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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Sport
Will Unwin

Championship 2026-27 preview: the contenders, hopefuls and strugglers

Will Lankshear of Middlesbrough, Wolverhampton Wanderers’ Kieran Trippier, Jacob Wright of Norwich and Sheffield United’s Patrick Bamford.
Left to right: Will Lankshear of Middlesbrough, Wolverhampton Wanderers’ Kieran Trippier, Jacob Wright of Norwich and Sheffield United’s Patrick Bamford. Composite: Guardian Pictures; Shutterstock; WWFC/Getty Images; Focus Images/Shutterstock; Every Second Media/Shutterstock

Contenders

The relegated teams, naturally, will be the favourites to go back up but two have endured confusing summers. Jarrod Bowen committing to West Ham was a bonus and the quality available to Nuno Espírito Santo should make bouncing back straightforward for the calmest of the clubs to have dropped down. They brought in huge fees for Crysencio Summerville and Mateus Fernandes but incoming activity has been pedestrian, which is the only minor cause of concern.

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