Chelsea fans may be perplexed to see that the Blues have only been made third favourites to win the Premiership next season, despite cruising to the 2016-17 title. The bookmakers made Man City and Man Utd the favourites for this season’s title race and Chelsea made a mockery of that by finishing a country mile clear of the pair of them. The bookies are at it again, however, installing Pep Guardiola’s team as favourites for 2017-18, followed by Man Utd, and only then you arrive at Chelsea.

There is no doubt that Antonio Conte’s men have been the best team in the league this season. The only side that ever looked like given them a run for their money was Tottenham, who fell away, and certainly neither of the Manchester clubs ever got close. Chelsea have been far better defensively, far more devastating going forwards and far more solid in the middle of the park. It has been a comprehensive victory in the title race, and Chelsea are champions for the second time in three years. All that stands between them and the double is an erratic Arsenal side. Bet365 has odds for the FA Cup final and Chelsea are odds-on favourites, while Arsenal are out at 3/1.

If Chelsea have been so dominant this season, why are the bookmakers installing the Manchester clubs as the favourites for next season? It is clearly a case of perceived ambition in the transfer market. Utd broke the world record transfer fee in signing Paul Pogba last summer, and are tipped to break it again, with Antoine Griezmann, Neymar and Gareth Bale all linked. Man City also spent a fortune on the likes of Leroy Sane, Gabriel Jesus and John Stones, and are expected to make another almighty splash in the transfer window.

But neither club has conducted particularly good transfer business of late. They will spend big again, but that does not guarantee success. Not by any means. Guardiola has at times looked hapless this season, while Mourinho’s tactics have been too negative. There is every reason to suggest Chelsea will come out on top again, because they have a wonderful coach in Conte, and they have an extremely strong spine to the side. In Thibaut Courtois, Cesar Azpilicueta, N’Golo Kante and Eden Hazard, they have the best players in their position in the league. Man Utd and Man City can spend all the money they want, but they are highly unlikely to find a keeper better than Courtois, a defender more versatile and accomplished than Azpilicueta, a better midfielder than Kante or a more devastating attacker than Hazard. Beyond that Conte has won the title with a group of players that are not at the level of the previous Chelsea title winning sides. Victor Moses, Marcos Alonso, Gary Cahill and David Luiz are not what you would call world class players. Cesc Fabregas is a creative genius but limited physically. Nemanja Matic has regressed. Pedro and Willian are very good wide players, but nowhere near the level of Hazard. Diego Costa has been great, but may be off and he is replaceable. Essentially, Conte won the title with a few world-beaters and a highly motivated bunch of other players. Think what he could do if he signed a few more world-beaters in the transfer market. Nobody should forget that this is Chelsea and this is Roman Abramovic we are talking about here. He will give Conte £200 million to spend on four leading stars in the summer. He will bolster the defence and sign a top striker, plus another midfielder, and Chelsea should absolutely remain the best team in the land, streets ahead of the Manchester clubs. At 10/3 with some bookmakers for next season, you should bite their hands off and back the Blues to the hilt.