The Ephemeric

Key Signing: Riccardo Calafiori
Key Man: Martin Odegaard
Verdict: Title contenders, but can they keep consistent when the pressure is on?


ASTON VILLA
Nickname: The Villans
Ground: Villa Park
Capacity: 42,095
Last season: 4th
Manager: Unai Emery

Last season's surprise top four finish will not be soon forgotten at Villa Park. Unai Emery has defied every expectation to bring the storied Birmingham club back to the upper echelons of English football. But while optimism is at an all time high, caution is warranted. 

A repeat of these successes is not guaranteed, particularly with the added demands of European football. But Villa have been busy this summer, building their squad out to withstand these expected rigors. No fewer than fifteen signings, not all of whom, in fairness, are expected to feature, have joined the club, including a big money move for Everton midfielder Amadou Onana. But it is the signing of Chelsea youngster, and last year's Champions League runner up, Ian Maatsen that promises the greatest reward. It's a shrewd signing that will bring some additional attacking flair.

The main man, of course, is Ollie Watkins. The 28 year old forward, scorer of some 27 goals for Villa last season, begins the season on the back of an impressive summer showing for England. He will be central to everything they do.

Key Signing: Ian Maatsen
Key Man: Ollie Watkins
Verdict: Sometimes you need to take a step backwards to move forward. A top 7 finish will be a good result.

BOURNEMOUTH
Nickname: The Cherries
Ground: Dean Court
Capacity: 11,364
Last season: 12th
Manager: Andoni Iraola

If we can say one thing, it's that Bournemouth have shown themselves to be no pushover at this level. The south coast club have consolidated their position in the top flight, and appear to be aiming for greater things. But just how much of that is achievable?

The appointment of hotly tipped manager Andoni Iraola has been hailed as something of a coup, and they have backed their man in the transfer market this summer, most notably with the £40million signing of Brazilian forward Evanilson. But at the same time, doubts persist over Iraola's long term position, while the club have been unable to retain a key player in last year's successes, Chelsea youth product Dominic Solanke.

The truth is, Bournemouth will do well to match last season's finish. Their rise in recent years has been impressive, but work is needed to maintain that level. The expectations among the Bournemouth faithful will likely be a realistic ambition for a mid-table finish, which would represent significant progress and stability for the club. The fans will be crucial in rallying behind the team during tough stretches of the season.

Key Signing: Evanilson
Key Man: Lewis Cook
Verdict: Not completely out of the relegation mix, but should survive.

BRENTFORD
Nickname: The Bees
Ground: Brentford Community Stadium
Capacity: 17,250
Last season: 16th
Manager: Thomas Frank

Has time run out on the great Brentford fairytale? It's been an impressive few seasons in the top flight for the Bees, one which has seen them take great strides off the pitch as well as on, establishing themselves as a football club of note, with a shiny new stadium, an impressive cast of talent, and some eye-catching football.

Last season was all too close, a 16th finish leaving the club only just clear of relegation. There's been a few good pieces of business this summer, most notably in the capture of Liverpool youngsters Sepp van den Berg and Fabio Carvalho. But the overwhelming view among the fans is that not enough has been done to patch up the flaws in last season's squad, and particularly with the ongoing doubts over one key player in particular.

A full season with Ivan Toney will help, if they can keep him (and deal a devastating blow if they can't), but this is a team that needs to be strengthening this squad right now, and instead there looms the threat that they could enter the season a weaker proposition, and a genuine relegation contender.

Key Signing: Fabio Carvalho
Key Man: Ivan Toney
Verdict: In the relegation mix, but with a good chance of survival.


BRIGHTON
Nickname: The Seagulls
Ground: Falmer Stadium
Capacity: 31,800
Last season: 11th
Manager: Fabian Hürzeler

Of all the clubs to rise into the Premier League in recent seasons, Brighton appear to stand out as the one which has achieved the most sustainable success. A very well-run outfit which has turned the coastal club into a recognisable brand and a marketable organisation. 

There is no shortage of ambition here, and Brighton have invested some £150million into the squad this summer. True to form, this has been focused on the kind of young, promising talent that has delivered such strong results in years gone by. They have done well by this strategy, both financially and in footballing terms, but at some point they are going to need more mature, developed players if they want to challenge for the next level. This requires either a change in strategy, or to retain their talented youngsters, something which has proved difficult.

At this point, Brighton have clearly established their top flight credentials and it is difficult to see them going back down in the near future. They have performed to a high quality and done so consistently. The trouble is that once you get to this level, the other teams around you are just that good that it makes further progress very difficult. 

CHELSEA
Nickname: Blues
Ground: Stamford Bridge
Capacity: 41,837
Last season: 6th 
Manager: Enzo Maresca

I could write an entire article about the issues at Chelsea. Suffice it to say, the Clearlake era has been nothing short of disastrous. Billions spent, three years into this project, and we still barely know what this project is supposed to be. To call it a mess is offensive to messes. And just when it was starting to look like progress was being made, Clearlake forces Pochettino out the door, and we start over from scratch once again.

Yet despite all that, there is potential in this team. Much has been written about the club's strategy of signing young, unpolished players, but there is no denying the talent on offer. People forget just how young the likes of Moises Caicedo and Nicolas Jackson still are, despite their prominence in the squad. Levi Colwill can make the odd error, sure, but at just 21 years of age he is still far ahead of most of generation. The club's unwillingness to sign a top level goalkeeper will cost the club points this season, no doubt, but in Filip Jorgensen, they have signed one of the top rated prospects in Europe. If he gets his shot ahead of Sanchez, he could well be a major coup for the club. 

Then there is Cole Palmer, the one undeniable success story of the Clearlake era. Palmer was unfancied upon his surprise transfer to Chelsea last summer, but he silenced the naysayers, notching up an astonishing 40 goals and assists in his debut season. Still just 22 years of age, Palmer increasingly looks to be the player around which this Chelsea team will be built, and on the basis of this summer's performances, that day may soon come for the national side as well. The club's scattershot approach to transfers has been messy, and resulted in many more misses than hits, but you only need a few hits like Palmer to craft a top side.

So what can Chelsea realistically achieve this season? Much will depend on how the new manager adapts to top flight football. It seems to be the "in" thing right now for clubs to take a chance on unproven, exciting managers. We will need to wait and see if it pays off here. 

Key Signing: Filip Jörgensen
Key Man: Cole Palmer

Verdict: Such has been the air of chaos and inconsistency at this club, I could reasonably believe a finish of anywhere from 4th to 14th. Median result? 7th.


CRYSTAL PALACE
Nickname: Eagles, Glaziers
Ground: Selhurst Park
Capacity: 25,486
Last season: 10th
Manager: Oliver Glasner
 

Oliver Glasner has made a strong start to his career at Selhurst Park, bringing style and some impressive victories to Crystal Palace, who ended last season on a fine run of form. It was enough for Glasner to be linked with the vacant Bayern position over the summer. The Eagles managed to keep him, but now the question is whether they can do the same for their playing staff.

Palace have already lost key player Michael Olise (to Bayern, as it happens), and rumours abound relating to Eberechi Eze and Marc Guehi as we enter the final days of the transfer window. The expectation among Palace fans is for the club to build on its position and make a push up into the top half of the table, but much will depend on keeping these top talents at the club.

On the transfer front, the club will be hoping that new arrivals Daichi Kamada (who worked under Glasner at Frankfurt) and Ismaila Sarr can make up for the departure of Olise. I think Palace fans will need to temper their expectations this season.

Key Signing: Daichi Kamada
Key Man: Eberechi Eze
Verdict: Palace could be a relegation risk, this is very much a transition year and expectations should be set accordingly.


EVERTON
Nickname: Toffees
Ground: Goodison Park
Capacity: 40,170
Last season: 15th
Manager: Sean Dyche

In the annals of underperforming Premier League teams, few earn their place more than Everton. Last season looked particularly bleak for the Toffees. A perennially struggling side that couldn't seem to find a consistent plan or manager, and a points deduction on top of that. But Sean Dyche deserves some credit for the work he has done, doing what he has so often done elsewhere in bringing the best out of a rough situation. 

Everton ultimately secured safety with just three matches to spare, but the points deduction leaves a somewhat misleading picture. Indeed, without that handicap, Everton would have finished a respectable 12th, considerably above pre-season expectations. 

There is every hope, then, that the club may have turned a page and be on the right path forward at last. But as we have seen so many times before, Dyche is more of a bandaid than a rehabilitation programme. He'll keep you out of relegation, but building on that towards something is another matter. Add to that some meagre transfer activity, combined with the loss of key man Amadou Onana, and it is clear that some risk still remains.

Key Signing: Iliman Ndiaye
Key Man: Jordan Pickford
Verdict: Not a relegation favourite, but under greater risk than they would like to believe.

Nickname: Reds
Ground: Anfield
Capacity: 54,074
Last season: 3rd
Manager: Arne Slot
 

The end of an era. Jurgen Klopp will be revered on Merseyside as the man who brought the Premier League title back to Anfield. His has been a singularly successful period of stewardship, and he leaves an unenviable absence in his wake. The man tasked with taking over is Arne Slot, an Eredivisie champion at Feyenoord.

While Arne will be looking to make his mark on Liverpool, activity over the summer has been relatively minimal. Only two signings at the time of writing: Italian hotshot Federico Chiesa, formerly of Juventus and son of the famed Enrico Chiesa, and Giorgi Mamardashvili, a very hotly tipped young goalkeeper who recently impressed at the Euros. Alisson is still the man in goal, but the signing of Mamardashvili suggests they are starting to consider the future.

Otherwise, this is much the same Liverpool side you know and love. They will compete once again, but a title challenge amid an already difficult transition period may be too much to expect.

Key Signing: Federico Chiesa
Key Man: Mo Salah
Verdict: Will expect a top four finish.

MANCHESTER CITY
Nickname: Blues
Ground: Etihad Stadium
Capacity: 55,017
Last season: Champions
Manager: Pep Guardiola

Champions and, arguably, favourites to win it again. Manchester City's squad is one of the world's strongest, has depth for miles, and probably the single best footballer on the planet in Erling Haaland.

Relatively minimal transfer activity this summer. İlkay Gündoğan has re-joined from Barcelona, presumably for depth, while exciting Brazilian youngster Savinho joins from Troyes. Not much has changed, and frankly not much needed to. 

This is an excellent team, but at some point surely their winning streak has to come to an end? The core off Pep's squad is, after all, ageing, and one has to wonder if the hunger for victory remains for a side that has already won it all. They sit, surrounded by rivals desperate to claim that title. Will their quality shine through once again?

Key Signing: Savinho
Key Man: Erling Haaland
Verdict: A major title favourite.


MANCHESTER UNITED
Nickname: Red Devils
Ground: Old Trafford
Capacity: 74,879
Last season: 8th
Manager: Erik ten Hag
 

How quickly things can change. A few months ago, Erik ten Hag's job hung in the balance, with many expecting him to leave at the end of last season. But new owner Jim Ratcliffe is clearly a man with patience, and saw fit to offer a reprieve. A new wave of optimism now seems to be overtaking the club, but is this really the start of a new era, or just another false dawn?

I said last season that United needed to target a top four finish, and a minimum. Suffice it to say, an 8th place finish fell far short of expectations. I still contend that, on paper, this is a good side that should be at least challenging for European contention. 

Reinforcements have arrived, most notably in the defence with the signings of Leny Yoro and Matthijs de Ligt, a former Erik ten Hag scion previously considered one of the hottest talents in world football. Manuel Ugarte also joins from PSG as a player with some hype about him. The success of the season may hinge on the performances of both established stars and new signings. Rashford's continued form in attack, combined with the leadership of Fernandes.

Key Signing: Matthijs de Ligt
Key Man: Bruno Fernandes
Verdict: Will be hoping to improve upon last season's finish and mount a real campaign for top four.

NOTTINGHAM FOREST
Nickname: The Reds
Ground: City Ground
Capacity: 30,445
Last season: 17th
Manager: Nuno Espírito Santo
 

If last season's near miss was a warning, it's been heeded by The Reds' owners, with no fewer than 9 players signed this summer, and two more in on loan. But despite the close call, there's a lot to like about this Forest side.

Morgan Gibbs-White has been retained, an energetic and intelligent midfielder, while there are hints that former Chelsea academy golden boy Callum Hudson-Odoi may be starting to hit his potential. Jota Silva is a promising signing, his skills and energy often drawing comparisons with Jack Grealish, while the experience and set pieces of loan signing James Ward-Prowse will pay dividends.

With Nuno Espirito Santo at the helm, Nottingham Forest's 2024/25 season is about building stability and showing marked improvement from the nail-biting finish of the last campaign. If the new signings gel quickly and the squad adapts to Santo’s tactical plans, Forest could well achieve survival, but they face a difficult challenge.

Key Signing: Jota Silva
Key Man: Morgan Gibbs-White
Verdict: At risk for relegation.

Nickname: Spurs
Ground: Tottenham Hotspur Stadium
Capacity: 62,850
Last season: 5th
Manager: Ange Postecoglou
 

Is this the year Tottenham come good? It's almost a meme at this point, but after coming so close to a top four finish last season, and with the good vibes still following Ange Postecoglou and his men, the Spurs faithful have to feel that they have as good a chance as anyone.

Postecoglou's approach is characterized by intense, high-stakes football—a style that initially proved highly effective but seemed to tax the squad as the season progressed. This season, the focus will be on achieving a better balance that maintains their aggressive play while managing player stamina and performance over the long haul.

Son is absolutely still the key man in this post Harry Kane era, but there are some uncharacteristically exciting new signings to help bolster that front line. Former Chelsea academy starlet Dominic Solanke signs on the back of a stellar season with Bournemouth, hoping that this could finally be his moment to hit the heights so often hinted at. He arrives alongside the talented youngsters Archie Gray and Lucas Bergvall. It's a promising time for Tottenham, but one still feels like more is required if they are ever going to challenge the big dogs in this league. 

Key Signing: Dominic Solanke
Key Man: Son Heung-Min
Verdict: A top four contender.

WEST HAM UNITED
Nickname: The Hammers
Ground: London Stadium
Capacity: 62,500
Last season: 9th
Manager: Julen Lopetegui

Deciding to move on from David Moyes can't have been easy for the Hammers. After all, Moyes has turned the fortunes of this club around in recent years, re-establishing them as a top flight side of merit. Under Lopetegui, West Ham is expected to continue refining a style that balances solid defensive organization with creative attacking play. The manager’s tactical proficiency will be crucial as the team looks to improve on their previous mid-table finish and push for European qualification spots.

The key to this side is in the midfield. Mohammed Kudus, Lucas Paquetá and Tomáš Souček make for a very formidable lineup, while up front Jarrod Bowen has firmly established himself as a top talent and one of the key players to keep an eye on this season. While they've spent big money on the likes of Luis Guilherme and Max Kilman, it's the signing of Aaron Wan-Bissaka that could prove the most adroit, adding experience and quality to that right flank.

A primary challenge for West Ham will be consistency. The team has shown potential in flashes but will need to perform more consistently against both top-tier and similarly ranked teams. However, the refreshed squad provides an opportunity to reset expectations and aim higher, with a particular focus on securing more wins at home at the London Stadium, which could prove pivotal in climbing the table.

Key Signing: Aaron Wan-Bissaka
Key Man: Jarrod Bowen
Verdict: Top half finish, but not threatening the clubs further up the table.


WOLVERHAMPTON WANDERERS
Nickname: Wolves
Ground: Molineux Stadium
Capacity: 32,050
Last season: 14th
Manager: Gary O'Neil

Last, but not least, Wolves. For a number of years, Wolves were seen as one of the next big things in English football. With deep pockets, some shrewd business, and hugely ambitious owners, Wolves were shaping up to be a very fine squad with the potential of pushing on into Europe. That era seems to have passed now, with the club slumping in the last few seasons to lower mid table. 

I think this club has established itself enough that people are largely overlooking the potential difficulties they face this season. This summer has seen both the captain and the best player leave the squad, and a chaotic, unfocused transfer window offers little to suggest that they will be adequately replaced.

The initial weeks are anticipated to be crucial for Wolverhampton Wanderers. They face a challenging opener at Arsenal this Saturday, followed by matches against Chelsea, Newcastle, Aston Villa, Liverpool, and Manchester City in five of their next seven games. By November, the question remains: will they be well-tempered by their challenges, or overwhelmed?

Key Signing: Rodrigo Gomes
Key Man: Hwang Hee-chan
Verdict: Without quality reinforcements will struggle, and perhaps risk relegation.


Predicted table:
1. Arsenal
2. Manchester City

3. Liverpool

4. Manchester United
5. Tottenham Hotspur
6. Aston Villa
7. Chelsea
8. Newcastle United
9. West Ham United
10. Brighton
11. Fulham
12. Everton
13. Bournemouth
14. Brentford

15. Nottingham Forest
16. Wolverhampton Wanderers

17. Ipswich
18. Leicester City
19. Crystal Palace
20. Southampton