Just days out from the 2022/23 Premier League season, TribalFootball lets you know exactly what has been happening with your team over the summer break in Part 1 of our season preview.
AFC Bournemouth
Last season finish: 2nd in the Championship
In: Marcus Tavernier – Middlesbrough, £12.5m; Joe Rothwell – Blackburn, free; Ryan Fredericks – West Ham, free
Out: Gavin Kilkenny – Stoke, loan; Robbie Brady – Preston, free; Sam Sherring – Northampton, undisclosed
The season ahead:
Marcus Tavernier is an exciting prospect and the type of maverick player that every struggling club needs in those inevitably tough fixtures. But the 23-year-old certainly isn’t enough for Bournemouth to avoid relegation. Scott Parker has been publicly begging for centre-back signings, with Nat Phillips and Gary Cahill departing. Even so I feel that, like Fulham and Norwich in previous years, Bournemouth look certain to head straight back down.
Likely finishing position: 20th
Arsenal
Last season finish: 5th
In: Gabriel Jesus – Manchester City (£45m), Marquinhos – Sao Paulo (undisclosed), Matt Turner – New England Revolution (undisclosed), Fabio Vieira – Porto (£34m), Oleksandr Zinchenko – Manchester City (£32m).
Out: Bernd Leno – Fulham (£8m), Matteo Guendouzi – Marseille (£10m), Konstantinos Mavropanos – Stuttgart (£2.9m), Daniel Ballard – Sunderland (undisclosed), Jordi Osei-Tutu – VfL Bochum, (undisclosed), Zak Swanson – Portsmouth (undisclosed), Nuno Tavares – Marseille (loan), Alexandre Lacazette – Lyon (free), Luigi Gaspar – Watford (free), Tyreece John-Jules – Ipswich, (loan), Auston Trusty – Birmingham, (loan), Omari Hutchinson – Chelsea (free)
The season ahead:
The big question hanging for Arsenal: will Gabriel Jesus be the missing piece to propel them into the top-four? Despite their improvements this summer, Arsenal’s rivals have also conducted terrific business, so it will be a tough task regardless. Spirit is high at the Emirates after a strong preseason and recruitment drive. Signing another central midfielder, such as Youri Tielemans, before the window shuts would surely strengthen their top-four hopes. Either way, given Chelsea’s unsettling preseason, Mikel Arteta’s side could finally return to the Champions League.
Likely finishing position: 4th
Aston Villa
Last season finish: 2nd in the Championship
In: Diego Carlos – Sevilla, £26m; Philippe Coutinho – Barcelona, £17m; Boubacar Kamara – Marseille, free; Robin Olsen – Roma, undisclosed; Rory Wilson – Rangers, free; Ludwig Augustinsson – Sevilla, loan
Out: Wesley – Levante, loan; Matt Targett – Newcastle, £15m; Trezeguet – Trabzonspor, undisclosed; Kahrel Reddin – Stoke, undisclosed; Indiana Vassilev – Inter Miami, loan; Paul Appiah – Leicester City, free; Conor Hourihane – Derby County, free
The season ahead:
Diego Carlos and Boubacar Kamara are two quality signings, while the return of Philippe Coutinho can’t be a bad thing. Steven Gerrard has stated that he still wants to improve his squad before September, and Villa must back him if they want to try and sneak into a European spot. Otherwiseit will be a similar middling season for the Midlands outfit.
Likely finishing position: 11th
Brentford
Last season finish: 13th
In: Aaron Hickey – Bologna, £18m; Max Dickov – Stockport Town, free; Max Wilcox – Bolton, undisclosed; Keane Lewis-Potter – Hull, £20m; Kyreece Lisbie – Watford, free; Thomas Strakosha – Lazio, free; Ben Mee – Burnley, free
Out: Mads Bidstrup – Nordsjaelland, loan; Paris Maghoma – AFC Wimbledon, loan; Ben Hockenhull – Tranmere Rovers, free; Dom Jeffries – Gillingham, free; Gustav Mogensen – Sarpsborg 08, free; Jaakko Oksanen – KuPS, free; Christian Eriksen – Manchester United, free
The season ahead:
Ben Mee and Aaron Hickey are both astute signings from Thomas Frank’s side, who impressed in their debut Premier League season. It will be interesting to see how Keane Lewis-Potter adapts to the top-flight after showing potential at Hull. The Bees are on the verge of signing Mikkal Damsgaard from Sampdoria, a direct replacement for Eriksen. Expect another strong campaign from the west Londoners, including an upset or two.
Likely finishing position: 12th
Brighton
Last season finish: 9th
In: Julio Enciso – Libertad Asuncion, £9.5m; Simon Adingra – Nordsjaelland, undisclosed; Benicio Baker-Boaitey – Porto, undisclosed
Out: Yves Bissouma – Tottenham, £35m; Leo Ostigard – Napoli, £10m; Alex Cochrane – Hearts, undisclosed; Jayson Molumby – West Brom, undisclosed; Ulrick Eneme Ella – Angers, free; Simon Adingra – Royale Union Saint-Gilloise, loan; Haydon Roberts – Derby County, loan; Carl Rushworth – Lincoln City, loan
The season ahead:
Graham Potter’s side enjoyed an excellent 2021/22 campaign, finishing just seven points off sixth-placed Manchester United. But the Seagulls have yet to replace Yves Bissouma, who has joined Tottenham, leaving a hole in midfield. Retaining Marc Cucurella will also be vital to Brighton’s season, with the Spaniard taking out the club’s Player of the Year award in his debut campaign. Support from Tony Bloom would help Potter’s cause, but the Englishman is an astute manager and should keep Brighton in the top-flight.
Likely finishing position: 14th
Chelsea
Last season finish: 3rd
In: Raheem Sterling – Man City, £47.5m; Eddie Beach – Southampton, undisclosed; Kalidou Koulibaly – Napoli, £33m; Omari Hutchinson – Arsenal, free
Out: Thierno Ballo – Wolfsberger, free; Andreas Christensen – Barcelona, free; Jake Clarke-Salter – QPR, free; Romelu Lukaku – Inter Milan, loan; Antonio Rudiger – Real Madrid, free; Danny Drinkwater – released; Charly Musonda – released; Tino Anjorin – Huddersfield, loan
The season ahead:
It’s a tough one to predict with so much change at Stamford Bridge. Transfers have become harder to come by in the Todd Boehly-era and Thomas Tuchel has joined supporters in expressing frustration over preseason. Sterling is the perfect attacker for Tuchel’s system, while Koulibaly is a top quality defender who can replace Rudiger. There is no doubt that Chelsea still possess immense quality throughout their squad. Mason Mount and Reece James are sure to reach another level this season, while Kai Havertz seems settled at the club. Conor Gallagher is another one to watch. But N’Golo Kante can’t stay fit and Jorginho is ageing, while defensive reinforcements are still needed. Chelsea could slip out the top-four, but any surprises before the window shuts could easily change that.
Likely finishing position: 5th
Crystal Palace
Last season finish: 12th
In: Chris Richards – Bayern Munich, undisclosed; Malcolm Ebiowei – Derby, undisclosed; Sam Johnstone – West Brom, free; Cheick Doucoure – Lens, £21m
Out: Tayo Adaramola – Coventry, loan; Remi Mathews – St Johnstone, loan; Francis Hurl – Huddersfield, free; Jaroslaw Jach – Zaglebie Lubin, free
The season ahead:
Patrick Vieira exceeded expectations in his first season at Selhurst Park. The Arsenal legend has added more young talent to his already youthful squad with the additions of Chris Richards, Cheick Doucoure and Malcolm Ebiowei. Sam Johnstone is a terrific goalkeeper and should get an opportunity to usurp Vicente Guaita. There is potential for this Palace squad to blossom into a constant threat should promising centre-backs Guehi and Andersen stay fit and healthy.
Likely finishing position: 10th
Everton
Last season finish: 16th
In: Ruben Vinagre – Sporting Lisbon, loan; James Tarkowski – Burnley, free; Dwight McNeil – Burnley, undisclosed
Out: Richarlison – Tottenham, £60m; Rhys Hughes – Tranmere Rovers, free; Jonjoe Kenny – Hertha Berlin, free; Cenk Tosun – Besiktas, free; Harry Tyrer – Chester FC, loan; Joao Virginia – SC Cambuur, loan; Fabian Delph – released; Gylfi Sigurdsson – released
The season ahead:
Frank Lampard will feel the heat from the opening match this season. The Chelsea icon guided Everton to safety by the skin of their teeth, but he won’t last in the job if it looks like the Toffees are heading that way once again. Unfortunately for Lampard, he has virtually the same squad heading into the new campaign. James Tarkowski will add defensive solidity, while Dwight McNeil has flair and pace. But the midfield is still lacking top level quality and they will get found out once again, which could mean relegation.
Likely finishing position: 18th
Fulham
Last season finish: 1st in the Championship
In: Bernd Leno – Fulham, £8m; Callum McFarlane – Bradfield College, free; Joao Palhinha – Sporting Lisbon, £20m; Andreas Pereira – Manchester United, £10m; Kristian Sekularac – Juventus, free; Manor Solomon – Shakhtar Donetsk, loan; Kevin Mbabu – Wolfsburg, £6.5m
Out: Fabio Carvalho – Liverpool, undisclosed; Andre-Frank Zambo Anguisa – Napoli, undisclosed; Jean Michael Seri – Hull City, free; Steven Sessegnon – Charlton, loan; Cyrus Christie – released
The season ahead:
Can they do it this time? The perennial ‘yo-yo’ club are hoping so. Marco Silva has been backed with several decent signings. Leno provides immediate Premier League experience, while Palhinha impressed with Sporting CP. Manor Solomon is a threat, while Kevin Mbabu is a solid defender. However, Silva has publicly pleaded with the club to sign another centre-back as they only have ‘two available at this level’. Silva knows relegation is inevitable without reinforcements.
Likely finishing position: 19th
Leeds
Last season finish: 17th
In:Tyler Adams – RB Leipzig, £20m; Brenden Aaronson – Red Bull Salzburg, £24.7m; Darko Gyabi – Manchester City, £5m; Rasmus Kristensen – Red Bull Salzburg, £10m; Marc Roca – Bayern Munich, £10m; Luis Sinisterra – Feyenoord, £25.4m; Sonny Perkins – West Ham, free
Out: Raphinha – Barcelona, £55m; Kalvin Phillips – Manchester City, £50m; Tyler Roberts – QPR, loan; Jamie Shackleton – Millwall, loan; Leif Davis – Ipswich Town, undisclosed
The season ahead:
Leeds have backed Jesse Marsch following the sale of two key players in Raphinha and Kalvin Phillips. Marc Roca and Tyler Adams are two solid holding midfielders, while Luis Sinisterra and Brenden Aaronson will add flair in attack. Rasmus Kristensen, like Aaronson and Adams, has experience working under Marsch and impressed during preseason. After Patrick Bamford played nine Premier League games last season, the vital question for Leeds is will they sign a striker this month? If not it will be a tough fight all season.
Likely finishing position: 16th
Stay tuned for Part 2: Leicester to Wolves…
