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United well backed for Premier League glory

THE Manchester clubs were scrapping for fourth place in the Premier League last season but bookmakers expect them to be fighting for the title this term - and United are being well backed to eclipse favourites City.

The Red Devils are 7-2 with bet365, from an opening 7-1, and Hills cut them to 3-1 on Friday, easing Pep Guardiola's Citizens to 5-2. City had been just 11-10 with bet365 when Guardiola's appointment was confirmed in February.

With United closing in on a world-record deal for Paul Pogba, there is debate over whether Jose Mourinho's men could even go off as title favourites.

Rupert Adams of Hills rates it "unlikely but not impossible" but according to Betfred's Peter Spencer "it's highly likely, especially if United complete the Paul Pogba deal". Coral's Nick Goff thinks the pair could be 3-1 joint favourites by the start of the season.

"Manchester United are the only team in the top ten of the betting who are a loser for us - and they're a significant loser," said Goff. "We opened at 7-1 in May and have laid bits at each price down to the current 7-2."

It is far from a two-horse race, however. Alex Donohue of Ladbrokes said: "It's an unprecedented Premier League title race with six teams at single-figure odds and last year's winners Leicester at 25-1."

Chelsea, the champions in 2014-15, and last term's runners-up Arsenal are 6-1.

Liverpool, like Chelsea, have no European football this season and Jurgen Klopp's men have been popular with punters at 9-1 - the same price as Tottenham.

The depth of contenders for the title has prompted bet365 and Sky Bet to change their each-way terms to a fifth the odds, three places (from the customary third the odds, two places in the Premier League).

Betway laid £500 each-way on defending champions Leicester at 40-1 earlier in the summer and Betfred have seen some interest in the Foxes at 100-1 for the Champions League.

Leicester are a good winner in Coral's outright book although their triumph has certainly inspired backers of other clubs at fancy prices.

"The Leicester effect means we have red numbers next to every team from 500-1 down," says Goff.

"We're shorter about them than we would have been a year ago but that's not putting off customers.

"The biggest loser is Middlesbrough at 1,000-1, who would cost us several million already - we're only in July."

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