Manchester City’s new goalkeeper Ederson Moraes will arrive at the Etihad Stadium with plenty of confidence behind him after being named Portugese goalkeeper of the year for last season.

Pep Guardiola splashed out £34.9m for the 23-year-old to become his second signing this summer, and it’s little wonder, with the stopper conceding just 18 goals in 34 domestic games in his last year with Benfica.

That helped them to the Primeira Liga title, six points clear of fellow Portugese giants Porto, with recognition of his work coming from fellow players and coaches.

He was to also impressive in the Champions League, though his side suffered an early exit at the hands of Borussia Dortmund in the last 16, the same round in which the Citizens were also dumped out of the competition.

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“I’m very happy for this award and I want to thank all of my teammates for helping me win it,” said the City new boy.

“I also want to thank the Benfica supporters for this fantastic season.”

Guardiola suffered a trophyless season in his first year in Manchester, with many citing instability around the goalkeeping position as at least a minor part of their struggles.

But with Ederson now calling England his home, that problem looks likely to be addressed both domestically and in Europe, with City still in the hunt for their first Champions League title.

There was no doubt in Luis Suarez’s mind when the opportunity arose to join Liverpool six years ago but the Barcelona striker admits he never thought he would be worthy of representing the Reds.

The Uruguayan, who moved to Anfield from Ajax back in 2011, scored 82 goals in 133 appearances for the Merseyside outfit, winning the now-EFL Cup with them in 2012.

He moved to Barcelona in 2014 and has since gone on to win two league titles, three Copas del Rey and the Champions League with the Spanish giants.

But while silverware was few and far between during his time in England, Suarez admits he will never forget signing on the dotted line to seal his ‘dream’ move.

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“When I was little, Liverpool was one of the biggest clubs in Europe and was renowned throughout the world,” he said.

“So when I found out about the club’s interest in me, I was never in doubt because it’s the dream for any player.

“I never imagined that I would get the chance to play there.

“At Anfield, the fans get right behind you come what may.

“The affection that they show to you is just so special, which in turn makes you lift up your head and respond, rather than letting it drop a little.

“For me, this is just what the Liverpool fans have.”

With memories of his best Premier League season still fresh in his mind, Victor Moses believes it is his football roots that are to thank for his journey to the top with Chelsea.

Nigerian-born, it was in the parks of south London where Moses first had a chance show off his obvious football abilities – all before even playing competitively for a team.

From there, beginning with a team called Cosmos, the midfielder turned wing-back found himself scouted by Crystal Palace before heading north to Wigan Athletic as his Premier League playing time increased.

And while the beginning of his Chelsea career was not always appearance-laden, the 26-year-old has since become a staple part of Antonio Conte’s title-winning team – success he believes can be easily traced back.

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“When I was young, we played in Norbury Park. I grew up in areas like Croydon, Streatham, Brixton, all around there,” he said

“We used to have loads of people coming round the park to play football. I remember if someone used to do a stepover, we’d say, “Yeah, he’s Ronaldo!” Then it would be, “It’s Ryan Giggs!

“It was stuff like that, it was always fun, it was like a competition: whoever showed the most skills said he was the best. Everyone used to really go hard to show they had the most ability.

“Last season was a great season for me personally and for the whole team, the fans, the manager and everyone at the club. We won the league and every single one of us was buzzing. I’ve never experienced anything like that feeling before.

“This is one of the biggest leagues in the world and the whole world watches it, and winning it was probably one of the biggest days of my life.”

Bournemouth’s record signing Nathan Ake believes that he had to take the plunge and swap west London for the south coast.

The 22-year-old defender joined the Cherries, with whom he enjoyed a loan spell last term, for a reported fee of £20 million on June 30, ending his long association with Chelsea.

Ake, who recently earned his first two senior caps for the Netherlands, reckons that Bournemouth are now a ‘bigger’ club than the one he left when he was re-called by the Blues last January.

“It was the right moment in my career to make this step,” said the Bournemouth new-boy.

“You have to make a decision for yourself and get your career going.

“Maybe I could have stayed. Chelsea did not say: ‘you have to go’ but I think we both felt it was the right time for me to play. They could not offer me a starting place and knew I had to make this decision.

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“But you cannot just walk in and expect to start. Every club you go to, even if you get bought for a lot of money, you still have to fight for your place.

“You have to do well in pre-season and, hopefully, I will do that.

“It is definitely a bigger club now. Bournemouth receive more credit in the press. People see the club is really growing.

“I am really happy to be part of that and feel we can grow even more.”

Newly signed Jay Rodriguez may be cursing the difficulty of the pre-season fitness work required at his new club West Bromwich Albion but at least he was able to enjoy the Austrian scenery.

West Brom are looking at three sessions a day during their eight-day trip to mainland Europe as Tony Pulis ramps up the fitness work ahead of the new season.

Rodriguez was signed by the Baggies for around £12m from Southampton, having struggled with injuries in recent seasons, and has fitted in well with his new group.

“It can always be a worry when you join a new group but every single one of the lads has made me feel welcome and I appreciate that,” he said.

“We’ve got a great bunch here and I’m looking forward to getting to know them even better.

“This is what pre-season is all about – getting fit and preparing yourself for the season ahead.

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“The hills and our training schedule test your character. It’s a mental and a physical challenge, so there’s no time to ease off. We know the rewards will come later.

“The views, the facilities and the hotel are fantastic. It’s a lovely place to be, even if you don’t appreciate it when you’re running up those hills.

“You only recognise how amazing everything is on your way back down.”

Stoke City may have become a forgettable mid-table Premier League team nowadays, but they have certainly caused a stir in their nine years at the top table of English football.

The Potters were overwhelming favourites to drop straight back into the Championship in 2008 but they fought on, survived and thrived.

Here, we look at their five greatest Premier League moments:

Big Mama we’re all crazy now

It’s hard to comprehend looking back but Aston Villa arrived into the 2008-09 season as genuine top-four contenders – but Stoke brought them down a peg or two in their first home game in the Premier League.

A raucous atmosphere greeted both teams and the Potters played their hearts out, with Liam Lawrence’s penalty separating the sides at the break.

After a 3-1 hammering at the hands of Bolton on the opening day, Stoke had plenty to prove, and when John Carew slotted home Villa’s leveller, it looked like defeat was on the cards.

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But Ricardo Fuller produced a moment of magic, flicking the ball over Martin Laursen’s head before arrowing a low drive into the bottom corner.

Villa came back though as Martin Laursen tapped in, but Mamady Sidbe nodded in a Rory Delap long throw to seal the points and announce Stoke as a Premier League side.

Arsenal ‘Delapidated’ by missile Rory

Arsenal, the personification of pure football, against Stoke, a throwback to the 1970s, was always going to be a tasty clash. And so it proved.

Over the years, the Gunners have dreaded the long trip up to Staffordshire, and the tone was set during their first clash in 2008.

Just months after Stoke’s promotion, the Potters had adjusted to the challenges of the top flight – Arsenal were the acid test.

But Rory Delap was cooking up a storm in the Midlands with his arrow throws, and Arsenal’s naïve defending helped them work a treat.

Fuller was the first beneficiary, glancing in from a few yards out, and Seyi Olofinjana bundled in a second after the break.

Wenger was seething after several agricultural challenges from Stoke’s defenders, and after 90 minutes of bad-tempered football, a new rivalry was created. Stoke have loved every second of it.

Pulis inspires Stoke to first win

Three defeats from their first three games in the 2010-11 season left Stoke reeling, and when Stewart Downing headed Aston Villa into a half-time lead on Monday Night Football, a sense of dread swept across the Britannia.

Tony Pulis was not at the match due to the death of his mother that morning but the Welshman’s emergence out of the tunnel along with his players for the second half put a lump in everyone’s throat.

The stadium rose as one to applaud Pulis and pay its respects in one of the most powerful moments in the club’s recent history.

Stoke’s players were fizzing, inspired by the presence of their manager on the touchline. Kenwyne Jones nodded in the equaliser on debut before Robert Huth touched home a 90^th-minute winner.

‘Stokealona’

Tony Pulis’ Stoke career fizzled out in the end, and Mark Hughes arrived with a point to prove in 2013 with a mandate to change the way they played.

The changes were gradual but all of a sudden, Stoke became a team looking to use the ball in other ways that hoofing it into the channels.

The 2015-16 season provided some of the best football ever seen by the home fans, with the likes of Bojan Krkic, Marko Arnaotovic and Xherdan Shaqiri pulling the strings.

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Manchester City were played off the park in a 2-0 win, while Everton were outfought in a 4-3 thriller. But the best was to come.

Stoke have always seen Manchester United as a rival, and when Louis van Gaal’s side arrived on Boxing Day 2015 they were a sitting duck.

Stoke fans, incredibly, expected victory and the players duly delivered. Bojan and Arnautovic delivered the goals as United were outclassed. Three points have never tasted so sweet.

Stoke survive relegation scrap

Stoke have never really been dragged into a relegation scrap but in the 2012-13 season, a woeful run of form had some pundits tipping them for the drop.

Tony Pulis and his players had noticeably lost their mojo, and the club’s descent into the second division looked inevitable.

But Pulis prepared himself for one last battle and a 1-0 win at Norwich City, followed by a 2-0 win against QPR, saw the club safe.

That summer, Pulis bid farewell with his status as one of the club’s greatest ever managers secured.

Tottenham Hotspur are renowned as one of the fittest teams in the Premier League – but that has not come without hard work and sacrifice.

As the Spurs  players gradually to pre-season training, they are faced with a punishing schedule in order to get them up to speed in time for the new campaign.

Tottenham finished second last season and face Newcastle United on the opening day next month but before that, they head to the USA for the International Champions Cup.

And Mauricio Pochettino’s assistant manager Jesus Perez believes it is no fluke that Spurs’ players can outlast opponents, saying they start their pre-season fitness regimes as soon as the previous summer finishes.

“Before the end of last season, we had a meeting with each player and presented off-season programmes and personal targets,” he said.

“It’s been a three-year process educating them and they know themselves better than anyone. I’m pretty sure they will respect those programmes and do even more, because they all want to get better and better.

“We are at a level where the players are not just fighting to play but fighting to match previous performances. We’re in a good place to work with them.”

In Tim Cahill, Everton had a cult hero that would celebrate goals by punching the corner flag, but they also had another that hit hard enough to make an unmistakable impact at Goodison Park – Duncan Ferguson.

For most Evertonians, 6ft 4in Ferguson was a shining light in an otherwise dark era for the club, with Joe Royle describing the man mountain as: ‘the biggest thing since Dixie’, making a comparison to Goodison Park legend Dixie Dean.

‘Big Dunc’ first arrived on Merseyside in October 1994 on a short-term loan from Rangers, with the Toffees at a low ebb at the foot of the Premier League table.

Credit: Shaun Botterill /Allsport

No stranger to trouble, the giant centre-forward was due in court, having been charged with assault for headbutting Raith Rovers player John McStay.

He was jailed for three months for that offence in September 1995, the fourth time he was convicted for assault, but by then, he was already established as a hero of the terraces.

The Scot became an instant hero on his sixth appearance for Everton when he scored a towering header to help them win the Merseyside derby in November 1994.

Credit: Clive Brunskill/ALLSPORT

The then 22-year-old became the toast of Goodison Park and his transfer was made permanent as he continued to score match-winning goals.

Ferguson helped Everton to their last major honour as he came off the bench in a 1-0 victory over Man Utd in the 1995 FA Cup final, which was decided by Paul Rideout’s winner.

With Everton in financial trouble in 1998, Ferguson was controversially sold to Newcastle United for £8m – the big man was so upset that he wrote a two-page letter to say goodbye to the club.

Credit: AlexLivesey/ALLSPORT

He returned to Goodison within two years and ‘Duncan Disorderly’ often won games single-handedly, with memorable matches against Manchester United, Liverpool and Newcastle living long in the memory.

He capped his final Everton appearance with a goal against West Bromwich Albion in 2006 but as well as being a goalscorer, the Scot will be remembered as a ‘hard man’.

In 2001, two burglars broke into his home before being confronted by the Toffees hitman – He detained one until the police arrived and the thief subsequently spent three days in hospital.

When you’re being mentioned in the same breath at Marco Verratti, one of Europe’s premier midfielders, you know that you’re going about your business the right way.

Barcelona’s ambitious pursuit of Paris St Germain’s Italian maestro Verratti appears to have been scuppered by the French giants’ uncooperative attitude at the negotiating table and among the players thrown up as potential alternatives, up has cropped the name of a former La Masia graduate – Southampton’s Oriol Romeu.

Romeu’s evolution as a Premier League player has been a slow burner and when he arrived at Chelsea as a 19-year-old in August 2011, it was easy to pigeonhole his €5 million move as something of a punt.

(Matthew Ashton / Contributor)

He still managed 33 appearances in a blue shirt across the next two seasons but never really cemented himself as first-choice at Stamford Bridge and between 2013 and 2015, he was loaned out to Valencia and VfB Stuttgart.

Then, ahead of the 2015-16 campaign, the Spaniard moved to the Saints – then manged by Ronald Koeman, in what is surely the most important move of his career to date.

It has taken almost a further two seasons for Romeu’s worth to truly be appreciated but when it comes to analysing the former Spain youth international, it really is a blink-and-you-miss-it stuff.

That’s not to say that the 25-year-old is breathtakingly dynamic but more that what he brings to Southampton is subtle yet infinitely impactful.

Idrissa Gueye and the celebrated N’Golo Kante may have made the most tackles in the Premier League last term but lying third in the rankings was Romeu.

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He may not appear as mobile as a Gueye or a Kante but the Southampton is an expert at protecting his back four and making interception after interception – while Victor Wanyama has shone at Tottenham Hotspur, it’s little wonder his absence has been so keenly felt at St Mary’s.

Of course, Romeu’s impact has been recognised by his colleagues – he was named Southampton’s player of the year – and, even in speculative terms, the storied Catalan club where he learned his trade.

However, the Southampton midfielder is no flash in the pan. It shouldn’t have taken this long.