Thiago at Man Utd puts transfer heat on Chelsea's Mata, Oscar, Hazard trio

It’s seems Gareth Bale will not go and Ronaldo will not come. To the Premier League, that is.
This, in effect, does not really bring in new dynamic attackers to England for the 2013-14 season.

Viewers and supporters are still likely to end up with a top scorers list of Robin Van Persie, Gareth Bale, Sergio Aguero (if he can find form), Luis Suarez (if he stays) and Wayne Rooney (if he stays, fit).

Where the battle is really going to be fought and won is in midfield and having seen what strong, creative, dynamic, goal-scoring midfielders can do - thanks to the clubs from Spain and Germany -  the big spending in the EPL has so far been on midfielders.

Manchester City have signed sign Brazilian midfielder Fernandinho from Ukrainian champions Shakhtar Donetsk for a fee of about £30m. City are also not done chasing Isco, though reports today suggest the playmaker may choose Real Madrid over Manuel Pellegrini.

Thiago - the new Xavi to replace the old Scholes

Manchester United seem a shoo-in to tie up the mercurial Thiago Alcantara, from Barcelona no less.

The Brazilian midfielder Paulinho has claimed a bid being tabled by Tottenham Hotspur.

Arsenal seem secure in their Arteta, Cazorla, Wilshere set-up. This might explain their over-enthusiastic pursuing of Wayne Rooney and nabbing Gonzalo Higuain.

Even Liverpool have a creative midfield set-up aimed at the tiki-taka-  Alberto and Philippe Coutinho.
However, clearly, at least at this point, it is Jose Mourinho and Chelsea who have the midfield attacking trio to most fear – Juan Mata, Oscar and Eden Hazard.

Makes one wonder why Chelsea struggled to even put up a semblance of a challenge for the Premier League title last season.

David Moyes has Michael Carrick, Anderson and who knows, maybe even Wayne Rooney to build his midfield around, but surely Thiago brings a dimension that only Paul Scholes has given United for all these years.

Without that dynamic, Chelsea clearly have the playmakers to give Mourinho a sweet comeback.