Reading: Players In: Chris Gunter (Forest, Undisc.), Danny Guthrie (Newcastle, Undisc.), Arian Mariappa (Watford, Undisc.), Garath McCleary (Forest, free), Pavel Pogrebnyak (Stuttgart, free), Nicky Shorey (WBA, Undisc.) Players Out: Michail Antonio
When Reading first came into the Premiership, they were a breath of fresh air and caught everyone by surprise. Unfortunately, it's going to be a lot more difficult this season but they have made a couple of decent signings. Pogrebnyak made a great addition to Fulham towards the end of last season and could provide a good partnership with Noel Hunt and Adam Le Fondre. Guthrie and Shorey will provide that Premiership experience while McCleary and Mariappa will look to be able to make that step up. It is going to be a tough season for them and could be favourites to get relegated.
Southampton: Players In: Nathaniel Clyne (Palace, Undisc.), Steven Davis (Rangers, free), Jay Rodriguez (Burnley, Undisc.), Paulo Gazzaniga (Gillingham, Undisc.) Players Out: Dan Harding (Forest, Undisc.)
Southampton have had a fantastic revival in recent years and could be the surprise package this season. Apart from Davis, Southampton haven't bought any top league players that can bring that vital experience. But they have bought some youth prospects that will relish the chance to play in the Premiership. Clyne has brought rave reviews during Palace's excellent Carling Cup performance last season. Rodriguez possess speed down the wing whilst Gazzaniga has experience from Valencia despite never making a senior appearance. If they aren't going to be the surprise package this season, they could end up being the whipping boys this season.
Stoke: Players In: Michael Kightly (Wolves, Undisc.), Jamie Ness (Rangers, free) Players Out: Ryan Brunt (Orient, loan), Florent Cuvelier (Walsall, loan), Andrew Davies (Released), Salif Diao (Released), Ricardo Fuller (Released), Louis Moult (Release), Thomas Soares (Released)
Stoke have supplanted themselves in the mid-table of the Premier League as of late, but may struggle to continue to do that this season with their lack transfers. Kightly was one of Wolves' best players last season and relish the chance to continue to ply his trade in the Premiership. Ness looks to be a good young prospect who jumped the sinking Rangers ship and will look to try and control the midfield. They should still end up being a mid-table team this season without really progressing from recent years.
Sunderland: Players In: Carlos Cuellar (Villa, free) Players Out: Jordan Cook (released), Craig Gordon (released), Asamoah Gyan (Al-Ain, Undisc.), George McCartney (West Ham, free), Michael Turner (Norwich, Undisc.)
Sunderland were perhaps one of the under achievers of last season. They spent quite a bit of money and didn't really perform throughout the season. With Martin O'Neill spending his first Summer at Sunderland, it is somewhat surprising to see that they have only made one signing so far. Cuellar does bring further Premier League experience as well as his rapport with O'Neill. The team should perform better under O'Neill as he tends to do extremely well wherever he goes, but again it could be another season of battling for that mid-table finish.
Swansea: Players In: Jose Manuel Flores (Genoa, £2m), Jonathan De Guzman (Villarreal, loan), Michu (Rayo Vallecano, £2m) Players out: Joe Allen (Liverpool, Undisc.)
Another side that could potentially suffer from second season syndrome. It makes it more difficult losing Brendan Rodgers, no matter how competent Michael Laudrup will be. What they have done well though is that, apart from Allen, they have kept the majority of their players. This means that all know what to expect this season and can influence Flores who will look to provide stability at the back, Michu who will look to learn from Leon Britton's example and Jonathan De Guzman who will look to score goals alongside Scott Sinclair and co.
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