Arsenal
Manager Arsene Wenger
Key arrivals Yaya Sanogo (Auxerre, Fra)
Key departures Andrei Arshavin (Zenit, Rus), Francis Coquelin (Freiburg, Ger, on loan), Johan Djourou (Hamburg, Ger, on loan), Vito Mannone (Sunderland), Sebastian Squillaci (released), Marouane Chamakh (Crystal Palace)
In excellent form in the second half of last season, but have so far resisted any big-money signings, despite having money to spend.
Aston Villa
Manager Paul Lambert
Key arrivals Leandro Bacuna (Groningen, Hol), Nicklas Helenius (Aalborg, Den), Antonio Luna (Sevilla, Spa), Jores Okore (Nordsjaelland, Den), Jed Steer (Norwich City), Aleksandar Tonev (Lech Poznan, Pol)
Key departures Richard Dunne (QPR), Jean Makoun (Rennes, Fra)
Last season’s gamble on youth paid off and there has been plenty of activity in the transfer market this summer with the emphasis on more young talent. However, the loss of striker Christian Benteke would be a big blow if he moves.
Cardiff City
Manager Malky Mackay
Key arrivals Andreas Cornelius (Copenhagen, Den), Gary Medel (Sevilla, Spain), Stephen Caulker (Tottenham Hotspur), John Brayford (Derby County)
Key departures Heidar Helguson (retired), Stephen McPhail (released)
Last season’s second-tier champions have spent heavily on Cornelius, but they still look short on quality, despite the presence of Craig Bellamy. Their title was based on a tight defence that will be tested to the limits this season.
Chelsea
Manager Jose Mourinho
Key arrivals Marco Van Ginkel (Vitesse, Hol), Andre Schurrle (Bayer Leverkusen, Ger), Mark Schwarzer (Fulham), Stipe Perica (NK Zadar, Croatia)
Key departures Yossi Benayoun (released), Paulo Ferreira (retired), Florent Malouda (Trabzonspor, Tur), Marko Marin (Sevilla, Spa,
on loan), Oriol Romeu (Valencia, Spa, on loan), Patrick Van Aanholt (Vitesse, Hol, on loan)
Mourinho’s return has raised expectations and a stronger challenge to the Manchester clubs is expected. However, outbid by PSG for Edinson Cavani and knocked back by United over Wayne Rooney, they are still seeking reinforcements. Expect
a big signing before deadline day.
Crystal Palace
Manager Ian Holloway
Key arrivals Jose Campana (Sevilla, Spa), Stephen Dobbie (Brighton & Hove Albion), Dwight Gayle (Peterborough United), Jerome Thomas (West Brom), Marouane Chamakh (Arsenal)
Key departures Jermaine Easter (Millwall), Andre Moritz (released), Wilfred Zaha (Manchester United)
The Championship play-off winners have been written off before the season even starts after selling Zaha and losing top scorer Glenn Murray to long-term injury. However, Holloway’s teams have surprised in the past and the signing of Spain’s Under-20 captain Campana is intriguing.
Everton
Manager Roberto Martinez
Key arrivals Antolin Alcaraz (Wigan Athletic), Gerard Deulofeu (Barcelona, on loan), Arouna Kone (Wigan Athletic), Joel Robles (Wigan Athletic)
Key departures Thomas Hitzlsperger (released), Phil Neville (retired)
All change at Goodison with the departure of the long-serving David Moyes to Manchester United and the arrival of Martinez from Wigan. The Spaniard’s style of football will please fans but he faces a battle to keep Leighton Baines and Marouane Fellaini.
Fulham
Manager Martin Jol
Key arrivals Fernando Amorebieta (Athletic Bilbao, Spa), Derek Boateng (Dnipro, Ukr), Sascha Riether (Cologne, Ger), Maarten Stekelenburg (Roma, Ita), Darren Bent Aston Villa on loan)
Key departures Chris Baird (released), Dan Burn (Birmingham City, on loan), Simon Davies (released), Mark Schwarzer (Chelsea)
There is a new owner at Craven Cottage as US billionaire Shahid Khan replaces Mohamed Al Fayed, who has sold up after 16 years. This summer’s signings look useful without being inspired, but the spark, if it comes, will continue to be provided by Dimitar Berbatov and Bryan Ruiz.
Hull City
Manager Steve Bruce
Key arrivals George Boyd (Peterborough United), Curtis Davies (Birmingham City), Ahmed Elmohamady (Sunderland), Maynor Figueroa (Wigan Athletic), Steve Harper (Newcastle United), Allan McGregor (Besiktas, Tur)
Key departures none
Promoted from the Championship in second place behind Cardiff, Hull have an experienced campaigner in Bruce but they need a good start to avoid being dragged into a relegation fight.
Liverpool
Manager Brendan Rodgers
Key arrivals Luis Alberto (Sevilla, Spa), Iago Aspas (Celta Vigo, Spa), Simon Mignolet (Sunderland), Kolo Toure (Manchester City)
Key departures Jamie Carragher (retired), Andy Carroll (West Ham United), Jonjo Shelvey (Swansea City), Suso (Almeria, Spa, on loan), Danny Wilson (Hearts, Sco), Stewart Downing (West Ham)
A productive summer in the transfer market as Rodgers continues to rebuild the club, with exciting youngsters playing attractive, attacking football. But the good work could all be for nothing if Luis Suarez departs.
Manchester City
Manager Manuel Pellegrini
Key arrivals Fernandinho (Shakhtar Donetsk, Ukr), Jesus Navas (Sevilla, Spa), Alvaro Negredo (Sevilla, Spa), Stevan Jovetic (Fiorentina, Italy)
Key departures Wayne Bridge (Reading), Carlos Tevez (Juventus, Ita), Kolo Toure (Liverpool), Roque Santa Cruz (Malaga, Spa)
Despite second place and a Cup Final, last season was a missed opportunity to push on, and Roberto Mancini paid the price. Pellegrini likes his teams to attack, and Fernandinho, Negredo and Navas look exciting, if expensive, additions. European progress is expected, as well as a title challenge.
Manchester United
Manager David Moyes
Key arrivals Guillermo Varela (Penarol, Uru), Wilfred Zaha (Crystal Palace)
Key departures none
United start a season without Alex Ferguson for the first time in 27 years but the signs are that Moyes will be given time to build his own side. His low-key transfer dealings at Everton will have appealed to the United hierarchy but money must be spent to give United
more creativity in midfield. Wayne Rooney’s future is still unclear.
Newcastle United
Manager Alan Pardew
Key arrivals Olivier Kemen (Metz, Fra), Loic Remy (QPR)
Key departures Steve Harper (Hull City), James Perch (Wigan Athletic), Danny Simpson (QPR)
A peculiar summer on Tyneside, with club owner Mike Ashley ridiculed for the appointment of “old school” manager Joe Kinnear as director of football. Relations between Ashley and Pardew appear strained and a continuation of last season’s poor form is a strong possibility.
Norwich City
Manager Chris Hughton
Key arrivals Leroy Fer (Twente, Hol), Javier Garrido (Lazio, Ita), Carlo Nash (Stoke City), Martin Olsson (Blackburn Rovers), Nathan Redmond (Birmingham City), Ricky Van Wolfswinkel (Sporting Lisbon, Por), Leroy Fer (FC Twente, Holland), Gary Hooper (Celtic, Scotland)
Key departures Grant Holt (Wigan Athletic), Jed Steer (Aston Villa), James Vaughan (Huddersfield Town)
Van Wolfswinkel arrives as a club record signing at £8.5m with a brief to supply the goals that were lacking last season. Club hero Holt has left but Norwich look to have enough to survive.
Southampton
Manager Mauricio Pochettino
Key arrivals Dejan Lovren (Lyon, Fra), Victor Wanyama (Celtic, Sco),
Key departures Tadanari Lee (FC Tokyo, Japan, loan)
The brutal mid-season sacking of Nigel Adkins surprised many last season, but Pochettino kept Southampton up. The new signings, especially the highly rated Wanyama, should help the consolidation process.
Stoke City
Manager Mark Hughes
Key arrivals Marc Muniesa (Barcelona, Spa), Erik Pieters (PSV, Hol), Juan Agudelo (New England Patriots, USA)
Key departures Rory Delap (released), Michael Owen (retired), Mamady Sidibe (released), Matthew Upson (Brighton & Hove Albion), Dean Whitehead (Middlesbrough)
A new era begins under Hughes and Stoke fans hope that he can introduce a new playing style without jeopardising the results that, under Tony Pulis, kept Stoke up. Could be a struggle.
Sunderland
Manager Paolo Di Canio
Key arrivals Jozy Altidore (AZ, Hol), El Hadji Ba (Le Havre, Fra), Cabral (Basle, Swi), Modibo Diakite (Lazio, Ita), Emanuele Giaccherini (Juventus, Ita), David Moberg Karlsson (Gothenburg, Swe), Vito Mannone (Arsenal), Valentin Roberge (Maritimo, Por), Duncan Watmore (Altrincham)
Key departures Titus Bramble (released), Ahmed Elmohamady (Hull City), Matthew Kilgallon (Blackburn Rovers), Simon Mignolet (Liverpool)
Could be a bumpy ride, with plenty of new arrivals, of which few are well-known, and a manager with little top-flight experience.
Swansea City
Manager Michael Laudrup
Key arrivals Jordi Amat (Espanyol, Spa), Wilfried Bony (Vitesse, Hol), Jose Canas (Real Betis, Spa), Jonathan De Guzman (Villarreal, Spa, on loan), Alex Gogic (Olympiakos, Gre), Alejandro Pozuelo (Real Betis, Spa), Jonjo Shelvey (Liverpool), Gregor Zabret (Domzale, Sln)
Key departures Kyle Bartley (Birmingham City, on loan), David Cornell (St Mirren, Sco, on loan), Gwion Edwards (St Johnstone, Sco, on loan)
A summer of discontent off the pitch, with Laudrup’s agent Bayram Tutumlu banned by the club after reportedly trying to do deals behind their back. The club transfer record was smashed to sign £12m Bony.
Tottenham Hotspur
Manager Andre Villas-Boas
Key arrivals Paulinho (Corinthians, Bra), Roberto Soldado (Valencia, Spain), Etienne Capoue (FC Toulouse, France), Nacer Chadli (FC Twente, Holland)
Key departures David Bentley (released), William Gallas (released)
Paulinho was expensive at £17m, but he excelled at the Confed Cup. If, as looks likely, Gareth Bale stays, Spurs will be genuine contenders.
WBA
Manager Steve Clarke
Key arrivals Nicolas Anelka (Juventus, Ita), Goran Popov (Dynamo Kiev, Ukr, on loan)
Key departures Marc-Antoine Fortune (Wigan Athletic), Zoltan Gera (released), Gonzalo Jara (released), Jerome Thomas (Crystal Palace)
With Romelu Lukaku back at Chelsea, and Peter Odemwingie ostracised, goals could be a problem, unless veteran Anelka can provide.
WEST HAM UNITED
Manager Sam Allardyce
Key arrivals Adrian (Real Betis, Spa), Andy Carroll (Liverpool), Razvan Rat (Shakhtar Donetsk, Ukr), Daniel Whitehead (Stockport County), Stewart Downing (Liverpool)
Key departures Carlton Cole (released), Robert Hall (Bolton Wanderers)
After his spell on loan at Upton Park last season, the Hammers have broken the bank to land £15m Carroll – an expensive
but probably successful way to consolidate their top-flight status.
