Here we take a look at five more Cross-Competition RequestABets from Sky Bet ahead of the upcoming 2023/24 season, with the likes of the Championship, League One and League Two set to kick-off this weekend.
Here we take a look at five more Cross-Competition RequestABets from Sky Bet ahead of the upcoming 2023/24 season, with the likes of the Championship, League One and League Two set to kick-off this weekend.
Manchester United will be expected to finish in the top four of the Premier League this season, having already acquired the likes of Andre Onana and Mason Mount, while Rasmus Hojlund also looks Old Trafford bound. Last season, Erik ten Hag’s men impressed with a third-place finish while accumulating 75 points.
Fulham could have a tricky campaign, with reports that talismanic figure Aleksandar Mitrovic is looking to leave Craven Cottage. Marco Silva’s men finished 10th last season.
Nottingham Forest could be in trouble in the 2023/24 season if they fail to add any extra quality to their squad, having made some subtle improvements to areas of their squad by signing the likes of Anthony Elanga, however, they will no doubt be keen to replace the likes of Kaylor Navas and Renan Lodi adequately having seen their loan spells end.
Rotherham United finished just six points above the relegation zone last season which in truth was a fortunate escape having seen Reading deducted six points in the final relegation place. The Millers have lost some key players in Wes Harding, Josh Vickers and Chiedozie Ogbene and it is yet to see if they have been adequately replaced.
Southampton will be expected to fight for automatic promotion this season having managed to retain the majority of their squad that suffered relegation from the Premier League, as the likes of James Ward-Prowse, Carlos Alcaraz and more have all stayed at St Mary’s.
Brentford could have an awkward campaign following news back in May that Ivan Toney will serve an eight-month ban. Last season, the ex-Peterborough United striker was the only Bees player to hit double-figure goals across all competitions, scoring 21 in 35 appearances.
Wolverhampton Wanderers are expected to finish in the bottom half again following the sales of several key players such as Ruben Neves, Nathan Collins, Conor Coady and Raul Jimenez, while also allowing Diego Costa and Adama Traore to leave the club on free transfers.
Leicester City are the favourites to win the Championship heading into the new season, having retained a lot of high-quality players such as Ricardo Pereira, Wilfried Ndidi, Jamie Vardy and more while adding Coady, Harry Winks and Stephy Mavididi to their roster.
As mentioned above, Southampton are expected to challenge the likes of Leicester and Leeds United for the automatic promotion places having kept hold of many star assets.
Charlton Athletic have made some good additions to their playing staff this summer, acquiring the likes of Harry Isted, Lloyd Jones, Panutche Camara, Tayo Edun, Alfie May and Terry Taylor. Dean Holden will be hoping that his side can improve on their 10th-place finish last time out. Wycombe Wanderers will be hoping for another top-half finish, having ended their 2022/23 campaign in 9th place.
Last season, Bradford City and Salford finished sixth and seventh in League Two and were both beaten in the play-off semi-finals. Both sides have invested heavily in their squads once again for the upcoming campaign and will be fancied to challenge for the automatic promotion places.
Sheffield United look like a certainty to be relegated from the Premier League this season due to financial constraints. The Bramall Lane club are set to lose star man Ilman Ndiaye to Marseille, while also allowing the likes of experienced campaigners Enda Stevens and Jack O’Connell to leave on free transfers.
Leicester are the favourites to win the Championship as a whole, so a top-six finish shouldn’t be an issue for Enzo Maresca’s side. Meanwhile, Sunderland will be hoping to finish in the play-off places in back-to-back seasons - the Black Cats have added some good quality to their squad in the shapes of Jobe Bellingham and Bradley Dack.
Bolton were play-off semi-finalists last season in another good campaign for Ian Evatt’s side. The Trotters have added a series of talented youngsters to their side such as Paris Maghoma from Brentford, as well as Natha Baxter, Charlie Hayes-Green and Carlos Mendes Gomes.
Derby finished just one point outside of the play-offs last season in what was a disappointing campaign for Paul Warne’s men. However, this time around they have a much more settled squad and have added some good quality to it such as Sonny Bradley, Curtis Nelson, Callum Elder, Bradley Johnson and more.
Notts County and Stockport will be expected to compete for the automatic promotion places in League Two, especially after the former managed 107 points in the National League while scoring 117 times. Stockport narrowly missed out on promotion to League One last time out, having finished fourth in the table and as runners-up in the play-off final.
Erling Haaland will be keen to impress once again following his record-breaking first season at Manchester City, where the Norwegian scored a staggering 36 goals in 35 Premier League appearances.
City are expected to win the Premier League having managed to do so in five of the last six seasons. As mentioned above, Wolves could be in for a tough time this campaign having lost a series of key players due to FFP issues.
Leicester are expected to bounce back to the top flight at the first time of asking while Birmingham City will be hoping to make a mark in the Championship this season under new ownership, having acquired plenty of talented players such as Ethan Laird, Dion Sanderson, Lee Buchanan, Krystian Bielik, Siriki Dembele and more.
Wrexham are the favourites to win League Two this campaign due to their squad already being a mix of League One and League Two talents. The Racecourse Ground club managed to accumulate 111 points in last season’s National League.
Meanwhile, Middlesbrough will be hoping to continue their upwards trajectory under Michael Carrick following their fourth-placed finish last season. Derby are also expected to finish in the play-off places in League One.
Notts County are expected to challenge for the automatic places in League Two following their 107 points haul in the National League during the 2022/23 season. There is a lot of optimism around Meadow Lane ahead of the new season, especially after signing the likes of David McGoldrick.
Hull City will be hoping to have a progressive campaign following their 15th-place finish in the Championship. The Tigers look to have strengthened their squad by signing the likes of Liam Delap, Ruben Vinagre, Aaron Connolly, Jason Lokilo and Xavier Simons.
As previously mentioned, Sheffield United are expected to be in for a tough time in the Premier League due to a lack of funds to strengthen their squad for the upcoming campaign.
Rotherham will need to improve should they want to avoid relegation from the Championship in the 2023/24 season, with the Millers only finishing six points above the bottom three last time out after Reading were deducted six points for breaking financial regulations.
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