico Chiesa leave Anfield before the transfer deadline on September 1.

Therefore, for the chaser, the defending champion may be too strong.

The four quarters compete for the top, who can laugh to the end?

Chelsea has an 11-man lineup that can beat any opponent, but time will tell whether they have enough lineup depth to really make the Final Four this season.

Arsenal and Manchester City have increased their investment in signings. But Liverpool's performance is the most impressive because they can't stop.

They have sent the message to others: "If you can catch us, come and catch us."

Therefore, Ekitic's move and—watch here—the potential franchise of Isaac is an ominous warning that their intention to retain the throne.