Chronicle Editor
Euro 2024 is over and the Premier League is coming.
Get up to speed with how each side is shaping up ahead of the new season. This is your lowdown on new managers, new signings, transfer business still to be done and how each team is warming up for the new campaign…
Arsenal
What’s the story?
Arsenal raised the bar last season and came even closer to toppling the mighty Man City but now the challenge is to go again. They had the third-youngest team in the Premier League last season, so, in theory, the upward curve should continue. Talent, experience, togetherness. They have it all — but will Mikel Arteta eke just a couple of percent more out of these players to get over the line?
Who are they trying to sign?
Left-back is an area to address, with Oleksandr Zinchenko not having the same impact last term and Italy and Bologna defender Riccardo Calafiori would be an intriguing addition — to go along with the return to fitness of Jurrien Timber who missed the majority of last season after signing in summer 2023. David Raya has completed a permanent move but attacking additions cannot be ruled out if Eddie Nketiah and Emile Smith Rowe move on as expected.
ASTON VILLA
What’s the story?
Aston Villa are a Champions League team. Unai Emery’s brilliant transformation of Villa has taken them from fearing relegation to dreaming of away days against Europe’s elite.
Newcastle may be a warning of how difficult it can be to juggle those show-piece Champions League nights with building on Premier League progress, but in Emery,Villa have an experienced, inspirational and detail-focused leader committed to continuing their rise.
Villa have already been busy, doing deals before the PSR deadline on June 30, including the headline exit of midfield regular Douglas Luiz and the eye-catching signings of Ross Barkley, Ian Maatsen and talented England youth international, Samuel Iling-Junior from Juventus. Everton’s Amadou Onana could be a big-money acquisition to come.
BRIGHTON
What’s the story?
Life after Roberto De Zerbi begins for Brighton, with 31-year-old German Fabian Hurzeler taking the reins after impressing at St Pauli. With European football on their plate – and plenty of injuries disrupting their team selections – Brighton struggled to match their 2022/23 Premier League form last term. Will modern, bold Hurzeler reignite the south coast spark?
Fabian Hurzeler is the new Brighton boss — after the 31-year-old guided St Pauli to the Bundesliga to become the youngest coach in any of Europe’s top five leagues
Who are they trying to sign?
There has been plenty of trading already done, with Yankuba Minteh, Mats Wieffer and youngsters Malick Yalcouye and Amario Cozier-Duberry coming in, but Brighton – with their data-led approach – are also targeting a right-back, such as Kyle Walker-Peters, a central midfielder, where Diego Gomez could be an option and a winger such as Leeds’ Crysencio Summerville. They will be fending off offers from Borussia Dortmund for Pascal Gross too.
CHELSEA
What’s the story?
A Carabao Cup final and victory in the final five games of the season was not enough to convince the Chelsea board Mauricio Pochettino would return success to Stamford Bridge. So, in comes former Pep Guardiola assistant Enzo Maresca, fresh from winning the Championship with Leicester. More disruption or the shake-up this team needs to realise the potential of the many, many young players recruited during the Todd Boehly era? A top-four finish feels like a bare minimum, while there will be pressure to perform in the Club World Cup in Boehly’s USA.
Enzo Maresca is very excited to be the new Chelsea manager but feels everyone at the club needs to help create the right culture so that they can be successful
Who are they trying to sign?
Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall has already followed Maresca from Leicester to Chelsea, while Tosin replaces the outgoing Thiago Silva and more young guns have arrived in the shape of Omari Kellyman, Estevao Willian and Marc Guiu. Renato Veiga has come from Juventus to add to the defence, while Aaron Anselmino arrives from Boca Juniors in December.
They ain’t done yet, though, with Max Beier and Jhon Duran targets. Conor Gallagher’s future is again in focus, while Trevoh Chalobah and Armando Broja are likely to leave.
CRYSTAL PALACE
What’s the story?
Crystal Palace supporters did not want last season to end with new boss Oliver Glasner overseeing some of the most exciting football in the Premier League. But Michael Olise is gone and recapturing that momentum suddenly does not seem so straightforward. But if Palace can keep hold of their other attacking gems and capitalise on some serious training-ground time with Glasner this summer, an entertaining campaign could well be on the cards.
What they say
Centre-backs are in demand with a back three the now favoured formation, with Daichi Kamada already recruited. Could former Spurs youngster Marcus Edwards be the Olise replacement?
EVERTON
What’s the story?
Everton supporters will be hoping for a special final season at Goodison Park and after surviving the points deductions of last season and showing improvement in their overall play under Sean Dyche. The big question mark surrounds the club’s future, with the Friedkin Group pulling out of takeover talks.
Who are they trying to sign?
Tim Iroegbunam and Iliman Ndiaye have already come in but it is the outgoings that will be the focus for Everton fans, with Man Utd bids for Jarrad Branthwaite rejected. A potential sale of Amadou Onana to Aston Villa could mean the Toffees can keep hold of their young defender a little longer but Dominic Calvert-Lewin may be on the move. Dele continues to train with the club.
Fulham
What’s the story?
Fulham had a mixed season last time around but Marco Silva ultimately guided his team to a reasonably solid 13th-place finish. It marked a minor slip from their 2022/23 finish of 10th place and significant investment will be needed if they are to recover this ground — given the departures of key duo, Tosin and Joao Palhinha and with Willian out of contract.
Who are they trying to sign?
Links to Arsenal playmaker Emile Smith Rowe demonstrate the ambition the fanbase will be eager to see, although Mikel Arteta’s side appear adamant their homegrown star will not be leaving unless the deal suits all parties involved.
Last summer, Fulham wanted Scott McTominay or Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg as a potential Palhinha replacement. They also retain an interest in Fluminense’s Andre. A new left-back and a right winger are also on the list.
Ipswich
What’s the story?
Kieran McKenna led Ipswich to back-to-back promotions to reach the Premier League – and then crucially committed his future to the club. The 38-year-old was linked with Manchester United, Brighton and Chelsea after delivering a first top-flight campaign at Portman Road for 22 years before signing a new four-year deal.
McKenna’s full-throttle football clicked in the second half of their automatic promotion from League One, winning 13 of their 15 remaining games to amass 98 points and return to the Championship after a four-year absence. A second promotion was most unexpected. McKenna’s side went goal crazy, netting 92 – the most in the division – on their way to finishing second with 96 points. Now, their biggest challenge awaits.
After signing a new four-year contract, Kieran McKenna says it is fantastic to stay at Ipswich and admits signing a new deal ahead of a Premier League campaign was just the next step of the journey
Who are they trying to sign?
Ipswich have been busy strengthening their squad to compete in the Premier League, entering the market for a new goalkeeper, new centre-backs, a right-back, central midfielder, wingers and a new striker.
Bringing back wide man, Omari Hutchinson, for £18m following his blistering loan from Chelsea last season is a huge boost, but they missed out on winger Jaden Philogene, who is set to re-sign for former club Aston Villa instead.
Right-back has been sorted with the signing of Ben Johnson from West Ham, while a left-footed centre-back in Jacob Greaves has arrived from Hull City and striker Liam Delap cost £20m from Manchester City. With goalkeeper Vaclav Hladky seemingly not signing a new contract and Christian Walton into his final option year, Arijanet Muric has been bought from Burnley.
Liverpool
What’s the story?
Arne Slot has the unenviable task of replacing Jurgen Klopp at Anfield, although the new Liverpool head coach has a talented squad full of exciting youngsters and experienced stars with which to make his mark and build on the German’s impressive legacy at the club – with Champions League qualification the main aim for the former Feyenoord boss in his debut season in charge of the Reds.
Who are they trying to sign?
Slot, along with Michael Edwards — in charge at ownership group FSG — and new Liverpool sporting director Richard Hughes, want to strengthen, particularly in central midfield following the departure of Thiago Alcantara, with another holding player in there. Centre-back is less of a priority, even though Joel Matip has also gone this summer, although if an outlier came into view they would seriously look at it.
The same could be said in the forward positions too. They had a go at getting Anthony Gordon while Newcastle were in need of a sale to stay in line with PSR before June 30, but the Magpies wanted Jarell Quansah in return, so it did not progress.
Liverpool still need to tie down the long-term futures of prominent players during the Klopp era; namely Mo Salah, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Virgil van Dijk.
MAN CITY
What’s the story?
Champions again. Pep Guardiola’s side became the first Premier League side to win four consecutive titles – they are looking to make it five. But Guardiola’s contract is due to expire at the end of this season, is this potentially the City manager’s final bow at the Etihad Stadium?
Who are they trying to sign?
Given the significant strength of their squad and continued success, Manchester City are not expected to be busy this summer. It is more likely to be a case of whether players want to move on and they need to be replaced, although they have signed Savio from sister club Troyes, following his successful loan at Girona last season.
Sky Sports News has already reported about interest in Julian Alvarez and goalkeeper Ederson from other clubs, but neither of these players have asked to leave and there have been no bids to this point. City may look at the left-back position again anyway for another option, but it is not a priority and perhaps strengthen in central midfield given Kalvin Phillips looks set for a permanent move away from the club.
MAN UTD
What’s the story?
The Erik ten Hag era lives on — for now. By winning the FA Cup, the Manchester United manager did enough to stay on and get a new two-year contract — so will the Dutchman take what looks like a second chance at Old Trafford?
Under the new INEOS ownership and Sir Jim Ratcliffe overlooking the club’s football operations, the pressure is on Ten Hag. So, will we see an improvement in the team who stumbled to eighth in the table and with relegation standards of defending?
Manchester United boss, Erik ten Hag discusses his future with the club and what he expects of the new ownership ahead of their Premier League pre-season campaign
Who are they trying to sign?
The first signing of the new era — striker Joshua Zirkzee from Bologna — is a massive boost and United will now to look to follow up by strengthening in other areas of the team. It is understood that they wanted to sign at least one new centre-back, with Lenny Yoro now signed from Lille in a deal that could be worth almost £59m. Jonny Evans has signed a new one-year deal and they have also held talks for Jarrad Branthwaite at Everton and Matthijs de Ligt at Bayern Munich.
There is also interest in Crystal Palace and England star Marc Guehi and Nice’s Jean-Clair Todibo, although the latter, who is also a target for West Ham, is not a possible deal this summer after the two clubs agreed not to transfer players between each other to ensure they can both play in the same Uefa competition. There has been some checking, too, on Jonathan Tah amid his talks with Bayern Munich.
A new defensive midfielder and central midfielder are also on the agenda and PSG’s Manuel Ugarte is a target, with an initial approach having been made. Jadon Sancho is back in the fold but a new winger may still be a possibility. Victor Lindelof is a target for Fenerbahce, now managed by Jose Mourinho, while there is interest from West Ham and others in Aaron Wan-Bissaka and from Saudi Arabia in Casemiro.
SOUTHAMPTON
What’s the story?
Southampton finished as the Championship’s fourth-placed side last season, three points behind Leeds, but made a triumphant return to the Premier League via the play-offs.
The reset button was pressed when dropping down a tier in 2023 and a mass clear-out followed.
Top players left, before a new-look management team and support-staff structure was put in place. Those in board positions running the club are unrecognisable from the last time Saints were in the top flight. Lots of change, now comes the hardest part – finding some continuity and stability.
Tottenham
What’s the story?
Ange Postecoglou may have played down the importance of finishing in the top four last season but a return to the Champions League and hard evidence of that all-round progress he is targeting feel like essential returns from the coming campaign. A long-awaited trophy would go down well too!
But after making hay in his honeymoon period there is no doubt the second half of the season proved much tougher for Postecoglou and —with Paul Merson warning the fans will now expect an improved, more consistent campaign — there will be greater expectation on the Australian and his young squad this time around.
A look at our pick of the key moments in Ange Postecoglou’s first season in charge of Tottenham
Who are they trying to sign?
Tottenham have had two positional priorities — a central midfielder of the Conor Gallagher mould — and another winger-forward, following the release of several players.
Timo Werner has joined on another loan, while the opportunity to sign such a promising young talent as 18-year-old Leeds midfielder Archie Gray was too good to pass up, but they do remain interested in Gallagher and Villa’s Jacob Ramsey ahead of some proposed changes in midfield.
Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg is likely to go if they can get a club the player likes and a bid the club likes, while Oliver Skipp is also thought to want more game-time and Giovani Lo Celso’s future is on the agenda again.
Any further business in other positions will depend on outgoings, with decisions still to be made and a number of players keen for clarity over their futures at the club including Emerson Royal, Bryan Gil, Sergio Reguilon, Djed Spence and Richarlison.
Movement here may see a young back-up striker (Jonathan David and Lois Openda are two they like), right-back (Kyle Walker-Peters is on the list), and/or a versatile left-sided defender (someone who can play left centre-back and left-back) come in before the end of the window. — Skysports
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