needed time as the club operates under
a global transfer ban and prepares for
life after Eden Hazard.
Lampard has already indicated he
will favour youth, with opportunities for
Tammy Abraham, Mason Mount and
Reece James as well as England’s Ruben
Loftus-Cheek and Callum Hudson-Odoi.
The reliance on youth is laudable but
Chelsea supporters will need patience if
Lampard is to succeed in the long term.
At Arsenal, Unai Emery prepared
for the new season amid protests from
fan groups who called on owner Stan
Kroenke to “reinvigorate” the club. The
American billionaire was accused of
being “passive” and using the club as an
“investment vehicle”. Kroenke’s son Josh,
a club director, responded by claiming
Arsenal had a “Champions League wage
bill with a Europa League transfer
budget”. That would explain the low
offers for full-back Kieran Tierney and
winger Wilfried Zaha that were dismissed
by Celtic and Crystal Palace respectively.
Kroenke Junior deserves praise for
engaging with fans in a way that his
father has so far refused to do, but
Arsenal remain a club lacking in
leadership following the departure
of CEO Ivan Gazidis to Milan. The
appointment of former midfielder Edu as
director of football may improve matters.
Manchester United’s transfer strategy
is crying out to be overseen by a director
of football as manager Ole Gunnar
Solskjaer attempts to recruit for a Europa
League campaign. The emphasis on
youth was clear with the signings of
winger Daniel James (Swansea) and
Aaron Wan-Bissaka (Crystal Palace) but
the ongoing stand-off with Paul Pogba
suggests that many of the player-power
problems faced by Jose Mourinho remain.
Below the top six, the challengers are
lining up. Wolves, impressive last season
when finishing seventh, concluded deals
for the previously on-loan Leander
Dendoncker (Anderlecht) and Raul
Jimenez (Benfica) but face the added
challenge of a European campaign for
the first time in almost 40 years.
Leicester look like they have regained
their mojo under Brendan Rodgers, withinteresting deals for Belgian midfielder
Youri Tielemans (Monaco), striker Ayoze
Perez (Newcastle) and full-back Justin
James (Luton).
Everton, who have done a permanent
deal for Andre Gomes (Barcelona) and
added Fabian Delph (Man City), will be a
threat if they can add consistency to last
season’s more impressive performances.
West Ham could challenge following
the exciting transfers of forwards
Sebastien Haller (Eintracht Frankfurt) and
Pablo Fornals (Villarreal). The departures
of Andy Carroll and Marko Arnautovic
suggest Manuel Pellegrini is crafting a
team in his own image.
It could be a more competitive bottom
half of the table compared to last season.
Promoted Aston Villa have invested
heavily in new signings, but in contrast to
Fulham’s supermarket sweep a year ago
they have bought players known to
manager Dean Smith.
The other promoted sides,
Norwich City and Sheffield
United, begin as relegation
favourites, along with
Newcastle United, where
Steve Bruce was persuaded
to take on the onerous task
of replacing Rafa Benitez,
who opted to sign a lucrative
contract with Chinese side
Dalian Yifang after losing
patience with owner MikeAshley. “I didn’t just want to sign an
extended contract, I wanted to be
part of a project,” said Benitez.
Newcastle’s problems were
compounded by Leicester taking
advantage to step in and pay a £30m
release clause for Perez, the club’s
top scorer last season. Newcastle
increasingly look like a Championship
squad with a Championship manager.
Southampton look set to continue
their resurgence under Austrian boss
Ralph Husenhuttl but a number of other
teams look harder to call. Crystal Palace
were battling to keep star winger Zaha,
while Brighton are seeking a more
attacking direction under the innovative
but inexperienced Graham Potter,
formerly of Swansea and previously
with Ostersund.
Meanwhile, how well will Watford
respond to last season’s FA Cup Final
humiliation? And can Bournemouth and
Burnley continue to defy the odds under
English managers Eddie Howe and Sean
Dyche respectively?
Gavin Hamilton(^) NORWICH CITY
The Championship winners have been
reinvigorated by German coach Daniel
Farke since relegation from the Premier
League two years ago. Signings so far
have been modest.
(^) SHEFFIELD UNITED
Back in the top flight for the first time
since 2007 with a local-born manager
in Chris Wilder, who has worked his way
through the divisions.
(^) ASTON VILLA
Play-off winners over Derby County,
they have spent heavily over the
summer, including £20m on defender
Tyrone Mings (Bournemouth), £22m
on Brazilian striker Wesley (Brugge)
and £12m on defender Ezri Konsa
(Brentford). They have also kept a
gem in midfielder Jack Grealish.
ENGLAND PREMIER LEAGUE (^) 2019-20
Newcastle increasingly look like
a Championship squad with a
Championship manager
Youth... Aaron
Wan-Bissaka
Interesting...
Youri Tielemans
Up...Norwich (in
yellow) and Villa
Permanent
...Leander
Dendoncker
PROMOTED TEAMS