<p>The 2024/25 Premier League will have a distinctly southern feel in England. With Burnley and <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/news/sheffield-united-relegated-after-breaking-unwanted-epl-record/">Sheffield United going down</a> and <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/news/southampton-beat-leeds-to-secure-premier-league-promotion/">Leeds failing to win Sunday’s promotion playoffs</a>, just a handful of teams in next season’s competition hail from northern towns and cities in England. In total, there will be five teams from the north. The two Merseyside clubs join the two Manchester clubs and Newcastle United as the northern clubs in the <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/premier-league-tv-schedule/">Premier League</a>.</p>



<p>That is the fewest number of teams in Premier League history to come from the north. Furthermore, you would have to go back to the 1989/90 First Division campaign to locate a season with five teams from the upper half of the country. If you are looking for any indication of how different the times were in English soccer, Liverpool won that season’s top-flight campaign. Aston Villa finished second with Tottenham pipping Arsenal for third. Manchester United finished 13th, which remains its worst top-flight finish since suffering relegation in 1973/74.</p>



<p>Traditionally, northern England is a hotbed for soccer in the country. Manchester United, Liverpool, Manchester City and Everton rank in the top five most successful clubs based on top-flight titles. Only Arsenal, which sits third on 13 league wins, breaks up the northern hegemony of English success. Yet, the northern clubs have failed to maintain their dominance in England. Manchester City and Liverpool are certainly two dominating forces, yes. But, this applies more to widespread control. Whether that be simply the number of teams in the first division or where they are placing in the table, clubs from the top half of the country have been in control for decades.</p>



<h2>The shift from northern southern</h2>



<p>There were as many as 11 teams from northern towns and cities in the Premier League. For example, the 2008/09 season had 11 teams in the top flight. That included the five currently playing, Sunderland, Middlesbrough, Hull City, Blackburn Rovers, Bolton Wanderers and Wigan Athletic. The consensus among English soccer is that many of these teams are among the most storied in the country’s lore. </p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><figure class="image"><img loading="lazy" width="1200" height="670" src="https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https://images.worldsoccertalk.com/webp/full/WST_20240529_WST_509346_Premier-League-northern-clubs-1200x670_d5ca396c.webp&amp;width=1200&amp;height=670" alt="" class="wp-image-509377" srcset="https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/05/Premier-League-northern-clubs-1200x670.jpg 1200w, https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/05/Premier-League-northern-clubs-300x168.jpg 300w, https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/05/Premier-League-northern-clubs-768x429.jpg 768w, https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/05/Premier-League-northern-clubs.jpg 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px"></figure></figure>



<p>Yet, Blackburn Rovers, Sunderland, Sheffield Wednesday, Leeds United, Huddersfield Town and other teams with multiple first-division titles in their history have bowed out of the top flight. The north has a total of 75 top-flight titles in the history of English soccer. In their place, Ipswich Town, Leicester City, Southampton, Brighton and Hove Albion, Bournemouth and Brentford have a combined two top-flight titles. They represent the modern era of soccer, including savvy spending and often selling players to rival clubs through development. </p>



<p>By comparison, northern clubs have failed to adapt. Manchester United has made a knack of reckless spending that has ultimately been detrimental to the club’s success. Newcastle’s power spending has allowed it to rise to prominence and qualify for the UEFA Champions League for the first time in 20 years. Yet, Everton has financially struggled, Leeds United crashed down to the third tier briefly and Sunderland had a four-year stint in League One. </p>



<h2>The future of the northern clubs in the Premier League</h2>



<p>There are a number of factors that contribute to this power switch from north to south. The nature of the region, rapid and unpredictable success of the southern sides, and luck all play a role. Still, what remains clear is that the northern sides of the Premier League and English soccer must change their general direction to keep pace with those in the south.</p>



<p>It seems like a laughable argument to jog ideas of an All-Star game. The rumor was to pit the best players from the north against the best from the south. The more sensible discussion would be the London clubs against everyone else. There are seven teams in the capital city playing in the Premier League. </p>



<p>It would not take much for the north to re-establish itself in the top flight. For example, Leeds lost the playoff final. Also, two northern clubs went down this past season. Middlesbrough and Sunderland featured in the promotion playoff semifinals in 2022/23. Hull City and Preston North End were in the top half of the <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/championship-tv-schedule/">Championship</a> table in 2023/24. The disparity exists, but it would not take much to close it.</p>



<p><em>PHOTOS: IMAGO</em></p>

Premier League breaks new unique record

In the 2024/25 Premier League campaign, there will be just five clubs hailing from northern cities and towns, the fewest in the modern era.

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<p>Pep Guardiola, manager of treble champions Manchester City, allegedly has his sights set on Real Madrid senior midfielder Toni Kroos.</p>



<p>Last year, rumors circulated that <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/news/toni-kroos-slams-spanish-talents-saudi-move-as-embarrassing-20230824-WST-451820.html">Kroos</a> was debating whether to retire or continue his career in Madrid. Given that he had already <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/news/germanys-kroos-retires-from-international-football-20210702-CMS-338720.html">retired from Germany</a> at the international level, this would have hardly been a shocking turn of events.</p>



<p>The 33-year-old player could have left Los Blancos at the end of the season. However, he instead decided to sign a one-year extension in June, making his total time with the club 10 years.</p>



<h2>Kroos is a stalwart in Ancelotti’s side</h2>



<p>Toni Kroos’ play so far this season is proof that you’re never too old to achieve your goals. The German ace has continued his stellar play with the Whites over the last several seasons.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<div class="ck-twitter"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">City to consider move for Madrid Legend 🇩🇪<br><br>Manchester City are keen to sign Real Madrid and Germany midfielder Toni Kroos when his contract expires next summer, with City willing to pay the 33-year-old £13m per season.<a href="https://twitter.com/mundodeportivo?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@mundodeportivo</a> <a href="https://t.co/3iEZgf8Jhg">pic.twitter.com/3iEZgf8Jhg</a></p>— SPORF (@Sporf) <a href="https://twitter.com/Sporf/status/1712763685171515806?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 13, 2023</a></blockquote></div><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div></figure>



<p>Kroos has been a consistent starter for Carlo Ancelotti’s team in recent weeks. Even though younger players like Aurelien Tchouameni and Eduardo Camavinga were favored early in the season, he still managed to earn back his place.</p>



<p>It is widely believed that Ancelotti will leave his position at the conclusion of the season, and <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/teams/real-madrid-tv-schedule/">Real Madrid</a> have a plethora of talented central midfielders on hand. Therefore, it is not certain whether the veteran will return for an 11th year in the Spanish capital.</p>



<h2>Manchester City want to reunite the midfielder with Guardiola</h2>



<p>It’s possible that this is Kroos’ final year at Santiago Bernabeu. At 38 years old, <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/news/luka-modric-hints-at-january-exit-amid-playing-time-struggles-20231013-WST-462071.html">Luka Modric</a> is being extensively linked with a transfer away from Europe entirely, but it seems that the German still has fans at some of the top clubs in the world.</p>



<p>Reports out of Spain suggest that Pep Guardiola is keeping tabs on the situation. According to Spanish outlets <a href="https://www.mundodeportivo.com/futbol/real-madrid/20231012/1002085711/guardiola-olvida-toni-kroos.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Mundo Deportivo</a> and <a href="https://www.defensacentral.com/real_madrid/1696958430-guardiola-va-a-por-su-fichaje-le-da-el-doble-que-florentino-para-quitarselo-al-madrid" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Defensa Central</a>, Guardiola remembers the good things about playing with Kroos at Bayern.</p>



<p>They only lasted one season together at the Allianz Arena, with the midfielder getting 51 appearances in that season. Now, the current <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/where-to-watch-uefa-champions-league-and-europa-league-on-us-tv-and-internet/">UEFA Champions League</a> winners are apparently willing to give Kroos a $15.7m per season deal, which would make a reunion with his former manager plausible.</p>



<p>IMAGO / Pressinphoto: IMAGO / Pressinphoto</p>


Guardiola planning blockbuster move for Real Madrid midfielder

It has been stated that Manchester City's Pep Guardiola is keen on reuniting with Toni Kroos of Real Madrid

Guardiola planning blockbuster move for Real Madrid midfielder -

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Guardiola planning blockbuster move for Real Madrid midfielder