Everton
Manager:
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND – AUGUST 02: Kevin Mirallas of Everton in action during the Duncan Ferguson Testimonial match between Everton and Villarreal at Goodison Park on August 2, 2015 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)
Roberto Martinez
Most Influential Player:
Romelu Lukaku
Last Season’s Finish:
11th
Predicted Finish:
Midtable
Transfers In:
Gerard Deulofeu, RW, for £4.22m from Barcelona
Tom Cleverley, CM, Free Transfer from Manchester United
Transfers Out:
Sylvain Distin, CB, Free Transfer to Bournemouth
Preview:
Everton had a disappointing Premier League campaign last season. That’s putting it mildly. There was a time where people were predicting relegation for them. This season, there hasn’t been too much activity in the transfer market, bringing Gerard Deulofeu back and Tom Cleverley on a free. The biggest decider on their season, however, will be last season’s permanent signings bedding in and if Everton can get back the swagger that saw them 5th in 2013/14.
Leicester City
Manager:
BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND – AUGUST 01: Jamie Vardy of Leicester City during the Pre-Season Friendly match between Birmingham City and Leicester City at St Andrews (stadium) on August 1, 2015 in Birmingham, England. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)
Claudio Ranieri
Most Influential Player:
Kasper Schmeichel
Last Season’s Finish:
14th
Predicted Finish:
Relegation
Transfers In:
Shinji Okazaki, ST, for £7.73m from FSV Mainz 05
N’Golo Kante, CM, for £5.62m from SM Caen
Yohan Benalouane, CB, for £4.92m from Atalanta
Robert Huth, CB, for £2.95m from Stoke
Christian Fuchs, LB, Free Transfer from FC Shalke 04
Transfers Out:
Matthew Upson, CB, Free Transfer to MK Dons
Anthony Knockaert, RW, Free Transfer to Standard Liege
Chris Wood, CF, for an Unannounced Fee to Leeds
Esteban Cmabiasso, DM, Released
Preview:
Having just survived relegation by the skin of their teeth, 2015/16 will most likely see Leicester City drop. Leicester were in dire form for most of the 2014/15 season. It was only a miraculous uptick in form that saw them earn another season in the Premier League. This season will see Leicester City hope to maintain that form, but it is difficult to see that happening. Sadly, we will most likely be seeing Leicester in the Championship next season.
Liverpool
Manager:
during the international friendly match between Adelaide United and Liverpool FC at Adelaide Oval on July 20, 2015 in Adelaide, Australia.
Brendan Rodgers
Most Influential Player:
Philippe Coutinho
Last Season’s Finish:
6th
Predicted Finish:
Europa League
Transfers In:
Christian Benteke, ST, for £32.5m from Aston Villa
Roberto Firmino, AM, for £28.82m from TSG Hoffenheim
Nathaniel Clyne, RB, for £12m from Southampton
Joe Gomez, CB, for £3.44m from Charlton
Adam Bogdan, GK, Free Transfer from Bolton
James Milner, CM, Free Transfer from Manchester City
Danny Ings, ST, Free Transfer from Burnley
Transfers Out:
Raheem Sterling, RW, for £49m to Manchester City
Iago Aspas, ST, for £4.22m to Sevilla FC
Rickie Lambert, ST, for £3m to West Brom
Sebastian Coates, CB, for £2m to Sunderland
Steven Gerrard, CM, Free Transfer to LA Galaxy
Glen Johnson, RB, Free Transfer to Stoke
Brad Jones, GK, Released
Preview:
This is last chance saloon for Brendan Rodgers. After a whirlwind 2013/14 season and a cataclysmic 2014/15 season, Rodgers will need to set things right. Only Top 4 or 5th and a cup win will see him keep his job. With Jurgen Klopp available, the latter of the two might not even be enough. Rodgers has set about this summer in buying quality instead of promise in Christian Benteke and Roberto Firmino to bring back the goals that flowed so freely in 2013/14. Where Liverpool place this season will be determined by how they start the season, as they have one of the toughest opening schedules in the Premier League. Do well there, and Top 4 and beyond could be open to them.
Manchester City
Manager:
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – JULY 24: Bacary Sagna of Manchester City controls the ball during the International Champions Cup match between Real Madrid and Manchester City at Melbourne Cricket Ground on July 24, 2015 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Daniel Pockett/Getty Images for International Champions Cup)
Manuel Pellegrini
Most Influential Player:
Sergio Aguero
Last Season’s Finish:
2nd
Predicted Finish:
Champions League
Transfers In:
Raheem Sterling, RW, for £49m from Liverpool
Fabian Delph, CM, for £8m from Aston Villa
Transfers Out:
Alvaro Nergedo, ST, for £21m to Valencia CF
Matija Nastasic, CB, for £6.68m to FC Shalke 04
Karim Rekik, CD, for £3.5m to Marseille
Scott Sinclair, LW, £2.46m to Aston Villa
Stevan Jovetic, ST, On Loan to Inter Milan
Micah Richards, CB, Free Transfer to Aston Villa
James Milner, CM, Free Transfer to Liverpool
Preview:
Manchester City are a team in transition right now. They still have some amazing talent in Aguero, Silva, Nasri, Toure, Kompany, Hart. The list goes on. But those players, Toure and Kompany especially, are getting older and Aguero has been very injury prone the last couple of seasons. The team is in desperate need to revitalization. The moves for Raheem Sterling and Fabian Delph should help bring some youth into the squad, but it probably won’t be enough to win them the Premier League. This hasn’t taking the severe lack of enthusiasm that infected the team last season. This squad will either finish 2nd this season or outside of the Top 4. And it’s very tough to tell right now.
Manchester United
Manager:
CHICAGO, IL – JULY 29: Juan Mata #8 of Manchester United moves against Benjamin Stambouli #4 of Paris Saint-Germain during a match in the 2015 International Champions Cup at Soldier Field on July 29, 2015 in Chicago, Illinois. Paris Saint-Germain defeated Manchester United 2-0. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)
Louis Van Gaal
Most Influential Player:
Wayne Rooney
Last Season’s Finish:
4th
Predicted Finish:
Champions League
Transfers In:
Morgan Schneiderlin, DM, for £24.6m from Southampton
Memphis Depay, LW, for £25m from PSV Eindhoven
Bastian Schweinsteiger, CM, for £12.65m from Bayern Munich
Matteo Darmian, RB, for £12.65m from Torino
Sergio Romero, GK, Free Transfer from Sampdoria
Transfers Out:
Nani, RW, for £4.22m to Fenerbahce
Robin van Persie, ST, for £3.87m to Fenerbahce
Tom Cleverley, CM, Free Transfer to Everton
Ben Amos, GK, Free Transfer to Bolton
Falcao, ST, End of Loan, Returns to Monaco
Preview:
With the amount of money that has been spent this summer, after the amount spent last summer and a possible £22m more for Barcelona’s Pedro, a title challenge is a must. The amount spent will be offset by the sale of Angel Di Maria to PSG, not yet confirmed, but there will be a massive amount of pressure on this United team. While they have boosted their strength in midfield, the massive problem with their defense has yet to be solved. They still need another striker to compete with Wayne Rooney as well. It is telling that after spending £80m (with spending possibly going over £100m), the consensus is that they still need a few players. Should David de Gea complete his drawn out transfer to Real Madrid this window, United will be in even more trouble. Manchester United will most likely end up somewhere between 5th and 3rd this season.
