Premier League: Club-by-club guide, featuring key signings ahead of this weekend’s kick off
It’s back! After a three-month hiatus, the Premier League makes a welcome return this weekend. Can anyone knock Manchester City off their perch? Here’s our guide to the season ahead.
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- Fallen giants start long climb back to top
- Socceroos stars land in new digs on deadline day
- Spurs, Gunners splash cash on EPL deadline day
The 2017 off-season transfer window spending record was almost matched as Premier League clubs binged $2.5 billion on new signings.
Five of the top six spent big, including Tottenham, Arsenal and Manchester United as they try and haul down Manchester City, although Liverpool bucked the trend.
David Davutovic analyses each club ahead of the opening round of the Premier League season.
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ARSENAL
2018-19: 5th
Main Ins
Nicolas Pepe — Lille, £72m
Kieran Tierney – Celtic, £25m
David Luiz – Arsenal, £8m
Dani Ceballos — Real Madrid, Loan
Gabriel Martinelli — Itano Futebol Clube, £6m
Main Outs
Alex Iwobi – Everton £34m
Aaron Ramsey — Juventus, Free
Petr Cech — Retired
Stephan Lichtsteiner — Released
David Ospina — Napoli
Krystian Bielik — Derby, £10m
Laurent Koscielny — Bordeaux, £4.6m
Danny Welbeck — Watford, Free
DAVUTOVIC SAYS:
David Luiz and Nicolas Pepe must fire if the Gunners are to return to the top four, with fans still frustrated by the relative inactivity. Winger Pepe scored 35 goals in 74 French top flight games for Lille and should star, while Luiz adds much needed quality to Unai Emery’s thin defence.
TIP: 6th
ASTON VILLA
2018-19: 5th in Championship, promoted via playoffs
In
Tom Heaton — Burnley, £8m
Marvelous Nakamba — Club Brugge, £11m
Douglas Luiz — Man City, £15m
Trezeguet — Kasimpasa, £8.5m
Matt Targett — Southampton, £11m
Jota — Birmingham City, £4m
Anwar El Ghazi — Lille, £8m
Wesley Moraes — Club Brugge, £22m
Ezri Konsa — Brentford, £12m
Kortney Hause — Wolves, Undisclosed
Tyrone Mings — Bournemouth, £20m
Bjorn Engels — Stade Reims, Undisclosed
Scott Hogan — Stoke, Loan
Out
Mile Jedinak — Released
Alan Hutton — Released
Ross McCormack — Released
Tommy Elphick — Released
Albert Adomah — Released
Glenn Whelan — Released
Ritchie De Laet — Released
Mark Bunn — Released
Micah Richards — Released
Harry Mckirdy — Carlisle, Free
Corey Blackett-Taylor — Tranmere, Free
DAVUTOVIC SAYS:
While needing to come via the playoffs, Villa’s return was years in the making and they’re as well prepared as any promoted team in recent years. Among the top spenders and shrewd off-season recruiting compliments a team that includes quality and youth. Keeping Jack Grealish was a statement.
TIP: 9th
BOURNEMOUTH
2018-19: 14th
In
Lloyd Kelly — Bristol City, £13m
Jack Stacey — Luton Town, £4m
Philip Billing — Huddersfield, £15m
Arnaut Danjuma — Bournemouth, £13.7m
Harry Wilson — Liverpool, Loan
Out
Marc Pugh — QPR, Free
Tyrone Mings — Aston Villa, £20m
Emerson Hyndman — Atlanta United, Loan
Connor Mahoney — Millwall, Undisclosed
Mikael Ndjoli — Gillingham, Loan
Lys Mousset — Sheffield United, £10m
Harry Arter — Fulham, Loan
Sam Surridge — Swansea, Loan
DAVUTOVIC SAYS:
Bournemouth has punched above its weight for four years now in the top flight, headlined by a ninth-place finish in 2016-17. Struggling from January onwards, manager Eddie Howe is desperate for a strong start, and their big question mark remains in defence.
TIP: 18th
BRIGHTON
2018-19: 17th
In
Aaron Mooy – Huddersfield Town, Loan
Adam Webster — Bristol City, £20m
Neal Maupay — Brentford, £20m
Matt Clarke — Portsmouth, Undisclosed
Leandro Trossard — Genk, £15m
Taylor Richards — Man City, Undisclosed
Lewis Freestone, Free
Out
Anthony Knockaert — Fulham, Loan
Christian Walton — Blackburn, Loan
David Ajiboye — Released
Bruno — Retired
Jonah Ayunga — Released
Tyler Forbes — Released
Jayson Molumby – Millwall, Loan
Jan Mlakar — QPR, Loan
Alexis MacAllister — Boca Juniors, Loan
Ben White — Leeds United, Loan
Percy Tau — Club Brugge, Loan
Matt Clarke — Fulham, Loan
DAVUTOVIC SAYS:
Socceroo Mat Ryan helped Brighton narrowly escape relegation last season, and with the deadline day addition of fellow Aussie Aaron Mooy and several more quality signings, they are again a strong chance to stay up.
TIP: 17th
BURNLEY
2018-19: 15th
In
Danny Drinkwater – Chelsea, Loan
Jay Rodriguez — West Brom, £10m
Joel Senior — Curzon Ashton, Undisclosed
Erik Pieters — Stoke, Undisclosed
Ryan Cooney — Bury, Undisclosed
Bailey Peacock-Farrell — Burnley, £2.5m
Out
Tom Heaton — Aston Villa, £8m
Stephen Ward — Released, signed for Stoke
Anders Lindegaard — Released
Jon Walters — Retired
Peter Crouch – Retired
DAVUTOVIC SAYS:
Struggled to juggle the Europa League last season and focusing on the league should help, so, too, the signing of Jay Rodriguez. But the opposition continues to improve and they must be careful not to drop back to the pack in what looms as the most competitive season yet.
TIP: 19th
CHELSEA
2018-19: 3rd
In
Mateo Kovacic — Real Madrid, £40m
Out
Ethan Ampadu — RB Leipzig, Loan
Eden Hazard — Real Madrid, Undisclosed
Nathan Baxter — Ross County, Loan
Richard Nartey — Burton, Loan
Jay Dasilva — Bristol City, Undisclosed
Fankaty Dabo — Coventry, Free
Ola Aina — Torino, £8.9m
Tomas Kalas — Bristol City, £8m
Charly Musonda — Vitesse, Loan
Luke McCormick — Shrewsbury, Loan
Mario Pasalic — Atalanta, Loan
Lewis Baker — Fortuna Dusseldorf, Loan
Matt Miazga — Reading, Loan
Jake Clarke-Salter — Birmingham, Loan
Todd Kane — QPR, Free
Alvaro Morata — Atletico Madrid, £58.3m
Dujon Sterling — Wigan, Loan
Kasey Palmer — Bristol City, Undisclosed
Conor Gallagher — Charlton, Loan
DAVUTOVIC SAYS:
Club great Frank Lampard has a huge task in just his second season as manager and first in the Premier League. Having lost star attacker Eden Hazard and serving a transfer ban, there will be a huge reliance on Chelsea’s young products.
TIP: 5th
CRYSTAL PALACE
2018-19: 12th
In
James McCarthy — Everton, £3m
Jordan Ayew — Swansea, £3m
Stephen Henderson — Free
Gary Cahill — Free
Victor Camarasa — Real Betis, Loan
Out
Aaron Wan-Bissaka — Man Utd, £45m
Julian Speroni — Released
Jason Puncheon — Released
Bakary Sako — Denizlispor, Free
Alexander Sorloth — Trabzonspor, Loan
Pape Souare — Troyes, Free
DAVUTOVIC SAYS:
Aaron Win-Bissaka is a loss but they’ve been compensated and it will give their impressive academy a shot in the arm while Gary Cahill’s arrival is a smart piece of business.
TIP: 13th
EVERTON
2018-19: 8th
In
Alex Iwobi – Arsenal, £34m
Moise Kean — Juventus, £25.1m
Andre Gomes — Barcelona, £22m
Jonas Lossl — Huddersfield, Free
Fabian Delph — Manchester City, 8.5m
Jean-Philippe Gbamin — Mainz, Undisclosed
Djibril Sidibe — Monaco, Loan
Out
James McCarthy — Crystal Palace, Undisclosed
Idrissa Gueye — PSG, £29m
Nikola Vlasic — CSKA Moscow, Undisclosed
Ademola Lookman — RB Leipzig, £22.5m
Ashley Williams — Released
Brendan Galloway — Luton, Free
Jonjoe Kenny — Schalke, Loan
Kieran Dowell — Derby, Loan
Joao Virginia — Reading, Loan
Korede Adedoyin — Hamilton, Loan
Luke Garbutt — Ipswich, Loan
Antonee Robinson — Wigan, Undisclosed
Phil Jagielka — Sheffield United, Free
DAVUTOVIC SAYS:
An off-season of positivity for Everton, with plans for a new stadium and some exciting signings coming in., headlined by Man City midfielder Fabian Delph and Juventus starlet, striker Moise Kean, while Barcelona midfielder Andre Gomes’ deal was made permanent.
TIP: 7th
LEICESTER CITY
2018-19: 9th
In
Youri Tielemans — Monaco, £35m
Ayoze Perez — Newcastle, £30m
Dennis Praet – Sampdoria, £18m
James Justin — Luton Town, £8m
Mitchell Clark — Free
Out
Danny Simpson — Released
Shinji Okazaki — Released
Daniel Iversen — Rotherham, Loan
Elliott Moore — Oxford United, Undisclosed
Josh Knight — Peterborough, Loan
Layton Ndukwu — Southend, Loan
DAVUTOVIC SAYS:
Harry Maguire’s loss is massive, although the world record fee received for a defender will solidify Leicester City’s long-term future. Ayoze Perez and Youri Tielemans are quality, while Jamie Vardy guarantees goals and headaches for opposing defenders.
TIP: 10th
LIVERPOOL
2018-19: 2nd
In
Sepp van den Berg — PEC Zwolle, £1.3m
Harvey Elliott – Fulham, Undisclosed
Adrian — West Ham, Free
Out
Rafael Camacho — Sporting Lisbon, £5m
Marko Grujic — Hertha Berlin, season-long Loan
Alberto Moreno — Released
Daniel Sturridge — Released
Adam Bogdan — Released
Connor Randall — Released
Sheyi Ojo — Rangers, Loan
Kamil Grabara — Huddersfield, Loan
Harry Wilson — Bournemouth, Loan
George Johnston — Feyenoord, Undisclosed
Nathaniel Phillips — Stuttgart, Loan
DAVUTOVIC SAYS:
Jurgen Klopp has backed his existing Champions League winning squad to challenge for the title, declaring: “You should never do transfers because other clubs are doing transfers. That makes no sense.” With Mo Salah, Sadio Mane and Virgil van Dijk leading the charge, the Reds should challenge.
TIP: 3rd
MANCHESTER CITY
2018-19: Champions
In
Rodri — Atletico Madrid, £62.5m
Joao Cancelo — Juventus, £60m
Angelino — PSV Eindhoven, £5.3m
Felix Correia – Sporting Lisbon, £3,2m
Scott Carson – Derby County, Loan
Out
Danilo — Juventus, £34.1m
Douglas Luiz — Aston Villa, £15m
Vincent Kompany — Anderlecht, player-manager
Patrick Roberts — Norwich, Loan
Fabian Delph — Everton, Undisclosed
Jack Harrison — Leeds, Loan
Aro Muric — Nottingham Forest, Loan
Philippe Sandler — Anderlecht, Loan
Taylor Richards — Brighton, Undisclosed
DAVUTOVIC SAYS:
Hard to go past the champions, who produced some of the best football witnessed in the Premier League and they’ve strengthened with shrewd signings, defensive midfielder Rodri to aid Fernandinho and fullback Joao Cancelo. However Pep Guardiola will focus massively on the Champions League.
TIP: 1st
MANCHESTER UNITED
2018-19: 6th
In
Harry Maguire — Leicester, £80m
Aaron Wan-Bissaka — Crystal Palace, £45m
Daniel James — Swansea, £15m
Out
Romelu Lukaku – Inter Milan £74m
Ander Herrera — PSG at end of contract
Antonio Valencia — LDU Quito, Free
Matty Willock — Gillingham, Free
Regan Poole — MK Dons, Free
Dean Henderson — Sheffield United, Loan
DAVUTOVIC SAYS:
Harry Maguire’s signing was a long time in the making of a chaotic off-season, which started with Paul Pogba’s management declaring that he wanted out. The Frenchman is still there and a host of youngsters look set to play key roles around him, including Marcus Rashford and Mason Greenwood.
TIP: 4th
NEWCASTLE
2018-19: 13th
In
Joelinton — Hoffenheim, £40m
Andy Carroll – West Ham, Free
Jetro Willems — Eintracht Frankfurt, Loan
Allan Saint-Maximin — Nice, £20m
Emil Krafth – Amiens, £5m
Kyle Scott — Chelsea, Undisclosed
Jake Turner — Bolton, Undisclosed
Out
Ayoze Perez — Leicester, £30m
Joselu — Alaves, Undisclosed
Mo Diame — Released
Freddie Woodman — Swansea, Loan
DAVUTOVIC SAYS:
Newcastle United fan unrest continues after Mike Ashley’s reported sale fell through and Rafa Benitez departed. New gaffer Steve Bruce knows how to navigate his way around a relegation scrap and that experience may be needed this season.
TIP: 14th
NORWICH CITY
2018-19: Championship winners
In
Sam Byram — West Ham, £750k
Josip Drmic — Borussia Monchengladbach, Free
Patrick Roberts — Manchester City, Loan
Ralf Fahrmann — Schalke, Loan
Ibrahim Amadou — Sevilla, Loan
Sam Bryam – West Ham, £750,000
Out
Carlton Morris — Rotherham, Loan
Ivo Pinto — Dinamo Zagreb, Free
Mason Bloomfield — Crawley, Loan
Marcel Franke — Hannover 96, Undisclosed
Sean Raggett — Portsmouth, Loan
Anthony Spyrou — Chesterfield, Loan
James Husband — Blackpool, Loan
Diallang Jaiyesimi — Swindon, Loan
Rocky Bushiri — Blackpool, Loan
Aston Oxborough — Wealdstone, Loan
DAVUTOVIC SAYS:
Norwich City have learnt from past relegations and refused to go on a spending spree, signing a bunch of offcuts from around Europe. Highly-rated German Daniel Farke is tipped to go onto bigger and better things and they’ll be very watchable.
TIP: 16th
SHEFFIELD UNITED
2018-19: 2nd in Championship
In
Oliver McBurnie — Swansea, £17m
Lys Mousset — Bournemouth, £10m
Dean Henderson — Manchester United, Loan
Ben Osborn — Nottingham Forest, Undisclosed
Luke Freeman — QPR, £5m
Phil Jagielka — Free
Callum Robinson — Preston North End, £8m
Ravel Morrison — Free
Ched Evans — Fleetwood, Undisclosed
Caolan Lavery — Walsall, Undisclosed
Out
Paul Coutts — Fleetwood, Free
Martin Crainie — Luton Town, Free
Conor Washington — Hearts, Free
Daniel Lafferty — Released
Caolan Lavery — Released
Nathan Thomas — Carlisle, Loan
Rhys Norrington-Davies — Rochdale, Loan
Jake Eastwood — Scunthorpe, Loan
Tyler Smith — Bristol Rovers, Loan
Regan Slater — Scunthorpe, Loan
DAVUTOVIC SAYS:
Sheffield United have broken their transfer record four times this off-season and spent more in the past four weeks than they have in 14 years, while focusing on local signings. Manager Chris Wilder is key, having lifted the club from League One to the top flight with some scintillating football. Will be a tough challenge but they’ll have a crack.
TIP: 20th
SOUTHAMPTON
2018-19: 16th
In
Danny Ings – Liverpool, £18m
Che Adams — Birmingham City, £15m
Moussa Djenepo — Standard Liege, £15m
Out
Matt Targett — Aston Villa, £11m
Charlie Austin – West Brom, £4m
Steven Davis — Rangers, Free
Sam Gallagher — Blackburn, Undisclosed
Jordy Clasie — AZ Alkmaar, Undisclosed
DAVUTOVIC SAYS:
Austrian boss Ralph Hasenhuttl helped secure safety at the death, after replacing Mark Hughes in December, and adopting a possession-based brand which fits into the Southampton ethos. Underpinned by a strong academy production line, the Saints should excite and survive.
TIP: 15th
TOTTENHAM
2018-19: 3rd
In
Tanguy Ndombele — Lyon, £65m
Ryan Sessegnon – Fulham, £25m
Giovani lo Celso – Real Betis, Loan
Out
Kieran Trippier — Atletico Madrid, Undisclosed
Vincent Janssen — C.F. Monterrey, Undisclosed
Luke Amos — QPR, season-long Loan
Connor Ogilvie — Gillingham, Undisclosed
Michel Vorm — Released
Dylan Duncan — Released
Charlie Freeman — Released
Tom Glover — Released
Jamie Reynolds — Released
Jack Clarke — Leeds, Loan
DAVUTOVIC SAYS:
Spurs have upped the ante this transfer window after their extraordinary feats last campaign having not signed anyone in the last two windows. A deep squad with plenty of upside and several exciting signings, Mauricio Pocchetino’s side looks genuinely ready to challenge.
TIP: 2nd
WATFORD
2018-19: 11th
In
Ismaila Sarr – Rennes, £25m
Craig Dawson — West Brom, £5.5m
Danny Welbeck — Arsenal, Free
Out
Dodi Lukebakio — Hertha Berlin, £18m
Obbi Oulare — Standard Liege, Undisclosed
Michael Folivi — Wimbledon, Loan
Marc Navarro — Leganes, Loan
Alex Jakubiak — Gilingham, Loan
Ben Wilmot — Swansea, Loan
Tommie Hoban — Released after expiration of contract
Miguel Britos — Released
Ashley Charles — Released
Andrew Eleftheriou — Released
Sam Howes — Released
Tom Leighton — Released
Joy Mukena — Released
Michael Mullings — Released
Kai Sanders — Released
Sam Sesay — Released
Ryan Suckling — Released
Ben Tricker — Released
DAVUTOVIC SAYS:
Being based in London helps lure players and Daniel Wellbeck’s signing could prove inspired, in partnership with Troy Deeney and Gerard Deulofeu. Javi Garcia has brought stability and a first FA Cup final appearance in 35 years.
TIP: 12th
WEST HAM UNITED
2018-19: 10th
In
Sebastian Haller — Eintract Frankfurt, £45m
Pablo Fornals — Villarreal, £24m
Goncalo Cardoso – Boavista, £2.75m
Albian Ajeti — Basel, Undisclosed
Roberto — Espanyol, Free
David Martin — Millwall, Free
Out
Marko Arnautovic — Shanghai SIPG, £22.4m
Samir Nasri — Released
Andy Carroll — Released
Adrian — Released
Edimilson Fernandes — FSV Mainz, Undisclosed
Jordan Hugill — QPR, Loan
Lucas Perez — Alaves, Undisclosed
Pedro Obiang — Sassuolo, Undisclosed
Josh Pask — Coventry, Free
Nathan Trott — Wimbledon, Loan
Reece Oxford — Augsburg, Undisclosed
Josh Cullen — Charlton, Loan
DAVUTOVIC SAYS:
Freshened the squad up with youth and quality and Sebastian Haller looms as a top signing for wily manager Manuel Pellegrini. With issues seem to have settled with fans, the Hammers may be ready to start pressuring the top six.
TIP: 8th
WOLVERHAMPTON WANDERERS
2018-19: 7th
In
Raul Jimenez — Benfica, £30m
Patrick Cutrone — AC Milan, £23m
Leander Dendoncker — Anderlecht, £12m
Jesus Vallejo — Real Madrid, Loan
Pedro Neto — Braga, Undisclosed
Bruno Jordao — Braga, Undisclosed
Renat Dadashov — Estoril, Undisclosed
Out
Helder Costa — Leeds, Loan
Kevin Berkoe — Oxford, Free
Ethan Ebanks-Landell — Shrewsbury, Undisclosed
Ivan Cavaleiro — Fulham, Loan
Kortney Hause — Aston Villa, Undisclosed
Ryan Giles — Shrewsbury, Loan
Christian Herc — Viktoria Plzen, Loan
Niall Ennis — Doncaster, Loan
DAVUTOVIC SAYS:
Produced some stunning football under Nuno Espirito Santo, with a distinctly Portuguese flavour. Some more individual quality with some of their signings, an extraordinary turnaround after languishing in League One three years ago.
TIP: 9th
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