Arsenal
Arsenal led the Premier League for the majority of last season, but fell away towards the latter stages and finished seven points behind champions Manchester City. Mesut Ozil’s signing last summer served as a statement of intent which – as much as Ozil’s capabilities on the pitch – seemed to spur the rest of the squad to significantly improve upon past performances. Aaron Ramsey in particular was arguably the league’s best player until suffering an injury last Boxing Day; and his form in the pre-season suggests he will continue to be central to Arsenal’s title hopes this time round.
While much of the focus last season centred upon Arsenal’s lack of firepower, the signing of Alexis Sanchez from Barcelona for £35 million seems to have sated many fans’ desires. Sanchez offers Arsenal options: he can play as a wide attacker, off a central striker, or utilising his pace at the head of the attack. He will play either alongside or instead of Olivier Giroud; and with Yaya Sanogo continuing to progress, Joel Campbell an option for the first time on the back of a promising World Cup, and Theo Walcott and Lukas Podolski too, Arsenal seem set in the attacking positions.
Yet they still appear lacking defensively. While they have replaced Bacary Sagna and Thomas Vermaelen with Mathieu Debuchy and Luke Chambers, and possess a solid first-choice back four, they have a squad which contains only three centre-backs and one right-back, having allowed Carl Jenkinson to depart on loan. A strong defensive midfielder may add the most to Arsene Wenger’s first eleven – but there he seems content with Mikel Arteta and Mathieu Flamini, while surely recognising that reinforcements further back are a must for the sake of a competitive season.
Last Season: 4th – Predicted Finish: 2nd
Potential XI: (4-2-3-1) Szczesny, Debuchy, Gibbs, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Arteta, Wilshere, Cazorla, Ramsey, Sanchez, Giroud
Aston Villa
Labouring under an owner in Randy Lerner who – after investing considerably in the early years of his ownership – baulked a couple of seasons ago at the costs involved in Premier League football, Aston Villa have again underwhelmed in the transfer market. While Lerner struggles to find a buyer for the club, Aly Cissokho should prove a solid purchase for the left-back position, but the signings of an aged Joe Cole, Kieran Richardson, and Philippe Senderos are hardly inspiring. Once promising youngsters Marc Albrighton and Nathan Delfouneso have been let go; while Nicklas Helenius, Antonio Luna, and Yacouba Sylla have departed on loan. Goalscorer Christian Benteke will remain out of action with his achilles injury until October.
Roy Keane has been appointed as manager Paul Lambert’s assistant, and whatever the impetus behind that decision, the media will undoubtedly build it into a point of contention should Villa begin to struggle. The signing of Colombia’s Carlos Sanchez, still in the process of being finalised, will at least provide much needed bite in the middle of the pitch; and as well as retaining Ron Vlaar after an impressive World Cup, Lambert has begun the process of reintegrating Charles N’Zogbia, Darrent Bent, and Alan Hutton into worthwhile members of the first-team squad.
Last Season: 15th – Predicted Finish: 11th
Potential XI: (4-3-3) Guzan, Hutton, Cissokho, Vlaar, Okore, Westwood, Sanchez, Delph, N’Zogbia, Weimann, Benteke
Burnley
Sean Dyche will be relying predominantly on last season’s promotion-winning players for Burnley’s survival, as the club have spent conservatively this summer, spending just a few million pounds on the attacking players Lukas Jutkiewicz, Michael Kightly, and Marvin Sordell – each proven only in the Championship – and bringing in Matt Gilks, Matt Taylor, and Steven Reid on free transfers. Stephen Ward has completed his signing from Wolves for an undisclosed fee, just ahead of the season opener at home to Chelsea.
Burnley look set to retain the 4-4-2 formation and the compact, passing, high-pressing game which brought them last season’s success. They will hope for Danny Ings to maintain good goalscoring form; but there will be concerns regarding the overall strength of the squad, and at the potential for being overrun in the centre of midfield.
Last Season: 2nd (Championship, Promoted) – Predicted Finish: 20th
Potential XI: (4-4-2) Heaton, Trippier, Mee, Shackell, Duff, Marney, Jones, Arfield, Kightly, Ings, Jutkiewicz
Chelsea
Having convinced sufficient people that Chelsea weren’t in a position to compete last season, Jose Mourinho has been obliged to praise his squad in the lead up to this campaign. Chelsea have completed the signings of Diego Costa, Cesc Fabregas, and Filipe Luis, while Didier Drogba returns for a second spell with the club. The cost of those transfers has been significantly offset by the sales of Romelu Lukaku and David Luiz. Meanwhile Chelsea continue to hoard youngsters who they can loan out and sell on in a year or two, their values having risen by virtue of playing time or merely by association.
All the same, Chelsea find themselves with an impressive and fairly concise squad. Lacking natural wide players, Luis and Cesar Azpilicueta will start as the side’s full-backs, with Branislav Ivanovic the first port of call for defensive cover. Kurt Zouma – a £12 million signing from Saint-Etienne in January – will provide further reinforcement at centre-back, while the nineteen-year-old Dutchman Nathan Ake may prove a versatile part of the first-team picture . In the attack, Fabregas will likely slot in behind Costa in a 4-2-3-1 for the big games; but he may play a deeper role against lesser opposition, with Drogba, Fernando Torres, Eden Hazard, Andre Schurrle, Oscar, and William to satiate. Thibaut Courtois returns from Atletico Madrid to challenge Petr Cech for the goalkeeper’s jersey – despite their wealth, the only one which Chelsea possess.
Last Season: 3rd – Predicted Finish: 3rd
Potential XI: (4-2-3-1) Cech, Azpilicueta, Luis, Cahill, Terry, Matic, Ramires, Hazard, Fabregas, Schurrle, Costa
Crystal Palace
After eleven games last season, Crystal Palace had four points and were lying at the bottom of the Premier League; by the end of the season, they had forty-five points, and finished eleventh. The turnabout orchestrated by Tony Pulis showed a capacity which often went unrecognised during his seven-year spell at Stoke, and made him one of the manager’s of the year. So his sudden departure with days to go before the beginning of this campaign throws Palace’s preparations into disarray, and means instead of building upon last year, the focus will again be on scrapping against relegation.
Whatever claims may be made regarding ulterior motives and areas of responsibility, it is hard to argue that – after such a strong close to last season – Palace’s transfer activity hasn’t been insufficient. Just £2.4 million has been spent, with Martin Kelly from Liverpool and Frazier Campbell from Cardiff arriving for fees, and Brede Hangeland and Chris Kettings coming in on free transfers. Still, the squad have last season’s experience to draw from, and Joe Ledley, Dwight Gayle, and Marouane Chamakh will hope to flourish in their second seasons with the club.
Last Season: 11th – Predicted Finish: 18th
Potential XI: (4-2-3-1) Speroni, Mariappa, Ward, Dann, Hangeland, Jedinak, Ledley, Puncheon, Chamakh, Bolasie, Gayle
Everton
Owing to the idiosyncrasies of the modern loan market, Everton have spent considerably this summer and shown significant intent with their purchases – yet their squad isn’t vastly different from the one which finished fifth last time round. Romelu Lukaku has returned to the club after last season’s loan spell for a fee of £28 million, and has the tools to become one of the game’s best all-round centre forwards: quick and powerful, but with the awareness to bring others into play. Gareth Barry has also joined the club on a permanent deal from Manchester City. Christian Atsu, on a season’s loan from Chelsea, will fill the role taken last year by Gerard Deulofeu, providing pace and dribbling and an option from the bench.
Muhamed Besic has been bought after a solid showing in the group stages of the World Cup for Bosnia and Herzegovina. He will provide competition in the centre of midfield for James McCarthy and Barry, while freeing up Everton’s attacking midfielders. More, Roberto Martinez will welcome back Bryan Oviedo and Arouna Kone after both suffered long-term injuries last year. A repeat of last season’s placing would be an achievement, but Roberto Martinez has developed a coherent system, settled yet versatile, and a challenge on the top four is within the squad’s potential.
Last Season: 5th – Predicted Finish: 5th
Potential XI: (4-2-3-1) Howard, Coleman, Baines, Jagielka, Distin, McCarthy, Barry, Mirallas, Barkley, Pienaar, Lukaku
Hull City
Hull’s league form fell away towards the tail end of last season, with survival secured and an FA Cup final on the horizon. They still have a playoff to navigate before entering this season’s Europa League proper; and their preparations for the year ahead may have been compromised by Shane Long’s surprise £12 million move to Southampton. Long developed a hardworking partnership with Nika Jelavic in Hull’s attack after both signed for the club in January, and while the offer from Southampton was much too good to refuse, it leaves Hull looking for replacement before the close of the transfer window.
Elsewhere Hull look done and dusted, having signed the midfielders Jake Livermore, Robert Snodgrass, and Tom Ince, and the young defenders Andrew Robertson and Harry Maguire. Steve Bruce has utilised his 3-5-2 extensively during the pre-season, and it remains to be seen whether he will revert to a 4-4-2 or 4-4-1-1 for Hull’s first run of league games.
Last Season: 16th – Predicted Finish: 17th
Potential XI: (3-5-2) McGregor, Chester, Davies, Bruce, Elmohamady, Livermore, Huddlestone, Snodgrass, Robertson, Aluko, Jelavic
Leicester City
Like Burnley, who they beat to the Championship title, Leicester have been prudent in the transfer market, paying money only for the twenty-eight-year-old Argentine Leonardo Ulloa, an £8 million purchase after impressing with fourteen league goals last season for Brighton & Hove Albion. Otherwise, Leicester have relied on frees, bringing in Marc Albrighton, Matthew Upson, and goalkeeper Ben Hamer.
Nigel Pearson is likely to stick with the 4-4-2 formation which saw Leicester break a hundred points in achieving their promotion to the Premier League. Dave Nugent has been the standout of the pre-season. They may still be on the lookout for an additional full back and central midfielder for the battle against relegation which awaits.
Last Season: 1st (Championship, Promoted) – Predicted Finish: 16th
Potential XI: (4-4-2) Schmeichel, De Laet, Konchesky, Moore, Morgan, Mahrez, Drinkwater, James, Albrighton, Nugent, Ulloa
Liverpool
Liverpool haven’t looked to replace Luis Suarez, but instead have added significant depth to the remainder of last season’s title challenging squad. While the quantity of their purchases and the money they have spent has drawn comparisons with Tottenham after last summer’s sale of Gareth Bale, Brendan Rodgers has focused more closely on players who will fit into an already established pattern of play – and on Premiership experience in the Southampton trio of Adam Lallana, Dejan Lovren, and Rickie Lambert. While Lallana and Lovren seem significantly overpriced in a market that is increasingly distended and difficult to judge, Lallana provides close control and steady creativity in the final third, while Lovren may stake a readier claim to a starting berth in the centre of Liverpool’s defence.
If Lallana and Lambert suggest the possibilities for a slightly slower tempo, Lazar Markovic is blessed with pace and is Liverpool’s most exciting summer signing. Emre Can may be their most astute, shoring up the centre of the pitch. Long-term loanee Javi Manquillo is an unknown quantity, at twenty having played only a handful of games for Atletico Madrid; but he seems set to compete for a first team place at right-back. Divock Origi is a signing for the future, and will spend 2014-15 back at Lille. The question, of course, is whether Liverpool can maintain something approaching the same attacking dynamism and goalscoring capacity now that Suarez has departed – all in all, a loss for English football, as flawed characters litter the game, but few possess his vigour, determination, and talent.
Last Season: 2nd – Predicted Finish: 4th
Potential XI: (4-3-3) Mignolet, Manquillo, Johnson, Lovren, Skrtel, Gerrard, Can, Henderson, Coutinho, Sterling, Sturridge
Manchester City
After falling foul of financial fair play, City have been limited in the transfer market this summer, and have focused on defensive acquisitions. Most of their £49 million budget has gone on the centre-back Eliaquim Mangela, a £32 million signing from Porto. Fernando arrives from the same club, and will sit in the midfield, allowing Yaya Toure and Fernandinho to push on into the attacking areas. Willy Cabellero will compete with Joe Hart in goal. Bacary Sagna has signed on a free transfer from Arsenal. Midfielder Bruno Zucolini – twenty-one years old, and signing for around £1.5 million from Racing Club in Argentina – has worked himself into the picture with a string of good performances in pre-season. City will also have Frank Lampard available on loan, until he returns to partner club New York City next January.
As well as releasing Gareth Barry and Joleon Lescott, City have made back £23 million via the sales of Javi Garcia and Jack Rodwell. With Alvaro Negredo missing the start of the season and Sergio Aguero suffering persistent injury problems, Stevan Jovetic should see more game time this season. Despite the more celebrated signings of their title competitors, City will remain the team to beat.
Last Season: 1st – Predicted Finish: 1st
Potential XI: (4-2-2-2) Cabellero, Sagna, Kolarov, Kompany, Mangela, Fernando, Toure, Silva, Nasri, Jovetic, Aguero
Manchester United
Undoubtedly one of the game’s greatest as well as most influential and intriguing managers, Louis van Gaal poses a problem for those of us predisposed to dislike Manchester United. The renewed optimism in and around and at sizeable distances from Old Trafford is understandable, especially after the Netherlands’ showing at the World Cup; yet Van Gaal has his own problems to face.
The 3-4-1-2 he has utilised in pre-season aims to get the most out of Juan Mata, Wayne Rooney, and Robin van Persie – allowing each to occupy their preferred central attacking positions. But it asks questions of the side’s defenders, with only three first-team centre-backs – in Jonny Evans, Chris Smalling, and Phil Jones – in the squad after the departures of Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic; Rafael suffering constant injury niggles; and Luke Shaw – signed for £27 million based on potential talent and potential longevity rather than for any outstanding ability which he possesses at present – not ideally suited for a wing-back role. Ashley Young and Antonio Valencia can fit into the system down the right, but it still leaves a lopsided squad, with Danny Welbeck sure to receive games, but less space for Shinji Kagawa, Nani, Javier Hernandez, and Adnan Januzaj. To really challenge, Manchester United will need to spend on at least one centre-back; and they may require another central midfielder to partner Ander Herrera, lest Marouane Fellaini ever find his way onto the pitch.
Last Season: 7th – Predicted Finish: 7th
Potential XI: (3-4-1-2) De Gea, Smalling, Evans, Jones, Rafael, Herrera, Carrick, Shaw, Mata, Rooney, Van Persie
Newcastle
While the club have received praise for the apparent haste and extent of their summer incomings, the truth is that Newcastle have again – rather than building a competitive team – simply replaced what has been lost, and at a crucial moment after the horrid close to last season, which saw an impotent attack allied to a porous defence and an increasingly disgruntled fanbase. So Siem de Jong has replaced Yohan Cabaye; Daryl Janmaat has replaced Mathieu Debuchy; and Emmanuel Riviere and Facundo Ferrerya have replaced Loic Remy and Shola Ameobi. Jack Colback comes in to take a spot alternately occupied by Jonas Gutierrez – frozen out of the squad on his return from a loan spell at Norwich – and Dan Gosling. Remy Cabella is an exciting addition; but woeful mismanagement of Hatem Ben Arfa leaves Cabella the side’s only genuine wide attacker, and it is not improbable that Cabella will go the same way as his compatriot under a manager and a coaching setup which has proven entirely incapable of implementing any attacking style of play. Youngsters too do not develop here, which does not bode well for the future of Ayoze Perez, who may be a peripheral figure anyway owing to his age and lack of experience.
Meanwhile in the defence Steven Taylor continues to regress and Fabricio Coloccini – after gallant service – looks increasingly past his best and shorn of interest. Davide Santon has stagnated; and Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa has been shunted out of position and thus appears shaky when asked to fill in. When they are tasked with finding players, Newcastle’s scouts have invariably found some good talents for low prices – but the club is in a rut under a thoroughly inadequate and unpleasant manager. They should finish mid-table again, but could struggle without a proven goalscorer to tide over a lack of substance elsewhere.
Last season: 10th – Predicted Finish: 10th
Potential XI: (4-4-1-1) Krul, Janmaat, Haidara, Williamson, Coloccini, Sissoko, Tiote, Colback, Cabella, De Jong, Riviere
Queens Park Rangers
An unwelcome return to the Premier League for Harry Redknapp, who apparently would have retired from the game had QPR missed out on promotion last season, which they achieved through the playoffs after finishing only fourth in the Championship. They have had a good summer in the transfer market, signing Steven Caulker and Jordan Mutch who impressed during the last campaign for Cardiff. Caulker will be partnered in what looks set to be a three-man defence by Rio Ferdinand, arriving from Manchester United on a free; while the signing of Chile’s Mauricio Isla on loan is a coup even after his indifferent spell at Juventus.
Isla is ideally suited to the 3-5-2 system with wing-backs which Redknapp has used in the pre-season. Armand Traore can fulfill the same sort of role down QPR’s left. In the attack, with various proposed moves for Loic Remy falling through seemingly thanks to his exorbitant wage demands, QPR have been left with options in Remy and Mutch, Charlie Austin, Bobby Zamora, Junior Hoilett, and Adel Taraabt. If Remy does find a move before the close of the window, QPR will need to find a striking replacement. Otherwise, they look weakest in the centre of midfield, while Caulker may have to cover for a lack of pace elsewhere in the defence.
Last Season: 4th (Championship, Promoted) – Predicted Finish: 9th
Potential XI: (3-4-1-2) Green, Caulker, Ferdinand, Onuoha, Isla, Barton, Faurlin, Traore, Mutch, Austin, Remy
Southampton
New manager Ronald Koeman has found himself thrown into the midst of a side which has been dismantled over the summer. Luke Shaw, Adam Lallana, Dejan Lovren, Calum Chambers, and Rickie Lambert – essential first team players last season under Mauricio Pochettino – have all left the club. Morgan Schneiderlin and Jay Rodriguez seemed well on their way towards moves to Tottenham, only for Southampton to end negotiations apparently at a late stage, and owing to the fans’ growing discontent.
Provided he does not leave before the end of the window, Koeman will happily reintegrate Schneiderlin into his team – and he will have to play to the best of his abilities if Southampton aren’t to fall into a relegation struggle. They have just about replaced the players lost, but have largely gambled on players untested at the same level. Ryan Bertrand – brought in on loan with an expensive £10 million option to make the deal permanent – is an uninspiring replacement for Shaw, after a poor spell on loan last term for Aston Villa. Florin Gardos, a 6’4” centre-back, has arrived from Steaua Bucharest. Saphir Taider has come in on loan from Inter Milan, after a bright showing for Algeria in the World Cup. Fraser Foster, signed for £10 million from Celtic, has surely been bought to replace Artur Boruc as Southampton’s first-choice goalkeeper.
While these seem competent enough defensive reinforcements, Southampton’s difficulties may arise at the other end of the pitch. Shane Long’s £12 million fee seems excessive for a player who is undoubtedly a nuisance, with pace, work-rate, and an inclination to foul his opponents – but for all his qualities he doesn’t score goals. For creativity, Southampton will be largely reliant on Dusan Tadic, a talented left-footer with exceptional passing and dribbling ability. Tadic, however, lacks stamina and a turn of pace; and like Graziano Pelle, also signed from the Netherlands, will face a challenge adapting to the league.
Last Season: 7th – Predicted Finish: 14th
Potential XI: (4-2-3-1) Foster, Clyne, Fonte, Gardos, Bertrand, Schneiderlin, Wanyama, Tadic, Davis, Long, Pelle
Stoke City
Bojan Krkic’s move from Barcelona – after a series of extended loans and temporary departures over the past several years – to Stoke is one of the most interesting transfers of the summer. It remains to be seen whether he will feature as a striker, or predominantly from the left side of a front three. Mame Biram Diouf has also signed from Hannover, to add a more direct and physical presence to what is now a roundly talented front line. Stoke have been locked in negotiations with Liverpool for Oussama Assaidi, who did well for them on loan last term – but the loan signing of Victor Moses from Chelsea, completed today, may put an end to that endeavour.
Further back, Steve Sidwell and Phil Bardsley have joined on frees to add experience, if not ability; and the centre back Dionatan Teixeira has arrived from Slovakian football. All in all, Stoke under Mark Hughes seem well placed to repeat last season’s strong, upper mid-table showing.
Last Season: 9th – Predicted Finish: 8th
Potential XI: (4-3-3) Begovic, Bardsley, Pieters, Shawcross, Wilson, Whelan, N’Zonzi, Ireland, Arnautovic, Bojan, Diouf
Sunderland
For a club with a large and devoted fanbase – consistently drawing over 40,000 supporters to their home games – Sunderland plod on from season to season, intermittently facing some sort of crisis in form or personnel, failing to assert a long-term strategy or emboldened style of play. Losing Jack Colback and moving on Ignacio Scocco, Phil Bardsley, and Craig Gardner, Sunderland have signed Jack Rodwell and Will Buckley, and full-back Patrick van Aanholt; while Costel Pantilimon, Billy Jones, and Jordi Gomez have arrived on free transfers. Santiago Vergini comes in on loan from Estudiantes.
Gus Poyet is likely to retain last season’s hardworking, counter-attacking 4-5-1, with the wide players pushing on, and the team headed by Connor Wickham – who looks set to remain at the club despite a contract dispute and interest from West Ham – or Steven Fletcher. Rodwell will hopefully add some class and composure through the middle of the pitch.
Last Season: 14th – Predicted Finish: 15th
Potential XI: (4-5-1-) Mannone, Vergini, Van Aanholt, Brown, O’Shea, Larsson, Cattermole, Rodwell, Johnson, Wickham, Fletcher
Swansea
Swansea have made some promising signings over the summer. Gylfi Sigurdsson returns for a second spell with the club, a £10 million signing from Tottenham. He will slot into the attack alongside the Ecuadorian winger Jefferson Montero, and Bafetimbi Gomes, finally making the move to English football after year’s of speculation linking him with a mass of clubs. Swansea have retained Wilfried Bony, and with the addition of Marvin Emnes too, can boast a quick and determined attack.
With Ben Davies and Michel Vorm departing for Tottenham, Lukasz Fabianski has arrived on a free to take the goalkeeper’s jersey. Swansea will look to retain the passing approach developed across recent seasons, but the additional pace on the flanks and the presence of Gomis gives them the possibility of playing more directly as and when the situation demands. Doubts remain over the slightly aggravating Gary Monk’s suitability as manager.
Last Season: 12th – Predicted Finish: 12th
Potential XI: (4-3-3) Vorm, Rangel, Taylor, Amat, Williams, Britton, Ki, Sigurdsson, Routledge, Montero, Bony
Tottenham
A relatively quiet summer for Tottenham has seen the arrival of four players: young left-back Ben Davies and goalkeeper Michel Vorm from Swansea; the twenty-year-old English centre-back Eric Dier from Sporting Lisbon; and DeAndre Yedlin from Seattle Sounders – though the promising twenty-one-year-old right-back, who impressed with storming runs down the flank for the United States during the World Cup, will remain with Seattle for the time being.
Mauricio Pochettino will focus on moulding the players signed last summer into a coherent team. Tottenham certainly have the squad to excel in his preferred 4-2-3-1 system, and players capable of passing the ball incisively and quickly building attacks. As well as the emergence of Dier in the defence and Nabil Bentaleb in the centre of midfield, this season should see improved performances from Christian Eriksen and Erik Lamela.
Last Season: 6th – Predicted Finish: 6th
Potential XI: (4-2-3-1) Loris, Walker, Rose, Kaboul, Vertonghen, Capoue, Holtby, Lennon, Eriksen, Lamela, Adebayor
West Brom
The appointment of Alan Irvine as West Brom’s new manager, and only on a twelve-month rolling contract, has underwhelmed. West Brom have been busy in the transfer market. The striker Brown Ideye, from Dynamo Kiev, is the club’s most expensive purchase at £10 million – but he is also the club’s only attacking signing. Otherwise, a host of defenders have arrived, including the attacking Costa Rican right-back Cristian Gamboa; the experienced left-back Sebastien Pocognoli; another left-back in Australia’s Jason Davidson; Joleon Lescott and Chris Baird, who have signed on frees transfers; and Andre Wisdom, from Liverpool on loan. Craig Gardner also arrives on a free from Sunderland to add depth in the midfield.
Gamboa may be utilised higher up the pitch, but West Brom need additional pace and quality in the attack if it isn’t going to prove a very long season. As things stand, whatever qualites Victor Anichebe presents, he is not a goalscorer, so the side will be heavily reliant on Ideye.
Last Season: 17th – Predicted Finish: 19th
Potential XI: (4-5-1) Foster, Gamboa, Pocognoli, Olssen, Lescott, Mulumbu, Yacob, Sessegnon, Dorrans, Brunt, Ideye
West Ham
Still under Sam ‘Fat Sam’ Allardyce, West Ham have been unusually outgoing with their summer incomings. Enner Valencia arrives for £12 million after three goals for Ecuador in the World Cup. In Andy Carroll’s ongoing absence owing to a litany of injury troubles, Diafra Sakho has also signed for around £3.5 million from Metz, to provide West Ham with a new-look strikeforce going into the season. In the long term, though Valencia is blessed with a prodigious leap, it will be interesting to see whether Allardyce relies on him to lead the attack – or instead plays him from wide or partners him with a taller striker in Sakho or Carlton Cole.
The defensive midfielder Cheikhou Kouyate comes in for £7 million from Anderlecht. And West Ham have also signed the left-back Aaron Cresswell from Ipswich, the young midfielder Diego Poyet from Charlton, and forward Mauro Zarate – once of Birmingham, and looking to revitalise his career – on a free transfer. Carl Jenkinson arrives from Arsenal on a season-long loan.
Last Season: 13th – Predicted Finish: 13th
Potential XI: (4-2-3-1) Adrian, Jenkinson, Cresswell, Collins, Reid, Kouyate, Noble, Downing, Nolan, Diame, Valencia
