WFi writers gave their predictions for the upcoming season, from who will be crowned champions to which players will impress the most throughout the campaign.
Callum McFadden – Senior Writer
Champions
Arsenal – they haven’t retained the league title in the Premier League era, but they are best placed to do so this time, with the other major players all in a state of transition
Standout Player
Bukayo Saka – if Arsenal do win the title as I’m predicting, then do not be surprised to see Saka at the heart of their positive play and results. He gets better year on year, and I don’t see that changing this season
Best Young Player
Rio Ngumoha – Mo Salah has departed Liverpool, but the club have one of the hottest prospects in English football on their books ready to play more Premier League football than ever before. He will have a breakout season under Iraola.
Best New Signing
Andy Robertson – His experience and leadership qualities will be invaluable to Spurs, who I back to make steady progression this season under Roberto de Zerbi.
Surprise Player
Andrey Santos – Many may have expected a ‘bigger name’ to sign for Manchester United in place of Casemiro but Santos fits the bill.
He is in his early twenties, has Premier League experience as well as Ligue 1 experience under his belt. I think he will surprise many with his positive contributions at Old Trafford this season.
Relegated
Hull City – Certainties to go down for me. They’ve thrown everything into their recruitment, but I think it will take their players time to gel, and by the time that they do it could be too late.
Louis Smith – South American Football Writer
Champions
Arsenal. They finally broke their dry spell last season, and everyone else is going through a period of change. They have made some smart signings too.
Standout Player
Declan Rice. He’s pretty much the heartbeat of the Arsenal side, and especially now that they have Bruno Guimarães to partner him, I think he helps balance Rice’s role very well. He could even have a better season than last year. Everyone seems to rave about Saka, but for me, without Rice, Arsenal wouldn’t have had half the season they had last year.
Best Young Player
Rayan. Rayan was very exciting in his debut six-month spell after joining from Vasco, and I think he’s an exciting player to watch. He’s direct, likes to run at people, likes to dribble, scores goals and chips in with assists. I think he will have a really, really strong campaign.
Best New Signing
Bruno Guimarães. This one was tough because I was torn between Andrey Santos and Guimarães, but purely because Arsenal have made a really clever signing by strengthening a position they’re already fairly strong in, it feels like perfect business. He has everything about him that Mikel Arteta likes.
Surprise Team
I think Coventry will surprise a few people. They had a strong season in the Championship last year, and Frank Lampard has proven experience in the Premier League. He was unlucky at Chelsea but did fairly well considering the transfer embargo, and his spell with Everton would have taught him a lot.
Having already managed in the Premier League and knowing what to expect from it, I think it’ll be a positive season for Coventry. Their aim will be to avoid the drop, and I think they can do that.
Surprise Player
Caleb Yirenkyi. I feel like he could be a surprise package in the Premier League. He had a strong World Cup and was Young Player of the Year in Denmark last season. If he can adjust to the Premier League quickly, then he could become a very key signing.
Yes, the step up in class will be a tough test, but if he can settle in as he has done throughout his career so far, he could become a key player for Coventry
Relegated
Unfortunately for Hull, I just see them struggling. I feel like they’ve almost been promoted at the wrong time, and they haven’t really made the additions needed to strengthen the squad.
Ben McFadyean – Bundesliga Writer
Champions – Arsenal
Standout Player – Maxence Lacroix, Chelsea.
Best Young Player – Rio Ngmoha, Liverpool.
Best New Signing – Luka Vuskovic, Brighton Hove & Albion.
Surprise Team – Oliver Glasner’s Nottingham Forest; they will catch many out.
Surprise Player – Max Dowman, Arsenal.
Relegated – Coventry City.
James Nalton – Writer
Champions – Arsenal
Standout Player – Martin Odegaard
Best Young Player – Rio Ngumoha
Best New Signing – Caleb Yirenkyi
Surprise Team – Tottenham
Surprise Player – Christos Tzolis
Relegated – Hull, Ipswich, Coventry
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