Here we go again then.
It might seem like it was only five minutes ago that Manchester City stormed back to clinch the Premier League title ahead of Liverpool, but the new season is already upon us.
Big names have been added to the division and some stellar players have left over the summer, while there are quick Premier League returns for two of the promoted sides and a first top-flight season in 23 years for Nottingham Forest.
The usual suspects are expected to battle for the title, and there will be plenty of clubs looking over their shoulder at relegation, but how will it all shake out?
We asked our Reach network of reporters and editors around the country for the lowdown on their teams.
ARSENAL
Tashan Deniran-Alleyne - Arsenal writer, football.london
Lessons learned from last season: Squad rotation.
Arsenal came unstuck in the final three games of last season at a time where the squad was stretched to its limit and certain players suffering a dip in form at the worst possible stage. One reason for this is it was a young squad and the likes of Bukayo Saka were simply burnt out.
However, had Mikel Arteta rotated his squad earlier in the season - bringing in the likes of Eddie Nketiah, Rob Holding, Cedric Soares and Mohamed Elneny, and trusting Nuno Tavares and Nicolas Pepe - then maybe they could have avoided injuries in key areas giving them a better chance at winning the top-four race.
Best bit of summer business: Gabriel Jesus is the one signing many, if not all, Arsenal supporters are excited about. Last season's struggles in front of goal are simply highlighted by the fact that Nketiah outscored Alexandre Lacazette despite not starting a Premier League game until April.
It's a position that was crying out to be strengthened and, to their credit, Arteta and Edu have gone out and signed their number one target. The Gunners have spent £45m on a well-rounded frontman that fits the manager's system perfectly and as the 'main man' the hope is that his goal output improves as he enters his prime.
Youngsters to watch: There's a few to choose from.
Brooke Norton-Cuffy caught the eye on loan at Lincoln City during the second half of last season, Kido Taylor-Hart and Salah-Eddine have the potential to break into the first-team, Marcelo Flores does too but he has joined Oviedo on loan for the campaign, and so the standout name is Charlie Patino.
After a goal on his debut against Sunderland in the Carabao Cup, Arteta resisted calls to throw Patino in the deep end towards the end of last season and that may benefit the youngster. This summer he's gone away to work on his slight frame as he looks to get more minutes in the cups and in Europe.
Hopes and dreams: Top four and a trophy has to be the aim after back-to-back eighth placed finishes and then narrowly missing out on Champions League qualification last season. I'd go along with that as this squad should be capable of challenging the likes of Chelsea, Tottenham and Man Utd.
Realistically though, I would predict a fifth-place finish but success in the Europa League.
ASTON VILLA
Ashley Preece - Aston Villa correspondent, Birmingham Live
Lessons learned from last season: That action speaks louder than words given the constant talk about bringing European football back to Villa Park. Villa simply didn't cut it against the so-called 'big boys' last season, losing all 10 of their fixtures against the top five and that's a trend they need to buck going into 2022/23.
Gatecrashing the top six or seven simply isn't a given in the Premier League knowing your Newcastles, Brightons, your Wolves, West Hams and Leicesters are all striving to be 'best of the rest' if you like. After finishing 14th, Villa must go out and prove they mean business right from the get-go in August.
Steven Gerrard, meanwhile, will be hopeful of having Villa in a really good place come the winter break prior to the World Cup starting in Qatar at the back-end of November. It's a big old season for Villa after finishes of 17th, 11th and 14th in their three campaigns since promotion in 2019.
Best bits of summer business: Boubacar Kamara is the obvious name to mention given the blockbuster billing he's been given by Gerrard. The head coach went over to Marseille to see him back in April and, within a month, Villa raced ahead of Atletico Madrid and Manchester United to sign the 22-year-old on a five-year contract.
Kamara appears to be the missing piece of the jigsaw in that crucial No.6 position in front of Villa's back four, with Douglas Luiz having to fill in previously.
Kamara's got the lot according to Gerrard, but fellow Frenchman Lucas Digne believes he'll bring a much-needed calmness to Villa's play this season which, in turn, will allow the attacking players to flourish.
Another name I want to mention is Philippe Coutinho. That £17million fee looks an absolute steal and, with a full pre-season behind him, I'm expecting big things from the little Brazilian who, in his 19 games while on loan, had a hand in eight goals (five goals, three assists) which wasn't too shabby at all.
Youngsters to watch: Tim Iroegbunam has huge potential having broken through under Gerrard last season. The 19-year-old is, however, a first-team player now so I'll throw young Tommi O'Reilly at you.
The 18-year-old is yet to make his first-team debut but supporters got a glimpse of what he can do in the second half at Walsall in pre-season. O'Reilly, a boyhood Villa fan from Kingsbury, has really burst onto the scene at Bodymoor Heath and there's a reason why his academy peers have nicknamed him 'Little Foden' given his intricate playing style and his ability to play in tight areas.
He's continued to be a joy to watch for the under-23s while, this season, he'll be kept around Gerrard's first-team group with a loan no doubt in the pipeline in January. Tommi O'Reilly, he's one to watch Villans.
Hopes and dreams: I asked a few fans this very question before Villa's first pre-season fixture at Walsall and the majority didn't set the bar too high in the sense they would take a top-10 finish and a decent cup run. I think that's probably a sound assessment for the season ahead with a top-half finish a must if Villa are to really go places under Gerrard.
The gaffer has already stressed his desire to go deep in both the Carabao Cup and FA Cup as well, and us Villans do love a cup run. For me, I'd like to see Villa pushing for a top-eight finish. An FA Cup - a first in what would be 66 years - would be pretty sweet as well
BOURNEMOUTH
James Piercey - Sports Editor, Dorset Live and Hampshire Live
Lessons learned from last season: L eft-back Jordan Zemura and forward/winger Jaidon Anthony were absolutely sensational at the start of the campaign but then started to become a bit inhibited, lost a degree of confidence and lacked the same penetration as the going got a bit tough.
It’s unclear whether that was a product of the team not performing as well or because Scott Parker deliberately reined them in to try and make his team a little more robust. If it’s the latter, the temptation to do so in the Premier League will be strong but both hold the key to how Bournemouth should attack, plus supplying the service into Dom Solanke and Kieffer Moore. They need to be trusted to go and try and win games. Let the boys play.
In terms of Parker, his season at Fulham in the top-flight never really got going and he’ll want to make a name for himself on a personal level as much as anything.
The Cottagers were particularly poor at home during the 2020/21 campaign - nine goals all season - and if Bournemouth are going to have anything resembling a decent season they need to play with intent at Vitality Stadium. In order to do that, Parker needs to address some of the nagging creativity issues in his side as last season they were prone to have loads of the ball but with little penalty box pressure. That has to change.
Best bits of summer business: Business has been slow, both in and out of the club, with the Cherries perhaps mindful of the humongous wage bill they accumulated over their last stay in the top-flight and the genuine risk of going down with those sort of financial obligations, coupled with further investment in the training ground.
That being said, there should be further additions to the squad and, it shouldn’t be forgotten, that a lot of the investment in January was, firstly, to aid the promotion effort but also with one eye on the top flight. Kieffer Moore very much represents this theory with the big Wales international now able to have a crack at the Premier League. Todd Cantwell’s loan was also part of this theory but his move to Dorset didn’t work out at all, really.
Of the most recent arrivals the one to watch is Joe Rothwell. A free transfer from Blackburn Rovers, after the Cherries had unsuccessfully tried to sign him in January, the 27-year-old brings plenty of technical smarts and creativity plus defensive tenacity in the middle of the park. Plus he can play a number of roles in midfield, which was an area Parker really wanted to strengthen this summer and he should be followed by at least one more signing in that particular department.
Youngsters to watch: O ne to keep an eye on is probably James Hill who was among the new arrivals at the club in the January window.
The 20-year-old has been given lots of time to settle by Parker and adapt to his ways and methods, having only played League One football for Fleetwood Town previously.
It’s a considerable step up for the England Under-21 international but he has the sort of game that adapts to the top-flight in terms of his pace, athleticism and willingness to get forward, plus all the boring stuff like positioning and agility in the tackle. His chances may well lie with how Bournemouth perform over the course of the season; if they struggle, it’s not exactly the greatest environment to introduce an attack-minded young full-back. A possible reason why the experienced Ryan Fredericks was brought in.
Hopes and dreams: It’s pretty clear the only goal really is survival given Bournemouth are favourites to go back down. But, in a wider sense, there will be a desire to make an impact, akin to when they first went up under Eddie Howe.
You don’t necessarily measure that in league position, it’s almost an intangible goal, but there will be desire to establish an identity and be known for something positive; whether that be playing style, memorable performances, spirit, travelling support, anything. The worst-case scenario is undoubtedly doing “a Norwich” where you’re there to be beaten every week and become an afterthought most weekends.
BRENTFORD
Jake Murtagh - Head of National Sports (Digital)
Lessons learned from last season: Brentford lacked strength in depth to their squad last season and notably struggled when a few of their key players were out injured. The loss of keeper David Raya between the end of October and February was a big blow and coincided with their downturn in fortunes.
They also went the entire campaign without a senior right-back, with winger Sergi Canos forced to fill in.
The Bees have responded by adding more depth to their squad during the summer transfer window to give Thomas Frank more options at his disposal ahead of the big kick off.
Best bits of summer business: Scotland international Aaron Hickey was the first player through the door this summer.
The full-back arrived from Bologna, with his exploits for the Serie A outfit also attracting admiring glances from Brentford’s Premier League rivals Arsenal.
Hickey, 20, is comfortable with both feet and can play on either side of the backline. He is expected to start the season as the first-choice right back, and will also provided cover for Rico Henry.
He was joined in west London by Hull City attacker Keane Lewis-Potter, who had also been a long-term target. The England Under-21 international arrived in a deal that could be worth up to £20million, penning a six-year deal. He will add more options going forward and hopefully ease the goalscoring burden on star striker Ivan Toney.
The Bees have been short in the goalkeeping department since loanees Alvaro Fernandez and Jonas Lossl returned to their parent clubs at the end of the season. However, free agent Thomas Strakosha has been brought in following the expiry of his contract with Lazio to rival Raya for the No.1 jersey.
The Albanian international is comfortable with his feet, which will suit Brentford’s style of playing out from the back.
Youngsters to watch: Striker Nathan Young-Coombes was the latest B team player to make their debut for Frank’s side, coming on as a late substitute in the win over Southampton at the back end of last season.
The 19-year-old was signed from Rangers and smashed more than 30 goals for Brentford’s second string last term, also earning him the player of the year award.
Right-back Fin Stevens is also highly-thought of and was rewarded with a new long-term deal in the summer after breaking into the first-team ranks.
Hopes and dreams: Brentford fans will be hoping to consolidate their place in the Premier League following a storming first season back in the top flight.
The Bees went into the final game of the campaign with the possibility of a top-half finish, so the dream scenario would be to continue their progress and secure a spot in the top 10.
They got off to a great start with victory over Arsenal before a sticky patch at the turn of the year when injuries started to take their toll.
One thing they will be hoping to improve is their record against some of the bigger clubs, losing eight of their 12 matches against the top six sides.
BRIGHTON & HOVE ALBION
Richard Mills - Brighton & Hove Albion correspondent, Sussex Live
Lessons learned from last season: That giving younger players a chance is worth it.
While Brighton already have a good reputation for giving academy players chances in the first-team, Moises Caicedo, who was signed from Ecuadorian side Independiente del Valle in February 2021, had to be very patient for his opportunity at the club.
He only made his debut in August 2021 and then he finally got his Premier League debut in April 2022 away to Arsenal. The 20-year-old was an unstoppable force in midfield and Albion went onto beat the Gunners, Tottenham, Wolves, Manchester United, and West Ham in their last eight matches. And there are other youngsters who can shine as well.
An honourable mention is that Brighton are better off with three centre-backs and two wing-backs, instead of a back four.
Best bit of summer business: Julio Enciso has been described as the 'Jewel' of Paraguayan football and there are high hopes for him at Albion and in his home country.
The fact that they have spent £9.5m on an 18-year-old shows Brighton see a lot of potential in him. It is worth remembering their transfer record is £20m. Quick, direct, with an eye for goal, and not afraid of taking players on, he is one to watch for sure. Graham Potter has already described him as a little "powerhouse" and one that may be part of his first-team plans for the upcoming season.
This is no small feat as many players of his age are either in the under-21s or out on loan at a lower league team - but, for now, that is not the case with Enciso!
Youngster to watch: Evan Ferguson. While he joined the club from Irish side Bohemians in January 2021, and so is not a typical grassroots academy player, no other young player has made a breakthrough into the first-team as he has in a long time.
The Irishman made his debut last August at the age of 16 and he since went on to make his FA Cup and Premier League bows at 17. He turned down Liverpool as he thought he had a better chance of playing first-team minutes at Brighton and it seems he has made the right choice.
Shane Duffy, Graham Potter, and Joel Veltman have waxed lyrical about the teenager, who is regarded as the next big thing in Irish football.
Hopes and dreams: Brighton achieved their best-ever season in the Premier League last term, 9th with 51 points. Before that, their previous record was 41 points, and coming 15th. With Yves Bissouma sold to Tottenham in June, Brighton will hope to consolidate on last season and finish in the top 10 again.
Enock Mwepu said, 'Why not?' when talking about qualifying for Europe but a top-half finish will be an excellent return for Graham Potter's men, especially when teams around them are spending tens of millions.
I do think Bissouma is a big loss, though, so I think they will finish 12th.
CHELSEA
Scott Trotter - Chelsea writer, football.london
Lessons learned from last season: The 2021/22 season was not short of lessons for Chelsea. Whether it be prioritising the system over signing a star, that players should not be allowed to enter the final 12 months of their contract or despite the excitement August brings, winning the Premier League is difficult.
With N'Golo Kante and Jorginho currently set to see their contracts expire in 2023, it doesn't seem that all of the lessons have been taken on board but one that must be is that Chelsea won't be able to challenge at the top unless they resolve their home form.
The Blues earned 34 points from a possible 57 at Stamford Bridge in a year that saw Brentford put Thomas Tuchel's side to the sword and draws with the likes of Everton, Burnley, Wolves, Brighton and Leicester.
With more points won on the road, it's an area that must be targeted for immediate improvement.
Best bits of summer business: Raheem Sterling was Tuchel's priority this summer and sees Chelsea add a player, at 27, in their peak years. The club have some depth on the wings already but have struggled to establish fluency in their frontline. Sterling's 225 goal contributions in 337 appearances for Man City gives supporters plenty to get excited about, with the forward hoping to 'make history' with Chelsea.
Meanwhile at the back Kalidou Koulibaly should go a long way to filling the gap left by Antonio Rudiger providing he can adjust to the Premier League. The former Napoli star will bring a significant presence in the backline, some expansive passing and tactical versatility for Tuchel.
Youngsters to watch: There are no shortage of academy products to get excited about. The Blues are still looking to revitalise their defence and there is a lot of excitement around Levi Colwill entering his second term of senior football.
Harvey Vale returns from captaining England under-19s to European glory and showed an exquisite eye for a pass along the way. Chelsea will hope to secure him to a longer deal after allowing him to join the first team tour of the USA.
In terms of those likely to still be with the academy Charlie Webster and Lewis Hall have spent time around the first team and should star. After filling in at left back, and making a first team appearance in a back three, Hall will be one to watch with more time to feature in his more natural midfield position.He is yet to turn 18 and could be set for a big year.
Hopes and dreams: It's Chelsea, a successful season will include a trophy.
There will be understanding at Stamford Bridge with the Blues starting this summer behind where they were in 2021, with a new hierarchy still finding their feet, but the plan will remain to go and compete with the best.
Catching Liverpool and Man City will be a difficult task in 2022/23 but the World Cup means everyone will be entering the unknown in terms of preparation. With the standard of signing coming through the door, some progress and more consistency will be expected by the end of the season.
CRYSTAL PALACE
Mark Wyatt - Crystal Palace reporter, football.london
Lessons learned from last season: Switching off after conceding is a surefire way to lose matches. Several times last season Palace conceded one goal and were all too quickly picking the ball back out of their net a short while later after failing to switch back on.
This happened against Liverpool, Southampton, West Ham in the league and, most painfully, against Chelsea in the semi-finals of the FA Cup.
Patrick Vieira and his coaching staff were well aware of their side’s propensity of switching off after conceding during the season but he will hope he can nip that frustrating trait in the bud before the start of the new campaign.
Recruiting experienced players should help in that matter, which goes some way to showing why extending the contracts of senior players like James McArthur, Nathaniel Clyne, Jordan Ayew and James Tomkins will prove to be smart business from this summer.
Best bits of summer business: Cheick Doucoure was identified pretty quickly as Vieira and Palace’s number one transfer target this summer and after some lengthy negotiations with Lens, the Mali international was confirmed as an Eagle in the second week of July.
A natural defensive midfielder though capable of playing further up if necessary, Doucoure will fill the hole left by the departing Cheikhou Kouyate.
A replacement for the now-departed Conor Gallagher he won’t be, though Palace fans will see his energy and workrate off the ball isn’t all that dissimilar to the former Chelsea loanee.
Doucoure’s influence at Lens grew in recent seasons and he leaves as one of their most consistent performers and tidy operators in a key area of the pitch. He will likely go straight into Vieira’s preferred starting XI on the opening day of the season against Arsenal, especially with James McArthur expected to be injured.
Youngsters to watch: Jesurun Rak-Sakyi and Tayo Adaramola both made their senior Crystal Palace debuts last season and have both featured heavily in Vieira’s pre-season plans, heading out to Singapore and Australia with the first team squad on tour.
Adaramola has since joined Coventry on loan, but it is clear he is highly thought of at Selhurst Park.
With current first team stars Wilfried Zaha, Nathaniel Clyne and Tyrick Mitchell all coming through the club’s academy ranks there are plenty of role models to look up to, and the club hope Rak-Sakyi and Adaramola will be the next to make the step up.
Hopes and dreams: A successful season would see Palace finish in the top half of the Premier League - something they’ve only ever achieved once during their history. Alongside that, another cup run akin to last season’s trip to the FA Cup semi-finals would be greatly appreciated, not least so that the club’s fans can pick up their ‘Super Pat Vieira’ chant in the Selhurst Park terraces once again.
A realistic prediction is that Palace teeter on the verge of the top half of the table once again but avoid getting pulled into a relegation scrap. Whether they make it into the top ten or not will depend on who else arrives and who departs during the remainder of the transfer window.
EVERTON
Joe Thomas - Everton correspondent, Liverpool Echo
Lessons learned from last season: Fans will have a long list of suggestions to be filed under 'lessons learned' from last season - in relation to matters both on and off the pitch.
Perhaps the most crucial is not to be too reliant upon key players avoiding injury. Everton suffered bad luck on this front last year - losing the likes of Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Ben Godfrey for long stretches of the campaign. Yerry Mina, the best centre back at the club, also spent a lot of time injured.
Yet there is a difference between the misfortune of losing young, typically resilient stars to bad injuries and expecting too much from players who repeatedly miss swathes of a season. Mina's issues have persisted over several years and a number of other players in the squad have repeatedly struggled with knocks. The lesson should be clear - squad depth is a necessity.
Best bit of summer business: The arrival of James Tarkowski became one of June's worst-kept secrets after Everton moved quickly to secure the former Burnley man's signature.
The centre back brings experience and quality to a back line that needed strengthening as a priority. The Blues' efforts to pull themselves clear of a relegation battle last year were repeatedly undermined by injuries to those at the back and Tarkowski is renowned for his ability to play 30+ league games a season.
Frank Lampard spoke of wanting to make his side more robust and Tarkowski is an instant improvement. Alongside him at right back or right-wing back, depending on how Lampard sets up, January signing Nathan Patterson will feel like a new arrival. He has impressed for Scotland this year and he is now likely to get his chance after recovering from an injury that ruled him out for the final months of last season.
Youngsters to watch: In keeping with Everton's pivot from big money deals to a greater focus on value and young talent, the majority of business in the early weeks of the summer has been on securing the futures of academy prospects. One of those to agree a new deal is Lewis Warrington.
The 19-year-old midfielder enjoyed a good spell on loan at Tranmere Rovers last season and has impressed sufficiently to be included in the squad taken on the pre-season tour to the US.
He may end up out on loan again to continue his development but Everton are hunting for reinforcements in midfield and, even if there is a flurry of transfer business, there may be an opportunity for a rising star to enjoy a breakthrough season. Warrington could get that chance - as could talented Isaac Price, who featured at Arsenal on the final day of last season.
Hopes and dreams: Last season was traumatic and has led to a realignment of expectations. With the club flirting with financial regulations after three years of massive losses, a summer of pragmatism will also dampen short-term ambition. It is a far cry from the early excess under majority shareholder Farhad Moshiri.
Avoiding a relegation battle is a must and a mid-table season in which there is a clear sign of progress would be well-received. Many fans accept Lampard may need time to rebuild Everton. Creating momentum for the countdown to the club's move to a new stadium would be welcomed - as would a genuine cup run.
FULHAM
Jake Polden - Mirror Sport Assistant Editor (Agenda)
Lessons learned from last season: For Fulham, it is more what lessons can be learnt from two seasons ago when the club was relegated from the Premier League.
And, quite simply, they need to remember who and what got them promoted.
Fulham have morphed into a yo-yo team by routinely clearing the decks following promotion and bringing in new faces to play a new, defensive system.
Teams who have beaten the drop in recent years - Brentford a good example from last season - have built upon what got them promoted rather than start afresh.
Fulham will of course have to adapt their all-out-attack approach that blew teams away last season.
But it's important Marco Silva be allowed to instil his philosophy in a few higher calibre players brought in this summer rather than have his first team overhauled and be forced to baton down the hatches.
Best bits of summer business: There was some confusion when Jean Michael Seri left at the end of his contract considering the bright season he had in the Championship.
But the signing of Joao Palhinha from Sporting Lisbon - under the nose of Wolves - means it all makes sense now.
Whether the Portugal international knows it yet or not, the club's Premier League status somewhat rests on his shoulders.
Fulham's defensive frailties have been ruthlessly picked apart the last two times the Whites graced the top flight and with no new centre-backs imminent, Palhinha's worth will be tested to the max.
But Fulham have a lot to be optimistic about.
The midfielder is physical, good in the air and great at breaking up play. On the ball, Palhinha doesn't take risks and boasts strong passing stats.
In short, he's a safe pair of hands - exactly what Fulham need in such a position.
Youngsters to watch: Fulham have an excellent history of producing quality young players with Ryan Sessegnon, Harvey Elliott and Fabio Carvalho the most recent to fly the nest.
The status of Golden Boy is again up for grabs at the Cottage and there are three names that spring to mind.
At 21, midfielder Sonny Hilton is the eldest of the trio, but has England U19s experience and won the Premier League 2 Division 2 title with Fulham's U23s last season.
Jay Stansfield is 19 and a born goalscorer who's made two senior appearances for the Whites. A serious leg injury in 2020 stalled his progression, but he's rated highly at Fulham and recently signed a contract until 2024.
Harvey Araujo is only 17 but making the right noises behind the scenes at Motspur Park. A left-back by trade, the youngster is as confident going forward as he is defending.
Hopes and dreams: Never expecting, always believing is an unofficial mantra among the fans and most would take a 17th-place finish right now.
Fulham's last two relegations from the Premier League came after the club snuck up via the lottery of the play-offs. This year feels different.
They were head and shoulders the best team in the Championship last season - as they were during their 2001 promotion campaign - and enter the top flight an able side.
The extra time to prepare for going up champions could also make the difference and I expect Fulham to beat the drop this season.
LEEDS UNITED
Beren Cross - Leeds United club writer, Leeds Live
Lessons learned from last season: A squad of 18 senior players is not enough to carry you through a season of injuries and Covid. Marcelo Bielsa’s biggest strengths were sometimes his weaknesses and his stubborn view on riding with a small squad killed United last season.
The injury was freakishly long for most of the season and neither Bielsa nor the medical staff can be blamed for not seeing that coming. It was just one of those seasons where, unfortunately, a combination of injuries and an imploding tactical set-up put pay to any ambitions Leeds had.
There is already evidence of those lessons being met in this summer’s transfer window. Six new signings have been made in a clear effort to build up some depth in the ranks.
Best bits of summer business: Brenden Aaronson was the first new man through the door. The American was scouted before Jesse Marsch’s arrival and actually worked under his compatriot at Red Bull Salzburg. He was signed within a week of the win at Brentford on the final day.
The USA international arrives as an attacking midfielder playing behind a striker in Marsch’s system. It is hoped, because of his history, he will be able to make Marsch’s system sing on the field. For the same reason, Tyler Adams is expected to have an impact.
Also American, Adams worked under Marsch in New York and Leipzig. He has an astute understanding of how the head coach wants to play. He is expected to bear the brunt of the responsibility left behind by Kalvin Phillips in the middle of the park.
Another of Marsch’s former players at Salzburg, Rasmus Kristensen is also generating excitement as a wrecking-ball, attacking right-back.
Youngsters to watch: Archie Gray is a name you must remember. The 16-year-old is already training and playing with Marsch’s first team. The head coach has not been shy in talking up the schoolboy as a bona fide squad player next season.
If you recognise the surname it’s because his father (Andy), grandfather (Frank) and great uncle (Eddie) were all professional footballers. His great uncle is royalty at Elland Road. With those genes, there is no surprise to see what Archie is doing on the field.
Despite his tender years, he has already shown in friendlies this summer how aggressive, intelligent and technical he is across the field. He has the footballing brain and he’s just waiting for the physical attributes to develop with age.
Joe Gelhardt is already well known, but should kick on again next season. He is 20 and expected to feature more and more over the coming months.
Hopes and dreams: A top-half finish would be considered a successful season, mid-table would be acceptable and survival the bare minimum after last term’s travails. Leeds finished 17th on the final day of the season, by the skin of their teeth. They did not play particularly well at any stage in their 12 games under Marsch and they have just sold their two best players. Of course, there are going to be reservations.
None of the new signings have played in the Premier League before, but there has to be optimism they will prove to be successful. It remains the great unknown. This is certainly a Leeds team in transition with Marsch still trying to move away from the Bielsa era.
My prediction is 14th. There really are so many unknowns in this group across players and staff, it’s tough to call. I am banking on fewer injuries and more minutes for match-winners like Patrick Bamford, as well as three new signings who already know the Marsch system very well.
LEICESTER CITY
Jordan Blackwell - Leicester City correspondent, Leicestershire Live
Lessons learned from last season: While set-pieces are often seen as a bonus, Leicester have learned if you’re terrible at them it can derail a season.
If they had had even a mediocre record at defending corners, Leicester would have finished in the top six last season and qualified for Europe. Their Europa Conference League campaign was also ended by Tammy Abraham nodding in a corner for Roma in the semi-final.
Brendan Rodgers tried to find a solution. He gave zonal and man-marking set-ups a go, and a mix of the two. He put men on the posts, he put men on the halfway line. But nothing worked. By the end of the season, every corner City didn’t concede from was being ironically cheered by the club’s own supporters.
An improvement has been promised by Rodgers, and it could make a huge difference to where Leicester finish.
Best bits of summer business: Leicester’s slow business means the door is open for the club’s returning loanees to feel like new signings.
With no new arrivals at the time of writing, attacking midfielder Callum Wright is the freshest face in the first-team squad and will look to provide a youthful energy and fearlessness in the forward areas.
It’s a big step up from Cheltenham in League One to the Premier League, but it’s not insurmountable.
His dribbling ability, willingness to play quick one-twos, and keen eye for goal means he could help Leicester in their bid to break down deep-set defences. If Wright can provide inventiveness and audacity off the bench, he could get plenty of chances to impress.
Youngsters to watch: Will Alves became one of the youngest players in Leicester history when he made his debut as a 16-year-old in January.
Within seconds, he was dazzling the crowd and bamboozling Watford players twice his age. It was clear he was made for the big stage.
While he was told off by Rodgers for hogging the ball, he seemed to learn his lesson. For the development squad thereafter he knew when to take on his markers with stepovers and body feints, and when to offload. With that added game intelligence and having bulked up this summer, the moment he blows up and the country takes note of his talent doesn’t feel too far away.
He is one of a number of prospects coming through at Leicester with diminutive, clever midfielder Sammy Braybrooke, and commanding defender Ben Nelson, both England Under-18 internationals nearing their big break too.
Hopes and dreams: Without European football and therefore a less congested schedule, Leicester fans are hoping for fewer season-defining injuries. If that happens supporters will expect the team to at least challenge for the European places.
The starting XI for Leicester, with the class of Wesley Fofana, the influence of James Maddison, the speed of Harvey Barnes, and the finishing of Jamie Vardy, feels good enough to give any team in the division a game and overpower some of those further down the table.
Anything lower than eighth would be considered a disappointment, while there is hope they can maybe go one further than the fifth-placed finishes of 2020 and 2021.
LIVERPOOL
Paul Gorst - Liverpool FC correspondent, Liverpool Echo
Lessons learned from last season: It's difficult to be overly critical to a team who lost just four games in 63 last term, but if there is to be one significant improvement to be made this coming campaign then it is results against fellow top four sides.
Liverpool didn't lose any of the matches against Manchester City, Chelsea or Tottenham last term, but they didn't win against them either. Just six points were earned from a possible 18 across those games.
Liverpool held the lead against each at some point too. Even winning one of those would have seen them crowned Premier League champions. Turning a handful of those draws in victories this coming campaign will be huge in the grand scheme of the season.
Best bits of summer business: Calvin Ramsay and Fabio Carvalho have arrived as two of the brightest teenagers in British football from Aberdeen and Fulham, respectively, but there's little doubt that all eyes are on Darwin Nunez in the post-Sadio Mane world this coming campaign.
A deal worth an initial £64m could eventually rise to a club-record £85m if the Uruguay striker develops as hoped under Jurgen Klopp.
The German was said to have 'fallen in love' with the Benfica star when analysing the Portuguese side ahead of their clashes last season and Liverpool believe they have their new No.9 for the next decade.
Nunez has big shoes to fill following the departure of Mane but if his searing performance at Anfield in the Champions League quarter-final is anything to go by, then he will be up to the task. It's a bit of a new-look Liverpool attack this summer with a new target man up top and Luis Diaz set for his first full season out on the left of that front three.
The retention of Mohamed Salah, however, is the biggest deal of Liverpool's summer. Having the Egyptian's future resolved is a huge fillip heading into the season.
Youngster to watch: Kaide Gordon is a player Liverpool fans were introduced to last season but another year in the academy ranks with a sprinkling of first-team appearances in the cups will see the young winger take further steps towards eventual stardom. He became the second youngest scorer of all time at Anfield when he registered against Shrewsbury at the age of 17 years and 96 days back in January before he later started a Carabao Cup semi-final in the absence of a certain Salah.
In total, Gordon made four senior appearances last term and that could be set to increase this time around. Such is the excitement around Gordon that Liverpool moved to buy out his sell-on clause that was inserted into the initial transfer when he joined from Derby in January 2021. A young winger with a big future.
Hopes and dreams: Another close-run tilt at the quadruple is perhaps asking a bit too much, even for the most optimistic of Liverpool fans, but they will definitely be demanding a challenge for the Champions League and Premier League.
Liverpool are capable of the biggest double in football but a disappointing end to last season saw them end a marathon season without either.
The marginal differences between Manchester City and the Reds means the title could go either way and a strong start to the season, like in 2019, could go a long way towards sealing it in May.
MANCHESTER CITY
Simon Bajkowski - Chief Manchester City writer, Manchester Evening News
Lessons learned from last season: Be prepared for an outstanding Liverpool team, and potentially threats from Chelsea and Tottenham too.
Liverpool fought back from their disappointing title defence to show that it will take an exceptional level of quality to win the Premier League, while Chelsea were the early frontrunners last season before suffering an injury jam at the worst possible moment.
Despite the disruption around the enforced takeover, the new Chelsea owners are seemingly intent on challenging for silverware as quickly as possible. Then there's Tottenham, who are forever City's nemesis and should be an even greater force having managed to keep hold of Antonio Conte.
City players will know that they have to be on it from the word go if they are to keep their rivals at bay again and enhance their legacy in English football with what would be a third straight Premier League crown and a fifth in six years.
Best bits of summer business: The name on so many lips this summer is Erling Haaland.
City pulled off probably their biggest signing since landing Pep Guardiola to get Haaland ahead of Real Madrid and the rest of the world, and everybody is waiting to see whether he can continue his phenomenal record in England (as they were with the City manager, in fact.)
There are legitimate questions over whether he can be as prolific in the toughest league in a team where he will have to spend more time with his back to goal, but he will also enjoy feasting on the chances laid on for him from everyone in the XI from Kevin De Bruyne right back to Ederson.
Julian Alvarez is also one to watch, an exciting South American talent signed from River Plate in January who has already convinced Guardiola he can play a part next season and will have big shoes to fill after some high-profile departures this summer.
Youngsters to watch: Cole Palmer has been around the first team for a few years but there is both hope and expectation that he can grow into Guardiola's side this season - especially after the departures in his position.
Palmer was nearly cut from the academy as a teenager but has turned himself into a perfect player for the manager's football and he impressed at every opportunity last season before niggling injuries sidelined him for the second half of the campaign. If he can return to the form he has shown to date, he will become more of a known quantity to everyone.
In terms of younger players, Norwegian winger Oscar Bobb was quietly excellent in the title-winning Under-23s last season while young striker Nico O'Reilly has also made significant strides in his youth career. As the summer transfer window has shown, there is no shortage of talent coming through the academy.
Hopes and dreams: As ever, City will be expected to go deep in every competition they play and a season without any silverware - which hasn't happened for five years - would be a disappointment.
The Premier League remains the bread and butter for a fanbase who are still not used to their team being the best in the country, but there is also a growing sense that they are getting closer and closer to Champions League glory.
The signings City have made make them favourites again for the Premier League and there is no reason they can't go all the way in Europe, but a lack of squad depth will mean any domestic cup success will come down to the luck of the draw.
MANCHESTER UNITED
Rich Fay - Manchester United writer, Manchester Evening News
Lessons learned from last season: There's got to be a need for patience. United thought they were further ahead in their rebuild than they actually were because of their second place finish last year, the caveat being that most of the campaign was played behind-closed-doors in a training ground environment.
A huge opening day win, coupled with three stellar signings in the transfer market, had supporters genuinely dreaming of a Premier League title parade by the end of the campaign, yet it quickly unravelled into one of the worst seasons for the club in modern times.
With so many changes on and off the pitch this summer, United can't anticipate immediate results under the new manager, and no matter how they start the season, they can't be too rash in their decisions.
A slow start does not mean they will struggle forever under Erik ten Hag, but neither would a blistering start prove they have really turned a corner.
Best bits of summer business: Tyrell Malacia and Christian Eriksen were the first two faces through the door, but it is hard to see either of them actually strengthening the starting line up next season.
Malacia, 22, is an exciting left-back whom Ten Hag has admired for a few years now, though he is set to start the season as back-up to Luke Shaw, with Alex Telles available for transfer.
Eriksen, 30, is a really interesting one. He remains one of the most productive playmakers in the Premier League from his brief Brentford spell, but he seems to be another squad player in the shape of Juan Mata.
The Dane's arrival should put pressure on Bruno Fernandes to improve his performances next season, with Eriksen now a worthy replacement who can ease their reliance on the Portuguese. He also brings vital experience to a side that lost so many veterans over the summer.
Lisandro Martinez has also arrived to strengthen a defence that often struggled last season.
Youngsters to watch: It has to be Alejandro Garnacho. This time last year he was somewhat of an unknown, but after a blistering start to the season at youth level, he quickly rose in both confidence and end product.
Eyebrows were raised when he earned a call-up to the senior Argentina side in March for their dead-rubber World Cup qualifiers, and before long, the 17-year-old was training with Lionel Messi.
His fine form continued with catalyst performances in the FA Youth Cup, scoring in all but one round as United won the famous youth trophy for the first time in 11 years. By the end of the season, he was a regular in first-team training, getting advice from Cristiano Ronaldo and had even made his senior debut for the club. He's set for a new long-term contract in the coming weeks and has an extremely bright future at the club.
Hopes and dreams: It's United, so the ambition always has to be to win the Premier League, but expectations have certainly taken a hit in recent years. Given the number of changes over the summer and the task in hand for Ten Hag, it would genuinely be a successful season if they managed to secure a return to the Champions League, before further expectation is placed upon him next year.
It's hard to see that happening, though. United might be able to scrape a fourth-place finish and go far in a domestic cup competition, but that's far easier said than done.
NEWCASTLE UNITED
Lee Ryder - Chief Newcastle United writer, Newcastle Evening Chronicle
Lessons learned from last season: Quite simply that Newcastle still aren't close to challenging the big boys from the top six.
For all the improvement against sides at the bottom end and those just above them, Newcastle spectacularly folded when they came up against Man City, losing 4-0 and 5-0 while they were twice swept aside by Liverpool home and away - all of those results came under Howe.
The room for improvement clearly lies to make these games a little bit closer and perhaps beat a Chelsea or a Tottenham Hotspur on home turf.
When the crowd is behind them, Newcastle are capable of churning out a big result against the big guns but it's something Howe and co will need to tweak for next season. A draw away to West Ham and a home victory over Leicester City showed they are starting to narrow the gap on the teams that are vying for Europa Conference League sides but there's still work to be done.
Best bits of summer business: Sven Botman comes in at Newcastle after two good years in France with Lille and is expected to take the centre-back position on the left-hand side of defence.
At £35million the man chased by AC Milan is probably the closest you will get to a marquee signing so far and the expectation will be that he settles down pretty quickly at St James' Park.
Newcastle have had varying experiences with Dutch players and signings from France's Ligue 1 so it will be interesting to see how quickly Botman adjusts.
If he does hit the ground running the defence will have changed dramatically in 2022 compared to 2021 with Kieran Trippier, Fabian Schar, Botman and Matt Targett making up what should be a competent back four.
Botman's mentality has already been praised by his former club Lille and they assure us he's a born winner. But the intense environment of St James' Park is usually a very different challenge to the more subdued atmospheres in Ligue 1.
Youngsters to watch: It's got to be Elliot Anderson with the skilful playmaker already setting League Two alight with some stunning displays at Bristol Rovers as he dragged the Pirates up automatically last season.
The 19-year-old from Whitley Bay already announced himself on the scene as a raw youth team kid when starring in the EFL Trophy, scoring a bullet header against Port Vale's first-team and he's barely looked back, even sparking a mini Battle of Britain for his services between England and Scotland no less.
Eddie Howe will have looked at him in pre-season and the challenge will be to prove he can genuinely take a place on the bench in the Premier League.
If he doesn't quite hit the heights in pre-season he will be heading out on loan, probably to the Championship but newly promoted Bristol Rovers have been banging on the door to sign him again too. We aren't quite in Gazza realms yet for the Toon youngster but he is definitely turning a few heads.
Hopes and dreams: Having already touched on the extended honeymoon period on the back of the takeover and the end of the Mike Ashley era, it's difficult to see any turmoil on the horizon this season.
A realistic prediction, therefore, is that Newcastle can take that top 10 place next season and end a run of five years fighting against relegation under both Steve Bruce and Rafa Benitez.
You never know in the domestic cups as it is all about the luck of the draw but if Newcastle can avoid the big guns in the early stages there should be no reason to enjoy a much needed run in either the FA Cup or EFL Cup.
If I was being really optimistic I'd say Newcastle could snatch a Europa Conference League place, but they will need to add to their squad in both windows to turn top 10 expectations into a Euro push.
NOTTINGHAM FOREST
Sarah Clapson - Nottingham Forest correspondent, Nottinghamshire Live
Lessons learned from last season: Forest are well aware that the Premier League is going to be a completely different beast. Whatever they learned on their way to promotion might not hold sway this time around.
Steve Cooper has been very clear, though, about maintaining the same approach regardless of opponents or competition. As soon as he came in, he wanted to establish an identity. When he felt his team veered away from that in a crucial defeat at Bournemouth, he pointed to that as being an important lesson learned.
He will no doubt take that into this season, too. Forest always go out to win; Cooper has constantly stressed the need to develop that mentality.
Last season will only have underlined the importance of getting the right characters - as much as players with the necessary quality - in the dressing room. Team spirit played a huge part in the Reds’ success. They know they need to have the right squad - with enough depth - in place.
Best bits of summer business: Forest have been pretty busy in the transfer market - they needed to be. And, on paper at least, they look to have done some good, sensible business.
There’s a lot of excitement among fans about the new arrivals. Neco Williams is one who has really captured the imagination.
Finding the right replacement for Djed Spence was always going to be key. Williams has the potential to be just as influential as the Middlesbrough loanee was last term.
The prospect of the former Liverpool man and Brennan Johnson linking up down the right flank has many supporters drooling. The pair already have a good relationship and understanding from representing Wales - indeed ‘agent Johnson’ may well have played a part in convincing his fellow countryman to make the move.
Williams could have competition for his place, however. Giulian Biancone caught the eye early on in pre-season, and although he can play in a few positions, he has been deployed in that right wing-back spot.
Youngsters to watch: The Nigel Doughty Academy has a long-established reputation for consistently producing talented players. There is plenty to be excited about with the latest crop.
It would be easy to pick out Johnson as an exciting prospect. Last season was his breakthrough campaign at Forest. But such was his impact, it already feels as though he is an established star - although, of course, he can still get even better. His potential is really high, if he continues on the upward curve he is already on.
There are plenty of names to keep an eye out for among those youngsters yet to make the step up, but Dale Taylor is one. He is yet to make his first-team debut for Forest, but the teenage forward has already represented Northern Ireland at senior level. He was also a key player in the Reds Under-18s’ run to the FA Youth Cup final and has recently penned a three-year deal.
Hopes and dreams: Forest’s priority is to ensure their return to the Premier League isn’t a fleeting one. Ultimately, staying up would be regarded by many as being a successful season.
However, all the talk from the club has been about establishing themselves at this level. They don’t just want to settle for survival - and Cooper certainly won’t set any kind of limit on what might be possible. That’s not his way.
It’s so difficult to predict how the season will go. It’s been 23 years since Forest were last at this level, after all, so nobody is under any illusion it’s going to be easy. But the club have done - what looks on paper, at least - some excellent transfer business, and in Cooper they have a fantastic manager. I really believe they can avoid dropping back into the Championship, and maybe even surprise a few people.
SOUTHAMPTON
Daniel Hargreaves
Lessons learned from last season: Southampton fans will be on their knees praying that this campaign finally sees their side put an end to repeatedly throwing points away from winning positions.
Granted, with numerous young players already coming through the door, mistakes will be made. However, the Saints have consistently been amongst the teams who throw away the most points from leads since Hasenhuttl took charge in December 2018.
Last season, the Saints dropped a whopping 29 points from winning positions, with defeats against Norwich City, Newcastle United and Crystal Palace amongst those where they lead in the game.
In-game management has to be improved otherwise the south coast outfit will once again hold themselves back from what could be achieved.
Best bits of summer business: It’s hard to pick one signing with five new players coming through the door at the time of writing but the addition of Joe Aribo from Rangers has seemed to bring the most excitement, closely followed by highly promising goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu from Manchester City.
With Aribo, the Saints finally have a versatile attacking midfielder who fits like a glove in Hasenhuttl’s preferred 4-2-2-2 set up.
At 25 there’s still plenty of room to improve whilst the Nigeria international has already shown the raw talent he carries in abundance whilst in Scotland. Moreover, at an initial fee of just £6m, this could be a serious bargain.
As for Bazunu, goalkeeper was a position that had to be addressed with Fraser Forster leaving for Tottenham and Alex McCarthy’s repeated unconvincing displays.
The 20-year-old is already a senior Ireland international and has received serious plaudits despite never playing senior football outside of League One.
It’s also quite amusing to Southampton fans that he was voted as Portsmouth’s Player of the Season whilst on loan along the south coast last term but still opted to join Saints.
Youngsters to watch: Of course, players could still be sent out on loan but Dom Ballard is certainly a name that is being mentioned frequently at the moment.
The 17-year-old signed his first professional deal with the club in April after enjoying a breakthrough season last term that saw him score 26 goals in 41 appearances for the B team and U18s.
However, the striker wasn’t included in the first-team squad for a training camp to Austria.
Dynel Simeu thrived on loan at League Two side Carlisle United and has returned to his parent club ahead of what could be a breakthrough season, while the highly-rated Thierry Small has joined Port Vale on loan.
Hopes and dreams: Realistically, the main priority will of course be avoiding relegation. So far, the Saints have had an impressive transfer window with their net spend approaching £50m before a single sale, such would’ve been only a fantasy under the Gao era.
If the club splashes out on a top striker (*cough* Armando Broja *cough*) and keep star man James Ward-Prowse, then a top half finish is certainly possible.
What will be fascinating is seeing how the fresh crop of youth adapt to the intensity of the Premier League.
TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR
Rob Guest - Tottenham Hotspur writer, football.london
Lessons learned from last season: That Spurs need to add depth to their squad and buy experienced players who are ready to play week in, week out in the Premier League.
Numerous times last season Antonio Conte turned towards his substitutes' bench and had very little options to choose from to help his team get over the line. Not helped by injury in the remaining months, the Lilywhites finished the final few matches with a number of academy players as substitutes.
Having to make do with limited players, as well as also making his feelings clear on their previous transfer strategy, Daniel Levy knew that he had to give Conte whatever he wanted this summer. Usually later movers in the transfer market, it has been a summer like no other with five new signings confirmed and Djed Spence set to be the sixth arrival. Spurs do seem to be learning from their past mistakes.
Best bits of summer business: Tottenham have followed in Man City and Liverpool's footsteps this summer by adding to a position of real strength. Boasting a fearsome front three in Dejan Kulusevski, Son Heung-min and Harry Kane, the Lilywhites shelled out big money to sign Richarlison from Everton.
A few eyebrows may have been raised by the addition given their current options up front but this is what the Premier League's best do to ensure they remain at the top and have the quality to compete in four competitions. Tottenham have made a real statement with the addition of Richarlison and the Brazilian could prove to be a very shrewd signing due to his versatility, as he can play on either flank and also through the middle if Harry Kane needs a rest.
The 25-year-old does appear to be a typical Conte player and the boss could help take him on to greater heights.
Youngsters to watch: Striker Dane Scarlett and midfielder Alfie Devine are the two players that immediately spring to mind, although Scarlett has now joined Portsmouth on loan.
Coming to the attention of many during the 2020/21 campaign during Jose Mourinho's tenure, Scarlett was on the bench 23 times in the league last season while Devine made the squad on a couple of occasions during the run-in. The duo then finished their season off in style as both played their part in helping England achieve European U19 Championship final success at the start of July.
Both look set to have very bright futures in the game for Tottenham, and Spurs fans will be keeping a close eye on them in 2022/23, with Devine also expected to seal a loan move.
Hopes and dreams: A trophy has to be a realistic ambition for Tottenham this season, especially with the players at Conte's disposal and his record in domestic cup competition in England.
In terms of the league, Tottenham have a really good squad but they still have plenty to do to reach the level of Man City and Liverpool. However, they do have the qualities to certainly cut the gap between themselves and the top two, as well as leapfrogging Chelsea in the process. A run to the latter stages of the Champions League should also be the target on their return to Europe's premier competition.
WEST HAM UNITED
Jonty Colman - West Ham United writer, football.london
Lessons learned from last season: While West Ham did do well to manage a season of 56 competitive matches across four different competitions, they still lacked squad depth at times and injuries did take their toll, particularly at the back.
If the Hammers are going to try and have a successful campaign in the Europa Conference League, they will need depth. They have so far made four signings, but more will be needed, especially if they reach the group stages of the Europa Conference League and beyond.
Best bits of summer business: Goalkeeper Alphonse Areola has joined the club permanently after spending last season on loan from Paris Saint-Germain, making 11 of his 18 appearances in the Europa League.
The Hammers have also signed Moroccan international centre-back Nayef Aguerd from Rennes, although he has sustained an injury in pre-season, and English midfielder Flynn Downes from Swansea City.
There is a real romanticism about the signing of Downes, who is a West Ham fan and was born in Brentwood, Essex, just eight miles away from the club’s Rush Green training ground. On his debut in a pre-season win over former side Ipswich Town, Hammers fans gave him the “Flynn Downes, he’s one of our own” treatment, so there is plenty of buzz around his arrival. I still think a new striker is required if they are going for another high Premier League finish and success in Europe once again.
The real head-turning signing has been the addition of forward Gianluca Scamacca, who can finally provide the competition and cover for Michail Antonio that has been so sorely needed.
Youngsters to watch: He’ll be known by many already, but Ben Johnson will hope to have another breakout year. The young full-back is an England Under-21s international who can play on both sides of defence, a massive boost for Moyes who will need all the depth and versatility going into what could be another 50+ match campaign.
Johnson made 34 appearances last term including 20 in the Premier League and eight more in Europe. Now with the number two shirt on his back, he could be set for a big season.
Hopes and dreams: I think what West Ham fans will be pleased about is not only daring to dream, but being able to back it up consistently, which has been the case for the last two seasons.
Should they get past their European qualifier in August, the Hammers would likely enter the Europa Conference League as one of the favourites to win the competition after their heroics in the Europa League last term.
Domestically, another top seven finish or something near that would be great, so that plus a good run in Europe would be a really good season. A run in either the Carabao Cup or FA Cup would also be excellent, but the Premier League and Europe should be the priority.
WOLVERHAMPTON WANDERERS
Alex Dicken - Senior Football Writer, Birmingham Live
Lessons learned from last season: That you cannot compete consistently with a small squad, strength-in-depth is required in all areas. A few injuries to key players left Wolves in the mire last season and while they battled through in January, they were found wanting at the end of the season.
Wolves have kept a small squad since winning promotion under Fosun in 2018, but Bruno Lage would ideally like two ‘top players’ for every position. There is some work to do in the transfer market for Wolves to give Lage that, but he is getting closer each year.
Best bits of summer business: Wolves have finally ended their search for a senior central defender, which has spanned four years. Ryan Bennett and Romain Saiss have filled in commendably during that time, but Wolves hope Nathan Collins can provide an extra bit of class and quality.
Collins, 21, has joined Wolves from Burnley for £20.5m to become the fourth most costly signing in the club’s history. Collins is also a rare foray into the world outside Jorge Mendes’ Gestifute agency for Wolves owners Fosun.
Wolves see potential in Collins, but they also see a player who can help Lage transition from a back three to a back four. Supporters’ eyes are already lighting up at the prospect of a Collins/Kilman central defensive pairing. Collins is equally comfortable on the right side of a back three, which will be music to captain Conor Coady’s ears.
All of the noise surrounding Collins is positive, and Wolves firmly believe they have signed a player that, within one or two years, will have at least doubled his transfer value.
Youngsters to watch: Wolves continue to provide a pathway to their youngsters with multiple homegrown players heavily involved in pre-season fixtures.
Lage has taken a particular shine to 19-year-old Hugo Bueno, who is set for more first team involvement in the coming weeks due to the club’s shortage at wing-back.
Jonny Castro Otto will start the season on the right side, with Rayan Ait-Nouri on the left, due to Nelson Semedo’s injury lay-off. Bueno - or 'Kinder' as his teammates call him - is expected to act as deputy to Ait-Nouri after shining for Wolves’ under-23s last season.
The rapid Spaniard scored four goals and got five assists in 16 Premier League Two matches from wing-back last season. To coin a phrase from Lage, Bueno fits Wolves’ system ‘like a glove’ and has slotted into first team training seamlessly.
The question is now whether Wolves can actually progress on the field, despite their obvious spending limitations and the improvement of teams which finished beneath them last season.
Hopes and dreams: Aston Villa and Leeds United, who finished 14th and 17th respectively last term, have splashed the cash and both have ambitions of a top half finish. Newcastle United only finished two points behind Wolves in the end - and they are expected to blitz up the table with the financial clout of Saudi Arabia behind them. Everton, under the leadership of ex-Wolves sporting director Kevin Thelwell and Frank Lampard, surely can’t be any worse than last season.
The Premier League will be more competitive than ever before. Survival isn’t the easiest task nowadays, so that has to be Wolves’ first aim. After that, who knows, maybe Wolves could ‘do something good’, as chairman Jeff Shi suggested towards the end of last season.
Most supporters would take a top 10 finish, but Lage and his players aren’t likely to accept that. The Wolves head coach is fiercely ambitious and wants to return to Europe, having tasted top level football at previous club Benfica.
More points would be an improvement on last season, but behind-closed-doors Lage will be drumming it into his players that Europe is achievable.
