Manchester City playmaker Kevin De Bruyne has suggested that as many as seven teams could be in contention to lift the Premier League title in 2017-18.
The Citizens are currently favourites with the majority of bookmakers to win the top-flight crown this coming campaign after spending big during the off-season.
City finished 15 points adrift of champions Chelsea last season, however, while Tottenham Hotspur were also eight points better off in second place.
De Bruyne admits that improving on last season's trophyless campaign is a must in Pep Guardiola's second year at the helm, but believes that his side will face increased competition to come out on top.
Asked by Sky Sports News what City's targets are for next season, he said: "To do better than last season. We tried to have a good season and we came up a little short. In the end, that is just the way it goes.
"But I think we are progressing as a team. Everybody came in sharp. There are six or seven teams in England who want to do the same as us, so it is never easy, but in the end we will try to do our job."
City, currently in the United States for the first leg of their pre-season tour, begin their league campaign with a trip to face newly-promoted Brighton & Hove Albion on August 12.
Daniel Lewis
