Liga beware: The Premier League is coming for you

This week in Milan we will see further evidence of this simple truth about the modern game: La Liga is currently miles ahead as the best league in the world.

[STORY: Sevilla stun Liverpool with second-half comeback to snatch third straight title]

If it wasn’t enough that Sevilla eviscerated the representatives from the Premier League in the Europa final last week, then the conversion of Italy’s fashion heartland into the Spanish capital for the weekend confirms it.

A Madrid derby in the Champions League final at the San Siro is unexpected enough, but for it to be the second time it has happened in three years is extraordinary.

Imagine City against United, or Tottenham against Arsenal in the final of Europe’s most exclusive competition. And then imagine it happening every other year. That is how significant this clash is. And the fact that Barcelona are not involved merely goes to reinforce the strength of the Spanish domestic game right now.

But before we sit back to admire Diego Simeone’s tirelessly pressing Atletico harry and harass the elegant sophisticates of the Bernabeu, before we enjoy their endlessly chivvying at Cristiano Ronaldo, Gareth Bale and Karim Benzema, before we relish their snapping at heels, not allowing majestic opponents a moment to work their magic on the ball, it is worth considering this: right now Spain might have the superior talent, skill and advantage, but from next season England will have the money.

Of this we can be sure: the new Premier League television deal that kicks in from August is going to change everything. Clubs that were already suffocating under their gathering piles of cash are about to be gifted a 70 per cent increase in broadcast income.

Consider for a moment how that money is going to be spent. Infrastructure is already as good as any in the world. New stands and new stadiums are already springing up all over the place.

Liverpool’s towering stand will be open for the new season, Tottenham's state-of-the-art refreshed White Hart Lane is in production, Crystal Palace’s sweeping, 20,000-capacity stand is moving off the drawing board.

Training grounds are state of the art. Nobody in the rest of world football can touch the facilities at the Etihad or Tottenham. Already English football has everything it needs. Now it is getting even more. So what will that new income be spent on? Have a guess.

Next season, Stoke, West Brom and Sunderland will easily outstrip the transfer resources of Roma, Marseille and Dortmund. Never mind the top sides in the country, the Premier League’s marzipan layer will be able to outbid all but Madrid, Barcelona, Bayern Munich, Juventus, AC Milan and PSG.

When it comes to Manchester City, United, Liverpool, Arsenal, Chelsea and Spurs, things will be even more muscular: from this season they will be able to trump anybody financially in their recruitment policies.

Already the Premier League has shown its intent in the managerial appointments that have been made in the last year, ready, they hope, to better exploit this new world of riches. Pep Guardiola, Jurgen Klopp, Antonio Conte, Jose Mourinho: these are the very best, the brightest, the smartest, and the most expensive. They did not come to England for the good of their health. They came because they recognized this is where the action is going to be.

And following in their wake will surely, inevitably come the best players. Already the Premier League academies hoover up the brightest talent from across the globe.

For sure, as Leicester demonstrated this season, money isn’t everything. How you spend it is much more important than simply having it. But having it helps. And the even distribution of Premier League cash means everyone in the top twenty has a chance to work out the best way to spend it - which is not something that can be said about Spain where the money has tended to be split between the big two of Real Madrid and Barca.

It may take a while. There are serious rebuilding jobs required at United, City and Liverpool. And certainly the Madrid clubs and Barcelona are not going to give up their superiority lightly or easily. But change is coming. Some might say Premier League domination of the Champions League is inevitable given the financial revolution that is upon us. Spain should enjoy its moment because we are about to experience a seismic shift in European footballing power.

So much so, we might well be seeing the day – perhaps as soon as within three years – that when it comes to Champions League finals, Milan will be turning Manc and Madrid transforming into a suburb of north London.