Ipswich Town are back in the big time - and there's a lot going on ahead of the new campaign.
Alex Jones has picked out the main talking points at all 20 Premier League clubs.
Arsenal
After two years of falling just short in the title race, how do they bridge the gap? Arsenal finished five points behind Manchester City in 2022/23 and just two points behind them last season.
Is it just a case of needing extra recruits this season, or does something have to change tactically or mentally to get them over the line? Regardless, they’ll be expecting another battle with Pep Guardiola’s men next season.
Aston Villa
Aston Villa’s finish to last season was really poor. They limped over the line to secure a top-four finish and were comfortably beaten by Olympiacos in the Europa Conference League semi-finals.
Now they’re in the Champions League, so how will they manage to balance a run in Europe’s elite competition with remaining consistent in the Premier League? They’ll want to do better than Newcastle United did last season.
Bournemouth
What does continuous improvement look like for Bournemouth? They finished 15th in their first season back in the Premier League in 2022/23, and they ended last season in 12th despite an underwhelming start, boasting their highest ever points total in the top flight.
Is there an argument that - given their spending - manager Andoni Iraola should now have his eyes on a top-half finish and even a European spot? It’s a big ask, but stagnating in the bottom half won’t suit the owners’ clear ambitions.
Brentford
What happens with Ivan Toney? The striker has been linked with a move away for a couple of seasons now, one which was ultimately scuppered by his lengthy ban for gambling.
His form hasn’t been quite as hot since returning in mid-January, but his quality is clear for all to see and he’s currently away with England. How would Brentford reinvest the money, and how would they cope without him in a potential relegation battle?
Brighton & Hove Albion
Roberto De Zerbi is gone. Brighton didn’t get Kieran McKenna or Graham Potter, so what are the expectations under 31-year-old Fabian Hürzeler who’s never managed above of the German second tier?
The Seagulls’ clever recruitment will surely remain, but they won’t want another bottom-half finish, even if they were distracted by their debut Europa League campaign.
Chelsea
Similar to Brighton, what are the expectations under the new manager? Chelsea have parted company with Mauricio Pochettino and brought in a new boss, Enzo Maresca, who was managing in the Championship last season.
Yes, he’ll be backed heavily, but there are clear question marks given how he was was criticised towards the end of his time at Leicester City. Can he make the step up at one of the biggest clubs in the world - especially given their record of hiring and firing?
Crystal Palace
Crystal Palace are in a similar position to Bournemouth. What’s next? The Eagles looked lost under Roy Hodgson, but their form at the end of the campaign under Oliver Glasner was remarkable.
Of course, they’ve got some big names that they need to try and hold on to. Michael Olise is reportedly set to join Bayern Munich, and Eberechi Eze or Marc Guehi leaving would leave a huge gap in their squad. The Eagles might have to change up their squad this summer.
Everton
What’s happening with the takeover? The Toffees’ points deductions were significant last season, even though they secured safety with relative ease in the end.
Dan Friedkin has been granted exclusivity, but the longer this drags on, the more uncertainty will linger around their short-term future. It can’t be easy to make signings while everything is up in the air, and even then, it'll take time to get everything sorted out at the club.
Fulham
Looks like Fulham will be planning for life without Palhinha. The Portuguese midfielder is reportedly set for a big-money move to Bayern Munich, leaving the Cottagers with a significant transfer fee and a hole in their midfield.
In recent years, Fulham’s poor transfer business has seen them drop down to the Championship, but they’ve been much better recently. Can they continue that trend this summer?
Ipswich Town
How competitive can Ipswich be? We’ve already seen countless transfer links, but whether that’s a reflection of the budget remains to be seen.
The big story will be Omari Hutchinson. Can the Blues strike a deal to bring him back after stunning loan spell at Portman Road last season?
Leicester City
What’s going on? Leicester City seemingly need to sell quite a few assets before the end of June to avoid an FFP charge, and that’s looking unlikely at the moment.
How much will that limit them this summer, and how hard will that make life for new boss Steve Cooper? He’s got a job to win the fans over at the King Power Stadium.
Liverpool
The new era has begun at Anfield. Jurgen Klopp was adored and won pretty much every trophy there was to win during his time with Liverpool, so Arne Slot has big shoes to fill.
Will the Dutchman be afforded time if he needs it? He’s never managed outside of the Netherlands, but he’ll be expected to lead his new side straight into a title challenge.
Man City
The elephant in the room is the 116 charges that lie over Manchester City for financial mismanagement, and that talking point will rumble on until a decision is made about whether they should be punished.
On the pitch, how can you build on perfection? Reclaiming their Champions League title while maintaining their Premier League form will be the top priority - is it all about winning a quadruple now?
Manchester United
The Erik ten Hag saga is over and he’s going to stay - for now. Manchester United will expect to be much better next season, but how much of an overhaul will happen under INEOS in the next couple of months?
It sounds like it’ll be a busy summer, but turning a side that finished the season in dire form into one that’s even somewhat competitive at the top end of the table will be a real challenge.
Newcastle United
How much pull have Newcastle United got? Last summer, the Magpies were able to attract some real superstars due to their Champions League status. They won’t be in Europe at all next season.
Will FFP hamstring them in the market? Perhaps they’ll move on Bruno Guimaraes to free up some extra room in their transfer budget. They’re the richest club in the world, but it’ll be fascinating to see how much money they get to spend this summer.
Nottingham Forest
Those three letters again - FFP. Nottingham Forest had a point deduction last season, only narrowly avoiding relegation. They’ve surely got to me more careful this summer.
So the question will be how they improve a team that struggled without breaking the bank and incurring further penalties. It’ll be easier said than done.
Southampton
Is Russell Martin a Premier League manager? His promotion with Southampton is the first success on his CV, and given the strength in depth that the Saints had last season, it wasn’t a huge surprise that they came straight back up.
Survival in the top flight would be a significant achievement, especially if his side can do it using the possession-based style that Martin prefers.
Tottenham Hotspur
How do you change a club that has such strong issues at its core? Manager Ange Postecoglou slammed their mentality following his side’s defeat to Manchester City - a result which cost Arsenal the Premier League title.
Can it be improved with departures and signings, or is it deeper-rooted than that? How long will Postecoglou be able to accept it?
West Ham
David Moyes’ second spell at West Ham lasted five years. They’ve now switched to Julen Lopetegui, who’ll be expected to guide the Hammers back into Europe.
The sale of Lucas Paqueta was expected to raise some significant funds, but if he’s handed a ban for his spot-fixing charge, that could scupper a move. How do they approach the summer transfer window when they’re lacking squad depth?
Wolves
Once again, we’re going to have to talk about FFP. Wolves narrowly dodged a punishment for breaking the rules, but they’re not expected to have a big budget this summer.
Pedro Neto could move on this summer, and that’ll open up some extra funds to spend but also see them lose a huge asset in the final third.
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