With the world's best managers in place, superstar talent arriving daily and the new megabucks TV deal, the coming Premier League season is set to be more competitive than ever.

Pep Guardiola, Jurgen Klopp, Jose Mourinho and Antonio Conte will do battle with Arsene Wenger, Mauricio Pochettino, Claudio Ranieri and others for the top four.

Each of them have huge transfer war chests and will not be considering failure. Yet there are still a few big names clinging on to their positions despite regularly struggling for form.

Can these five Premier League stars stick in out and rediscover their best form - or is it time for a changing of the guard?

Wayne Rooney

RooneyCheerMUFC

The Red Devils and England skipper has been off colour for a couple of seasons.

He might be England's record 53-goal scorer but he limped over Sir Bobby Charlton’s 49-goal line with two penalties in two games back in September 2015.

Roy Hodgson tried to squeeze Rooney into midfield to utilise his passing as his pace deserts him.

New Old Trafford boss Jose Mourinho is hell bent on success and, if £300,000-a-week Roo is not firing on all cylinders, the Special One is unlikely stand on ceremony.

Joe Hart

Joe Hart

Hart is widely regarded as one of the main men at City but he does have a nasty habit of making horrendous mistakes.

His errors against Wales and Iceland ultimately cost England at Euro 2016, so incoming Etihad gaffer Pep Guardiola will be watching the keeper like a hawk to see how he bounces back.

There are already rumours that Everton are interested - but Hart will want to prove his worth at City. If the 29-year-old is going to seal his long-term spot as City’s No 1, the start of this season is make or break.

Theo Walcott

Theo Walcott

Time and again, Gunners fans arrive at the close season screaming for another out-and-out centre-forward and every season Arsenal fall short.

The story is usually the same Theo Walcott is nearly back to full fitness and can be effective back-up to Olivier Giroud - and by the end of the season the North Londoners are found lacking in goals to get them over the line.

Walcott was England’s most promising talent in a decade when he broke through as a 16 year old - but now, 11 years on, he is still yet to reach his full potential.

And most of us are now wondering - will he ever?

Mario Balotelli

Liverpool v Chelsea - Barclays Premier League

The live wire Italian striker was already pushing his luck when he arrived at Liverpool for £16million in 2014.

But after ex reds boss Brendan Rodgers lost his patience, Balotelli was farmed back to AC Milan on loan. It didn’t help. One goal and only eight appearances later, he is back at Anfield with his tail between his legs.

Jurgen Klopp will certainly not stand any nonsense and, despite Balotelli’s assurances that he has changed and wants to win the Ballon d’Or, it looks like the Liverpool first team may even prove a step too far.

Mousa Dembele

Center Midfield - Mousa Dembélé

The combative-yet-creative midfielder was an absolute star for Tottenham last season, so it may seem strange to put him in the last-chance saloon.

But his attitude is what needs to improve - a six-game ban for eye gouging in the 2-2 draw at Chelsea that cost Spurs the title has also cost him the first four games of this season.

That could cost the 28-year-old even more given the fact that Victor Wanyama has arrived at White Hart Lane from Southampton and could have nicked Dembele’s place by the time his ban is up.

If he cannot win his place back by the end of the season, then it looks certain that the only way is down from there on in.

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