Manchester United legend Wayne Rooney has backed Chelsea to improve next season and challenge for the Premier League title.

Rooney said: “I think the signings [Arsenal] have made have been really good signings for them to try and kick on and challenge Manchester City.

“They [City] will be the favourites again to win the Premier League. I think Liverpool will be better next season, Chelsea will be better. Hopefully Manchester United will be better as well!

“But I think Arsenal have made some really good signings and they will compete again.”

He continued: “I think Manchester City have certainly raised everything. You look at Liverpool for a couple of seasons were really challenging them. I think they’ve set a challenge for Manchester United, for Chelsea, for Arsenal, for Liverpool and for all the teams really.

“I think Guardiola has been, for me, one of the best things to happen to English football – not just in terms of the league but in terms of the English national team.

“The coaching he’s given some of the young English players – before with [Raheem] Sterling, John Stones, Kyle Walker – has really helped them develop as players. And then those senior players in the England setup pass that knowledge on to the other players as well.

“So I think there’s a challenge there, it goes in cycles, we’ve seen that throughout the years with Manchester United, Arsenal and Chelsea having dominance.

‘Unfortunately it’s Manchester City’s time but I’m sure the teams who are going to be challenging will come back over the next few years, that’s for sure.”