With only a day until the 2022/23 Premier League season commences, TribalFootball lets you know exactly what has been happening with your team over the summer break in Part 2 of our season preview.
Leicester City
Last season finish: 8th
In: None
Out: Kasper Schmeichel – Nice, undisclosed; Vontae Daley-Campbell – Cardiff, free; Tyrese Shade – Swindon, free; Will Russ – Fleetwood, free; Jacob Wakeling – Swindon, free; Callum Hulme – released; Eldin Jakupovic – released; Khanya Leshabela – Crewe, loan; Ben Nelson – Rochdale, loan
The season ahead:
Brendan Rodgers let the cat out of the bag this week in regards to Leicester’s transfer quagmire. Terms like ‘balance the books’ are being used. In short, Leicester can’t spend without selling, and that means the vultures are circling for James Maddison, Wesley Fofana and Youri Tielemans. Kasper Schmeichel, leader and goalkeeper stalwart, is already gone. Should those three depart it will be a tough season for Leicester. However, a small amount of money recuperated from those sales will be invested back into the squad, something Leicester’s recruitment has proved adept at in previous windows. A confusing situation that will one to watch throughout the year.
Likely finishing position: 10th
Liverpool
Last season finish: 2nd
In: Calvin Ramsay – Aberdeen, £6.5m; Darwin Nunez – Benfica, £85m; Fabio Carvalho – Fulham, undisclosed
Out: Tyler Morton – Blackburn, loan; Ben Davies – Rangers, £4m; Rhys Williams – Blackpool, loan; Owen Beck – Famalicao, loan; Neco Williams – Nottingham Forest, £16m; Divock Origi – AC Milan, free; Loris Karius – released; Sheyi Ojo – Cardiff, free; Ben Woodburn – Preston, free; Elijah Dixon-Bonner – released; Sadio Mane – Bayern Munich, £35m; Takumi Minamino – Monaco, £15.5m; Tom Clayton – Swindon, undisclosed
The season ahead:
Jurgen Klopp’s men fell just a point short of an historic treble last season. Will they go one better? This will be another race between City and Liverpool for the title, and both teams will be changing their tactics slightly with the signing of two number nines. Sadio Mane is out for Liverpool, in comes Darwin Nunez. The Uruguayan will take time to settle, but he has immense potential. Fabio Carvalho is a star in the making, and along with Harvey Elliott, will provide youthful vigour. Luis Diaz should go to another level, while the defence looks extremely solid. Another midfield signing would have been helpful, but City also have gaps in their team. It might not be enough but either way Liverpool will be fun to watch once again.
Likely finishing position: 2nd
Manchester City
Last season finish: 1st
In: Erling Haaland – Borussia Dortmund, £51m; Stefan Ortega – Arminia Bielefeld, free; Kalvin Phillips – Leeds United, £50m; Julian Alvarez – River Plate, loan
Out: Raheem Sterling – Chelsea, £47.5m; Gavin Bazunu – Southampton, £15m; Fernandinho – Athletico Paranaense, free; Taylor Harwood-Bellis – Burnley, loan; Ko Itakura – Borussia Monchengladbach, £4.3m; Gabriel Jesus – Arsenal, £45m; Darko Gyabi – Leeds, £5m; Tommy Doyle – Sheffield Utd, loan; Romeo Lavia – Southampton, £12m; Callum Doyle – Coventry, loan; Zack Steffen – Middlesbrough, loan; Arijanet Muric – Burnley, undisclosed; Oleksandr Zinchenko – Arsenal, £32m; James McAtee – Sheffield United, loan
The season ahead:
The Premier League champions added Erling Haaland, one of the world’s best young forwards, and Kalvin Phillips, starting midfielder for World Cup contenders England. Oh, and exciting prospect Julian Alvarez has finally arrived from River Plate. As mentioned above, Pep’s City will now play with a proper number nine after winning the title without one last season. Yes, there are slight – and I mean slight – doubts about how Haaland will fit at City. But even if there are growing pains, there is simply too much talent and tactical nous around the Norwegian powerhouse for him not to succeed at the Etihad. City should take out the title, but the elusive Champions League remains the true target.
Likely finishing position: 1th
Manchester United
Last season finish: 6th
In: Christian Eriksen – Brentford, free; Tyrell Malacia – Feyenoord, £14.7m; Lisandro Martinez – Ajax, £56.7m
Out: Alex Telles – Sevilla, loan; Paul Pogba – Juventus, free; Juan Mata – released; Jesse Lingard – released; Nemanja Matic – Roma, free; Edinson Cavani – released; Dean Henderson – Nottingham Forest, loan; Dylan Levitt – Dundee United, undisclosed; Andreas Pereira – Fulham, £10m
The season ahead:
It’s been a bit of a strange offseason for the Red Devils. Erik ten Hag appears just the right authoritative and tactically ambitious manager that the club has lacked since Sir Alex Ferguson departed. But he needs time, and thus, the club’s tempered transfer dealings should not deter the optimism surrounding the ten Hag era. United will not challenge this year or maybe even next year, but supporters should be encouraged to find the positives in an exciting brand of football that may bring them back to the top. The other major current dilemma is Cristiano Ronaldo. The answer is simple for ten Hag: get rid of him.
Likely finishing position: 6th
Newcastle United
Last season finish: 11th
In: Matt Targett – Aston Villa, £15m; Nick Pope – Burnley, £10m; Sven Botman – Lille, £35m; Charlie McArthur – Kilmarnock, undisclosed
Out: Isaac Hayden – Norwich, loan; Jeff Hendrick – Reading, loan; Daniel Langley – Gateshead, loan; Dwight Gayle – Stoke, undisclosed; Freddie Woodman – Preston, undisclosed; Ciaran Clark – Sheffield United, loan
The season ahead:
The Magpies enjoyed an unbelievable second-half of last season, helped by January signings Bruno Guimaraes and Kieran Trippier. Both will be helped by Nick Pope and Svet Botman in developing a solid defensive structure under Eddie Howe. Fans might have been expecting bigger signings this summer, and they may arrive before the window shuts. They need another striker due to Callum Wilson’s injury woes and a creative midfielder would be helpful (James Maddison?) Either way, Toon should be around the mid-table and sneaking an upset here and there.
Likely finishing position: 10th
Nottingham Forest
Last season finish: Promoted through Championship play-offs
In: Orel Mangala – Stuttgart, £12.7m; Taiwo Awoniyi – Union Berlin, £17.5m; Moussa Niakhate – Mainz, £17m; Neco Williams – Liverpool, £17m; Brandon Aguilera – Alajuelense, undisclosed; Giulian Biancone – Troyes, undisclosed; Omar Richards – Bayern Munich, undisclosed; Dean Henderson – Manchester United, loan; Wayne Hennessey – Burnley, free; Lewis O’Brien – Huddersfield, undisclosed; Harry Toffolo – Huddersfield, undisclosed; Jesse Lingard – Manchester United, free
Out: Jonathan Panzo – Coventry, loan; Jayden Richardson – Aberdeen, undisclosed; Brice Samba – RC Lens, undisclosed; Tobias Figueiredo – Hull, free; Mohamed Drager – Luzern, loan; Ethan Horvath – Luton, loan
The season ahead:
Well, Forest aren’t taking any chances, are they? You almost have to rub your eyes looking at the transfers who have arrived at the club. But it is easy to understand why Forest have taken this tact given the difficulties of staying in the Premier League (Fulham, Norwich?). Steve Cooper will have his work cut out trying to integrate this many new players into his squad. Dean Henderson is an experienced goalkeeper and has a chip on his shoulder, just like Jesse Lingard. The former England star will either be a maverick or flop, nowhere in-between. Neco Williams and Lewis O’Brien are exciting signings, while stopper Moussa Niakhate has significant Bundesliga experience. Taiwo Awoniyi finally gets a crack at the Premier League, and I’m sure Liverpool fans will have an eye on his progress. Forest have gone big, and it might be enough to keep them up.
Likely finishing position: 17th
Southampton
Last season finish: 15th
In: Armel Bella-Kotchap – VfL Bochum, £9.5m; Romeo Lavia – Man City, £12m; Joe Aribo – Rangers, £10m; Gavin Bazunu – Man City, £15m; Mateusz Lis – Altay, free; Sekou Mara – Bordeaux, undisclosed
Out: Fraser Forster – Tottenham, free; Harry Lewis – Bradford, free; Ramello Mitchell – West Brom, free; Dan N’Lundulu – Cheltenham, loan; Kazeem Olaigbe – Ross County, loan; Caleb Watts – Morecambe, loan; Will Smallbone – Stoke, loan
The season ahead:
Southampton have continued their transfer approach by signing young talent. Armel Bella-Kotchap has amassed plenty of Bundesliga experience at the age of just 20. Romeo Lavia and Joe Aribo have bolstered Hasenhuttl’s midfield, while Gavin Bazunu is an exciting young goalkeeper. Sekou Mara is a striker with potential, but Hasenhuttl has been crying out publicly after another striker, considering the departure of Armando Broja. Che Adams and Adam Armstrong must lift for Saints this season.
Likely finishing position: 15th
Tottenham Hotspur
Last season finish: 4th
In: Ivan Perisic – Inter Milan, free; Fraser Forster – Southampton, free; Yves Bissouma – Brighton, £35m; Richarlison – Everton, £60m; Clement Lenglet – Barcelona, loan; Djed Spence – Middlesbrough, £20m
Out: Joe Rondon – Rennes, loan; Steven Bergwijn – Ajax, £26.45m; Cameron Carter-Vickers – Celtic, undisclosed; Jack Clarke – Sunderland, £10m; Troy Parrott – Preston, loan; Dane Scarlett – Portsmouth, loan
The season ahead:
No wonder Antonio Conte has appeared a happy man in his preseason press conferences. The Italian has been given everything he has asked for, except for Djed Spence! Richarlison ensures the scoring load won’t remain on the shoulders of Kane and Son. Yves Bissouma is a top-class midfielder and should go to another level under Conte’s tutelage. Despite being 33, Perisic still contributed eight goals for Inter Milan last season. Another defender would help, but a back-three of Dier, Davies and Romero is solid, with Lenglet an option. Bentancur and Kulusevski were both quality pick-ups in January, and Spurs should be right up there with City and Liverpool this season.
Likely finishing position: 3rd
West Ham United
Last season finish: 7th
In: Gianluca Scamacca – Sassuolo, £35.5m; Nayef Aguerd – Rennes, £30m; Alphonse Areola – West Ham, £10.5m; Patrick Kelly – Coleraine, undisclosed; Flynn Downes – Swansea, £12m
Out: Aji Alese – Sunderland, undisclosed; Sonny Perkins – Leeds, free; Mark Noble – released; Andriy Yarmolenko – Al Ain, free; Ryan Fredericks – Bournemouth, free
The season ahead:
West Ham finally have a true number nine in Gianluca Scamacca. The Italy international finished second in the Serie A top goalscorers list last season and his imposing height should translate to English football. Nayef Aguerd is a great pick-up, although his latest injury will frustrate David Moyes. Declan Rice has the captain’s armband, and Jarrod Bowen should continue his ascension. The Hammers have enjoyed a terrific couple of seasons and it should be more of the same this time around. No team, from the top-six and below, will relish facing West Ham on the weekend.
Likely finishing position: 7th
Wolves
Last season finish: 10th
In: Leon Chiwome – AFC Wimbledon, undisclosed; Dom Plank – Dorking Wanderers, free; Nathan Collins – Burnley, £20.5m
Out: Fabio Silva – Anderlecht, loan; Ruben Vinagre – Sporting CP, undisclosed; Renat Dadashov – Grasshopper, undisclosed; Meritan Shabani – Grasshopper, undisclosed; Romain Saiss – Besiktas, free; John Ruddy – Birmingham, free; Ki-Jana Hoever – PSV, loan; Ryan Giles – Middlesbrough, loan
The season ahead:
Bruno Lage’s side will once again be hard to beat this season, especially with the addition of Nathan Collins from Burnley. However, the Molineux outfit will once again struggle in attack if they don’t make any more signings before the window shuts. Fans of the club will be split over whether they should be optimistic or fearful of relegation. More than likely it will be right down the middle.
Likely finishing position: 13th
