The Premier League gets underway on Friday as champions Arsenal host Frank Lampard’s newly promoted Coventry City.
It has been another summer of significant change, both on the pitch and in the dugout. Nine clubs will begin the campaign with new managers, although some familiar faces remain in the division, with Oliver Glasner and Andoni Iraola among those to have switched clubs rather than arrived from outside the league.
Newly promoted Hull City, Ipswich Town and Coventry will meanwhile be looking to avoid an immediate return to the Championship.
Here, Daily Mail Sport’s MATT BARLOW runs the rule over the 20 Premier League clubs…
The Premier League gets underway on Friday as champions Arsenal host Frank Lampard’s newly promoted Coventry City
Nine clubs will begin the campaign with new managers, although some familiar faces remain in the division, with Oliver Glasner and Andoni Iraola (above) among those to have switched clubs
Arsenal
LAST SEASON: 1st, DAILY MAIL PREDICTS: 1st
Matt Barlow’s Verdict
Arsenal have not won back-to-back titles since Herbert Chapman’s heyday in the 1930s. It is not as easy as the Manchester clubs sometimes make it appear. Mikel Arteta will start without William Saliba and must adapt to tougher refereeing at set-pieces. Arsenal, though, are alone among the Premier League’s traditional Big Six in a position of stability. The other five are in various states of transition. Bruno Guimaraes adds midfield strength and they now know they have what it takes. The long wait is over and the anxiety has receded, which should help, too.
Major ins
Christos Tzolis (Club Brugge, £40m), Piero Hincapie (Bayer Leverkusen, £40m), Bruno Guimaraes (Newcastle, £75m).
Major outs
Leandro Trossard (Besiktas, £17m), Karl Hein (Werder Bremen, £2.5m), Jakub Kiwior (Porto, £17m).
Manager – Mikel Arteta (PL win percentage: 60.1)
The pressure will ease after last season. He can lighten up, be less uptight and abrasive and embrace his new status as the longest-serving boss in England’s top four tiers. But he probably won’t.
Key player – David Raya
Perhaps the Premier League’s best goalkeeper. Helped Arsenal over the line with some stunning saves at the end of last season, including a vital stop against West Ham. Declan Rice rightly gets the plaudits, but Raya is also irreplaceable.
Total squad value – £1.2billion
Last season’s top scorer – Viktor Gyokeres (14)
Bruno Guimaraes has added midfield strength since he arrived from Newcastle this summer
Aston Villa
LAST SEASON: 4th, DAILY MAIL PREDICTS: 9th
Matt Barlow’s Verdict
The Europa League winners have been under siege since that unforgettable night in Istanbul. Lucas Digne, Morgan Rogers and Youri Tielemans have all been sold as they strive to comply with financial rules. Arsenal are chasing Ezri Konsa, Ollie Watkins has admirers and Emi Martinez always seems to be eying the exit. Fans have faith in boss Unai Emery though after the last few years, and there are exciting youngsters emerging and fresh arrivals, such as Swiss midfielder Johan Manzambi, a record signing from Freiburg. Youth often needs time though.
Major ins
Alejandro Garnacho (Chelsea, loan with obligation), Joao Gomes (Wolves, £40m), Johan Manzambi (Freiburg, £59.5m).
Major outs
Morgan Rogers (Chelsea, £117m), Donyell Malen (Roma, undisclosed), Enzo Barrenechea (Benfica, £12m), Youri Tielemans (Man United, £41m), Lewis Dobbin (Southampton, £9m).
Manager – Unai Emery (PL win percentage: 46.34)
Snookered by financial rules, this season might represent the Spaniard’s toughest challenge since he first walked through the doors at Villa Park and picked up a team threatened by relegation. Lots stacked against him but he is one of the best in the business.
Key player – Boubacar Kamara
Emery’s keystone in midfield, but often beset by injury problems. Keep him fit for a whole season though and it will go a long way towards balancing the Villa rebuild.
Total squad value – £427million
Last season’s top scorer – Ollie Watkins (16)
Snookered by financial rules, this season might represent the Spaniard’s toughest challenge since he first walked through the doors at Villa Park
Bournemouth
LAST SEASON: 6th, DAILY MAIL PREDICTS: 13th
Matt Barlow’s Verdict
Stepping into new territory with European competition, a new man at the helm and wealthy clubs coveting their star players yet again. Eli Junior Kroupi will stick around though, mainly because of a foot surgery that is likely to rule him out for the first three months of the season. Bournemouth improved despite an exodus last summer and performed a minor footballing miracle by finishing in a record high sixth place. It is a difficult trick to keep pulling off, however, especially this time with a managerial change and the Europa League in the mix. Much depends on how quickly big signings Antonio Silva and Alvaro Rodriguez settle.
Major ins
Alvaro Rodriguez (Elche, £25m), Alex Jimenez (AC Milan, £18.5m), Antonio Silva (Benfica, £25m), Juanlu Sanchez (Sevilla, £11m).
Major outs
Luis Sinisterra (Cruzeiro, £3.7m), Marcos Senesi (Tottenham, free), Hamed Traore (Marseille, £7.5m), Alex Jimenez (Fiorentina, loan).
Manager – Marco Rose (PL win percentage: N/A)
One of nine managers starting new jobs. Looks like a good fit for one of the league’s data-led upstarts, with a coaching background at the Red Bull clubs and a high-energy style to suit a team built by Andoni Iraola.
Key player – Rayan
An instant hit after his £25m arrival from Vasco da Gama to replace Antoine Semenyo, and a reminder of Bournemouth’s fine scouting network and forward planning.
Total squad value – £489million
Last season’s top scorer – Junior Kroupi (13)
Eli Junior Kroupi is set to stick at Bournemouth this season, mainly because of a foot surgery that is likely to rule him out for the first three months
Brentford
LAST SEASON: 9th, DAILY MAIL PREDICTS: 12th
Matt Barlow’s Verdict
Over-achieving masters of continuity. Ninth last season, matching their Premier League best despite losing the previous manager, several coaches, captain and two top scorers in the summer of 2025. This pre-season has been more serene for the Bees, keeping most of the first team in place. They have so far resisted interest in prolific centre forward Igor Thiago and goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher and strengthened, with new signings including 24-year-old Mali international Mamadou Sangare, a midfield star for Lens as they finished runners-up in France, and Callum Wilson, on a free from West Ham.
Major ins
Mamadou Sangare (Lens, £48m), Jannik Schuster (Salzburg, £18m), Jaidon Anthony (Burnley, £17.5m), Callum Wilson (West Ham, free).
Major outs
Jordan Henderson (Chelsea, free), Frank Onyeka (Coventry, £7m).
Manager – Keith Andrews (PL win percentage: 36.84)
An outstanding start to his career as a manager, keeping Brentford in the top 10 amid all the disruption. Late fade cost him a place in Europe.
Key player – Igor Thiago
Only Erling Haaland scored more in the Premier League last season than the big Brazilian who exploded onto the scene with 25 goals — 45 per cent of all Brentford’s league goals.
Total squad value – £481million
Last season’s top scorer – Igor Thiago (22)
Only Erling Haaland scored more in the Premier League last season than the big Brazilian who exploded onto the scene with 25 goals — 45 per cent of all Brentford’s league goals
Brighton
LAST SEASON: 8th, DAILY MAIL PREDICTS: 7th
Matt Barlow’s Verdict
Another summer churn might be more alarming elsewhere, but Brighton have long taken such upheaval in their stride. Now without Jan Paul van Hecke and the vast experience of James Milner and Danny Welbeck, and yet with £54million centre half Luka Vuskovic and others incoming and an army of youngsters always advancing. Four top-10 finishes in last five years. The other was 11th in 2023/24 which coincided with their Europa League debut. Back in Europe, but Conference League might be less of a distraction.
Major ins
Luka Vuskovic (Spurs, £54m), Pascal Struijk (Leeds, £23.2m), Costinha (Olympiacos, £12.7m), Michael Svoboda (Venezia, £5m).
Major outs
Jan Paul van Hecke (Spurs, £60m), James Beadle (Birmingham, loan), Jeremy Sarmiento (M’boro, undisclosed fee).
Manager – Fabian Hurzeler (PL win percentage: 39.47)
Impressive response to a mid-season wobble when fans started to turn. Hit back with a run of six wins in eight, qualified for Europe and signed a new contract in May. The Premier League’s youngest ever boss still only 33.
Key player – Jack Hinshelwood
Brilliant as an industrious No 10, with three goals in five at the end of last season. Versatile but may have found his position. A big season ahead for the 21-year-old.
Total squad value – £544million
Last season’s top scorer – Danny Welbeck (13)
Hinshelwood has been brilliant as an industrious No 10, with three goals in five at the end of last season
Chelsea
LAST SEASON: 10th, DAILY MAIL PREDICTS: 2nd
Matt Barlow’s Verdict
Lost somewhere in the jumbled pile of elite young talent assembled by the Blue Co traders there lurks a very good team. Can Xabi Alonso find it in time and make it function? There are positive signs. Sensible signings with a hint of joined-up thinking. Adding the leadership and experience vital to create and maintain a healthy dressing-room environment, but that is difficult with so many players. Outs might be as important as ins in the last days of the window — and they could still do with signing a new goalkeeper.
Major ins
Morgan Rogers (Aston Villa, £117m), Maxence Lacroix (Crystal Palace, £51m), Marco Palestra (Atalanta, £47m), Geovany Quenda (Sporting, £40m), Danny Welbeck (Brighton, free), Jordan Henderson (Brentford, free).
Major outs
Alejandro Garnacho (Aston Villa, loan), Andrey Santos (Man Utd, £50m), Marc Cucurella (Real Madrid, £55m).
Manager – Xabi Alonso (PL win percentage: N/A)
If anyone can end the post-Abramovich drift, you would say Alonso can. A sharp football mind who knows the Premier League well, comes in with a ring of confidence from Bayer Leverkusen and a point to prove after it all fell apart at Real Madrid.
Key player – Cole Palmer
Sub-par last season after the rigours of the Club World Cup but should be refreshed and raring to go after his omission from England’s World Cup adventure. Can Alonso find a way to make him effective?
Total squad value – £1.2billion
Last season’s top scorer – Joao Pedro (15)
If anyone can end the post-Abramovich drift, you would say Alonso can – and he’s added £117m Morgan Rogers to his attacking firepower this summer, too
Coventry City
LAST SEASON: 1st (Championship), DAILY MAIL PREDICTS: 20th
Matt Barlow’s Verdict
The CBS Arena will be the place for the romantics. Back in the Premier League after a 25-year absence and with passionate support. It will not be an easy place to visit, and they will try to harness the energy of the fortress if they are to defy logic and survive. Home form was the bedrock for Sunderland and Leeds as they returned last season — with nine home wins each. Coventry have strengthened down the spine with ambitious signings and a crowd-pleasing move to bring back midfielder Gus Hamer, who can be the creative spark.
Major ins
Frank Onyeka (Brentford, £7m), Loum Tchaouna (Burnley, £18m), Aurele Amenda (Frankfurt, £18m).
Major outs
Norman Basette (KVC Westerlo, loan).
Manager – Frank Lampard (PL win percentage: 36.54)
Reborn after bruising experiences at Chelsea (twice) and Everton. Enjoys a wonderful connection with Coventry’s players and fans. Lampard has created a balanced team playing an attractive style and communicates well, as ever.
Key player – Carl Rushworth
One of England’s brightest young keepers. Ever present last season on loan from Brighton, swept Coventry’s player of the year awards and joined permanently for £22.5m.
Total squad value – £234million
Last season’s top scorer – Haji Wright (17 in Championship)
The CBS Arena will not be an easy place to visit next season after Coventry City returned to the Premier League after a 25-year absence
Crystal Palace
LAST SEASON: 15th, DAILY MAIL PREDICTS: 17th
Matt Barlow’s Verdict
A hint of trepidation follows the most prestigious year in Palace’s history. Oliver Glasner is gone — and walked out to join new enemies and direct rivals Nottingham Forest, no less. And French centre back Maxence Lacroix is the latest influential player to be lured away from the club. Adam Wharton, Ismaila Sarr and Daniel Munoz remain at Selhurst Park, so there is talent in the building as new boss Pierre Sage begins his first job in the Premier League and appears set for a sensible approach of keeping change to a minimum. Still with a back three and the wing backs key to offensive threat.
Major ins
N/A.
Major outs
Maxence Lacroix (Chelsea, £50m).
Manager – Pierre Sage (PL win percentage: N/A)
With a playing career in French amateur football and a coaching career in the shadows of academies and backroom teams, the 47-year-old has taken to the limelight in less than a season at Lyon and one season at Lens. France’s Manager of the Year last season.
Key player – Ismaila Sarr
Scored 21 times in all competitions last season and shouldered the responsibility up front when Eberechi Eze left and as Jean-Philippe Mateta hankered for a move.
Total squad value – £461million
Last season’s top scorer – Jean-Philippe Mateta (11)
A hint of trepidation follows the most prestigious year in Crystal Palace’s history
Everton
LAST SEASON: 13th DAILY MAIL PREDICTS: 10th
Matt Barlow’s Verdict
Tensions simmering after a poor end to a season which promised so much more. Everton were well in touch with the race for Europe before taking only three points from a winless last seven games, stirring up familiar disgruntlement about manager David Moyes. They will miss the game craft of Idrissa Gueye, who left for Saudi, but Hayden Hackney arrives with potential and there is optimism around young players including Harrison Armstrong and Tyrique George. A reliable source of goals would be useful: nobody broke into double figures in the Premier League last season.
Major ins
Merlin Rohl (SC Freiburg, £25m), Hayden Hackney (Middlesbrough, £18m).
Major outs
Idrissa Gueye (joined Diriyah after contract expired).
Manager – David Moyes (PL win percentage: 38.5)
At 63, the Premier League’s oldest boss by nine years. It is a domain for 40-something upstarts now, and Moyes is vulnerable to easily-bored fans on social media who are ever longing for something fresher and newly dynamic. Heed the lessons of West Ham, maybe…
Key player – Jarrad Branthwaite
Spent so much time the sidelines but, when fit, often looks the best player on the pitch. With his injury problems — hopefully — behind him, he can give Everton a huge boost this season.
Total squad value – £402million
Last season’s top scorer – Beto (9)
Hayden Hackney (above) arrives at Everton with potential and there is optimism around young players including Harrison Armstrong and Tyrique George
Fulham
LAST SEASON: 11th, DAILY MAIL PREDICTS: 15th
Matt Barlow’s Verdict
After five years of consolidation under Marco Silva, there is a nagging fear about this season at Craven Cottage. Top scorers Harry Wilson and Raul Jimenez have left and while Alvaro Arbeloa’s exciting recruits — Gonzalo Garcia and Cesar Palacios from Real Madrid, and Shea Charles from Southampton — will rejuvenate an experienced squad, this is a club shorn of its Silva security blanket. No other manager has kept Fulham in the Premier League since Martin Jol in 2013. A positive start would help but their opening run of fixtures is daunting.
Major ins
Gonzalo Garcia (Real Madrid, £34m), Shea Charles (Southampton, £30m), Cesar Palacios (Real Madrid, £8.5m), Johan Kusi–Asare (Bayern Munich, undisclosed).
Major outs
Raul Jimenez (Wolves, free), Harry Wilson (Leeds, free).
Manager – Alvaro Arbeloa (PL win percentage: N/A)
Flexed his Real Madrid contacts in the transfer market but a distinct shortage of front-line experience with just half a season in charge of Real’s reserves and the other half with the first team. The 43-year-old’s arrival at Craven Cottage takes the stronghold of Spanish Premier League managers to five. He finished his playing career at West Ham in 2017.
Key player – Gonzalo Garcia
Someone will have to score the goals and all eyes will be on the £34m new boy, 22 years old with six goals in 30 La Liga appearances last season for his home-town club, Real Madrid.
Total squad value – £294million
Last season’s top scorer – Harry Wilson (10)
No other manager has kept Fulham in the Premier League since Martin Jol in 2013 and so while a positive start would help, their opening run of fixtures is daunting.
Hull City
LAST SEASON: 6th (Championship), DAILY MAIL PREDICTS: 19th
Matt Barlow’s Verdict
Everybody’s favourites for relegation but the play-off winners have reinforced the squad with nine singings including club-record fees. Expect the Tigers to be content surrendering possession, defending deep and breaking into open spaces with the lightning pace of wide men Mohamed Belloumi and Liam Millar and Oli McBurnie’s ability to hold the ball up. It might bring them some success if they are strong at the back because every team will be expected to beat them. Will also carry threat from set pieces.
Major ins
Nobel Mendy (Rayo Vallecano, £21.5m), Konstantinos Tzolakis (Olympiacos, £20m), Hidemasa Morita (Sporting CP, free).
Major outs
Kyle Joseph (Middlesbrough), Ivor Pandur (Rangers) — both undisclosed.
Manager – Serjej Jakinovic (PL win percentage: N/A)
Really should receive the freedom of Hull after masterminding promotion. The giant Bosnian-Croat will bring his own brand of quotability to the Premier League and if he can keep them up he is a genius.
Key player – Oli McBurnie
In five Premier League seasons, he has never topped six goals but he was immense last season as a pack leader and attacking threat. Maybe better for his spell in Spain at Las Palmas in 2024-25.
Total squad value – £95million
Last season’s top scorer – Oli McBurnie (18 in Championship)
Star striker Oli McBurnie will be vital to Hull’s chances of remaining in the Premier League at the end of the season
Ipswich
LAST SEASON: 2nd (Championship), DAILY MAIL PREDICTS: 18th
Matt Barlow’s Verdict
When Ipswich came up two years ago, they splurged heavily on the best young talent from the Championship and failed to stay up with Kieran McKenna playing the same attractive style that defined their promotion season. They have spent another £120m on transfers but on an international scale in search of the physicality they lacked last time. Paraguay’s World Cup star Julio Enciso, Brazilian Emersonn and wily Japanese Daizen Maeda among the big signings.
Major ins
Julio Enciso (Strasbourg, £26m), Emersonn (Toulouse, £24m), Abdoul Ouattara (Strasbourg, £21m), Abdul Fatawu (Leicester, £20m), Issa Diop (Fulham, £8.6m), Daizen Maeda (Celtic, £10m), Kjell Scherpen (Union St. Gilloise, £8.6m), Kayne Van Oevelen (Volendam, £3m).
Major outs
Arijanet Muric (Sassuolo, £6m).
Manager – Gary O’Neil (PL win percentage: 28.4)
Maybe not a bad thing if he is less principled than McKenna in terms of style of play. Worked wonders to keep Bournemouth up and finish 14th with Wolves before things unravelled.
Key player – Daizen Maeda
Five fabulous years at Celtic earned him a reputation for relentless work-rate and goals when it mattered. Ipswich will need someone to score goals and he hit 79 in 212 appearances in Scotland.
Total squad value – £239million
Last season’s top scorer – Jack Clarke (16 in Championship)
Maeda arrives at Ipswich after five fabulous years at Celtic which earned him a reputation for relentless work-rate and goals when it mattered
Leeds United
LAST SEASON: 14th, DAILY MAIL PREDICTS: 8th
Matt Barlow’s Verdict
Seeking to carry the momentum from the end of last season into this, as a run of 14 points from six games eased Leeds clear of relegation. Ambitious new signings James Trafford, Harry Wilson and Bosnia centre half Tarik Muharemovic back up the determination to kick on. Form at Elland Road was vital last season and they start with winnable home games against Brentford, Newcastle and Crystal Palace. An early cache of points would inject important confidence.
Major ins
Tarik Muharemovic (Sassuolo, £40m), James Trafford (Man City, £40m), Harry Wilson (Fulham, free).
Major outs
Jack Harrison (New England Revolution, undisclosed), Maximilian Wober (Schalke, free), Isaac Schimdt (BSC Young Boys, free), Karl Darlow (Man United, free), Pascal Struijk (Brighton, £23.2m).
Manager – Daniel Farke (PL win percentage: 19.5)
His full-throttle brand of football helped generate the intimidating Elland Road atmosphere that became vital last season. Popular and proved to doubters he can handle the top-flight.
Key player – Dominic Calvert-Lewin
Fifteen goals last season scored in two distinct clusters of form was his best return for five years. Leeds will rely heavily on the 29-year-old former Everton striker to stay fit and keep scoring.
Total squad value – £365million
Last season’s top scorer – Dominic Calvert-Lewin (14)
Fifteen goals last season scored in two distinct clusters of form saw Dominic Calvert-Lewin hit his best return for five years
Liverpool
LAST SEASON: 5th, DAILY MAIL PREDICTS: 3rd
Matt Barlow’s Verdict
Spent a fortune to go backwards last year. Big signings Alexander Isak and Florian Wirtz did not produce an instant return. Mohamed Salah turned out not to be everlasting. Trent Alexander-Arnold and Luis Diaz left holes harder to fill than anticipated. Liverpool recorded their lowest points total for 10 years but held off Bournemouth to clinch fifth and then took their manager, after sacking Arne Slot only a year since he won the title. Replaced Ibrahima Konate and Andrew Robertson with Jeremy Jacquet and Victor Munoz and bid farewell to Salah, but success this season will hinge on the impact of Andoni Iraola.
Major ins
Jeremy Jacquet (Rennes, £60m), Victor Munoz (Osasuna, £34.5m), Ronald Araujo (Barcelona, loan).
Major outs
Mohamed Salah (Trabzonspor, free), Ibrahima Konate (Real Madrid, free), Andrew Robertson (Spurs, free).
Manager – Andoni Iraola (PL win percentage: 36.0)
Says the players are not fit enough to play in his style, and intriguing to see if he can generate his trademark intensity with a team expected to dominate possession and challenge on all fronts, including the Champions League.
Key player – Alexander Isak
Goals could be in demand without Salah and all eyes are on the club’s record signing. His injuries probably cost Slot his job but the £125m Swedish striker has looked sharp in pre-season.
Total squad value – £854million
Last season’s top scorer – Hugo Ekitike (11)
Goals could be in demand this season without Mohamed Salah and all eyes are on the club’s record signing, Alexander Isak
Man City
LAST SEASON: 2nd, DAILY MAIL PREDICTS: 4th
Matt Barlow’s Verdict
Life after Pep Guardiola brings seismic change irrespective of the fact the new boss knows the inner workings of the club. More legends are lost in John Stones, Bernardo Silva and Rodri, so soon after the exits of Kevin De Bruyne, Ilkay Gundogan and Ederson. City remain a force and in Erling Haaland still have the best goalscorer in the land. They are also, of course, seriously wealthy but the years of complete dominance are over. Will they return?
Major ins
Elliot Anderson (Nottm Forest, £115m), Mathys Detourbet (Monaco, £25m), Jeremy Monga (£11.7m, Leicester).
Major outs
James Trafford (Leeds £47m), Rodri (Barcelona, £65m) Manuel Akanji (Inter Milan, £15m), John Stones (Inter Miaml, £12m), Nathan Ake (Fenerbache, £10m), Bernardo Silva (Real Madrid, free), Mathys Detourbet (Monaco, loan).
Manager – Enzo Maresca (PL win percentage: 49.1)
Guided Chelsea to a fourth-place finish while lifting the Europa Conference and Club World Cup in his one full season at Stamford Bridge. This is a severe test for the 46-year-old with no room to fail but City are a far more mature and cohesive club.
Key player – Elliot Anderson
With Rodri gone, City desperately need Anderson to hit the ground running if they are to sustain attacking traditions without becoming too easy to play through in midfield.
Total squad value – £1.3billion
Last season’s top scorer – Erling Haaland (27)
Life after Pep Guardiola brings seismic change irrespective of the fact the new boss Enzo Maresca knows the inner workings of the club
Man United
LAST SEASON: 3rd, DAILY MAIL PREDICTS: 6th
Matt Barlow’s Verdict
We’ve been here before. Flickers of progress in a season outside the Champions League followed by an underwhelming summer in the transfer market cast doubt about their ability to kick on. Lost Casemiro, who became increasingly important for Carrick. Youri Tielemans brings vision and creative thought in central midfield and Andrey Santos adds the legs they have lacked, but Carrick will know he needs more quality options if he is to seriously compete for the sort of titles United are expected to win.
Major ins
Andrey Santos (Chelsea, £50m), Youri Tielemans (Aston Villa, £41m), Karl Darlow (Leeds, free).
Major outs
Casemiro (Inter Miami, free), Andre Onana (Trabzonspor, loan).
Manager – Michael Carrick (PL win percentage: 68.4)
Problems he could shelve as interim boss are now his to solve. Players demanding to play and players demanding to leave can disturb the balance struck last season. The Champions League adds strain as he tries to avoid the Ole Gunnar Solskjaer trap.
Key player – Bruno Fernandes
Ever the key to United’s puzzle. He broke the Premier League assists record last season and needs to be no less dynamic once again if United are to upset the odds at the top.
Total squad value – £747million
Last season’s top scorer – Benjamin Sesko, Bryan Mbeumo (11 each)
Youri Tielemans brings vision and creative thought in Man United’s central midfield
Newcastle
LAST SEASON: 12th, DAILY MAIL PREDICTS: 16th
Matt Barlow’s Verdict
Grand plans to conquer the world are on hold. It has been a reality check summer. Eddie Howe, Anthony Gordon, Sandro Tonali, Bruno Guimaraes and Kieran Trippier have gone and with them the bones of the team that restored Geordie pride by returning to the Champions League and winning the League Cup. Expect lots of talk about transition as they rebuild under Matthias Jaissle. Recruitment policy has focused on young talent representing value and scope to improve. Worryingly similar to Tottenham during two years when they flirted with relegation.
Major ins
Bazoumana Toure (Hoffenheim, £43m), Amar Dedic (Benfica £30m), Aladji Bamba (Monaco, £36m).
Major outs
Sandro Tonali (Tottenham, £100m), Anthony Gordon (Barcelona, £70m), Antonito Cordero (Cadiz, loan), Harrison Ashby (Luton loan), Kieran Trippier (Wolves, free).
Manager – Matthias Jaissle (PL win percentage: N/A)
Following Howe is a tough act to follow, especially for a young boss with coaching experience in only Saudi Arabia and Austria, unfamiliar with the Premier League and the heart of the team ripped out. Best of luck.
Key player – Yoane Wissa
Newcastle spent all last summer prising him out of Brentford, then he scored just one league goal in an injury-hit season. Time for him to deliver on the £50m investment.
Total squad value – £501million
Last season’s top scorer – Bruno Guimaraes (9)
Newcastle are rebuilding under Matthias Jaissle following the loss of some big name players this summer, while recruitment policy has focused on young talent
Nottingham Forest
LAST SEASON: 16th, DAILY MAIL PREDICTS: 11th
Matt Barlow’s Verdict
Owner Evangelos Marinakis is not the sort to accept a year of steady consolidation, although that is precisely what Forest need after another whirlwind 12 months featuring a blur of managerial change and a flirt with relegation before easing clear under Vitor Pereira, whose reward was the sack. Elliot Anderson is hard to replace but Oliver Glasner is an excellent appointment as head coach and there is plenty of talent with which to work in a year with no European competition.
Major ins
Ousmane Diomande (Sporting, £34m), Gustavo Sa (Famalicao, £17m), Xaver Schlager (RB Leipzig, free).
Major outs
Elliot Anderson (Manchester City, £115m), Jota Silva (Olympiacos, loan), David Carmo (Olympiacos, £7m), Stefan Ortega (Olympiacos, free).
Manager – Oliver Glasner (PL win percentage: 34.8)
The fifth incumbent of the City Ground hot seat since the start of last season. His brilliant transformation of Crystal Palace from South London upstarts to major trophy winners goes before him and his arrival should excite Forest fans if he is allowed genuine control over the team-building process.
Key player – Morgan Gibbs-White
Captain, creative force and a guaranteed source of goals and assists, coming off the back of a restful summer with a point to prove after a World Cup snub.
Total squad value – £478million
Last season’s top scorer – Morgan Gibbs-White (15)
Captain, creative force and a guaranteed source of goals and assists, Morgan Gibbs-White comes off the back of a restful summer with a point to prove after a World Cup snub
Sunderland
LAST SEASON: 7th, DAILY MAIL PREDICTS: 14th
Matt Barlow’s Verdict
Very difficult to follow the over-achievement of last season, when the Wearsiders came seventh on their return to the Premier League. They turned the Stadium of Light into a vibrant fortress and qualified for Europe for the first time since 1973. Now to repeat without the same element of surprise, with expectation levels up and the added complication of Thursday nights in the Europa League. Quiet in the summer market. Opted to recruit veteran right back Thomas Meunier on a free from Lille and let Lutsharel Geertruida return to Leipzig after a loan. Sold Eliezer Mayenda to Rennes. A largely settled squad may not be a bad thing.
Major ins
Thomas Meunier (Lille, free).
Major outs
Eliezer Mayenda (Rennes, £22m), Anthony Patterson (Wrexham, £9m), Dan Neil (Rangers, free), Milan Aleksic (Partizan Belgrade, loan).
Manager – Regis Le Bris (PL win percentage: 36.8)
Understated hero who made Sunderland upwardly mobile again, guiding them from 16th in the Championship to seventh in the Premier League with a league double over Newcastle for good measure.
Key player – Granit Xhaka
Veteran midfielder kept from the clutches of Chelsea. Central to last season’s triumph, his tactical acumen and on-field leadership keeps those around him ticking.
Total squad value – £325million
Last season’s top scorer – Brian Brobbey (7)
Granit Xhaka is Sunderland’s veteran midfielder kept from the clutches of Chelsea whose tactical acumen and on-field leadership keeps those around him ticking
Tottenham
LAST SEASON: 17th, DAILY MAIL PREDICTS: 5th
Matt Barlow’s Verdict
It can hardly get any worse. Escaped relegation on the final day but ended their worst campaign for 49 years in positive form under De Zerbi. They have addressed weakness with a splurge in midfield — the problem at the heart of the team’s imbalance — and added leadership and experience at the back. They must find a reliable source of goals but with De Zerbi on a mission, injured players on the way back and no European distractions, Spurs will expect to get back on track.
Major ins
Sandro Tonali (Newcastle, £100m), Mateus Fernandes (West Ham, £85m), Jan Paul van Hecke (Brighton, £60m), Marcos Senesi (Bournemouth, free), Andy Robertson (Liverpool, free), Martin Dubravka (Burnley, free).
Major outs
Luka Vuskovic (Brighton, £54m), Will Lankshear (M’boro, £11.7m), Alejo Veliz (Bahia, £7.8m), Alfie Devine (Preston, £7m), Radu Dragusin (Fiorentina, loan).
Manager – Roberto De Zerbi (PL win percentage: 37.7)
Eleven points from the last seven games ensured survival. His infectious drive has re-energised Spurs and left him in a position of considerable power. He has been given the funds to compete in the transfer market and reinforced his backroom staff.
Key player – Sandro Tonali
Four days after spending a club-record £85m on Mateus Fernandes, they splashed £100m on Tonali to be the midfield driving force of the new De Zerbi era.
Total squad value – £777million
Last season’s top scorer – Richarlison (11)
