Tottenham: Players In: Gylfi Sigurdsson (Hoffenheim, Undisc.), Jan Verthonghen (Ajax, Undisc.) Players Out: Ben Alnwick (Barnsley, free), Vedran Corluka (Lokomotiv Moscow, Undisc.), Niko Kranjcar (Dynamo Kiev, Undisc.), Ryan Nelsen (QPR, free), Steven Pienaar (Everton, £4.5m), Louis Saha (Released)
With Spurs missing out on Champions League football by the smallest of margins, Andre Villas-Boas needs to take the mantle and try to secure it this season. Without Redknapp's genius, it may be hard for Villas-Boas to emulate him but Daniel Levy has to give him more time than Roman Abramovich. Verthonghen will definitely fill the gap that Ledley King has left and Sigurdsson should slot in next to Rafael Van Der Vaart, Gareth Bale and, possibly, Luka Modric. Sigurdsson performed fantastically at Swansea last season and will be keen to do so again. If they can Modric for another season, it may help Spurs a great deal in their tough challenge for Champions League football.
West Brom: Players In: Ben Foster (Undisc.), Yassine El Ghanassy (Gent, loan), Markus Rosenberg (Bremen, free), Claudio Yacob (Racing Club de Avellaneda, free), Romelu Lukaku (Chelsea, loan) Players Out: Keith Andrews (Released), Simon Cox (Forest, Undisc.), Marton Fulop (Released), Paul Scharner (Released), Nicky Shorey (Released), Somen Tchoyi (Released)
Without Roy Hodgson, West Brom could be the quiet team that slowly falls into the depths of the relegation zone. With no disrespect for Steve Clark, they no longer have that vital Premiership managerial experience and it could be a difficult transition for Clark. Foster will again provide stability in between in the posts like he did last season. El Ghanassy looks to be another young Belgian prospect who scored ten goals in 90 games for Gent from the wing. Rosenberg gives them European experience and could be a good partner for Peter Odemwingie along with Lukaku who joins on loan. Not much is known about Yacob who comes from Argentina and plays in the defensive midfield slot. It could be a slow season for West Brom and they could possibly be an outside chance to go down.
West Ham: Players In: James Collins (Villa, Undisc.), Mohamed Diame (Wigan, free), Alou Diarra (Marseille, Undisc), Stephen Henderson (Pompey, Undisc.), Jaaskelainen (Bolton, free), George McCartney (Sunderland, free), Modibo Maiga (Sochaux, Undisc.), Raphael Spiegel (Grasshopper, Undisc.) Players Out: Pablo Barrera (Cruz Azul, Undisc.), Rob Green (QPR, free), Ravel Morrison (Birmingham, loan), Franck Nouble (Released), Freddie Sears (Colchester, free)
Out of the three newly-promoted sides, West Ham have arguably made the better approach to stay in the Premiership again. Jaaskelainen has been a fantastic servant for Bolton and should do the same for West Ham. Diame and Collins also have plenty of Premiership experience that will be vital for West Ham along with Sam Allardyce who knows how to survive in the Premier League. McCartney also returns to his old stomping ground with his experience from Sunderland. Diarra brings vast European experience to sit in front of the defence and fight his cause. Maiga will look to score goals like his 39 in 147 appearances in Ligue 1. With at least one newly promoted team in recent seasons gaining top table places, West Ham could be that team this year.
Wigan: Players In: Fraser Fyvie (Aberdeen, Undisc.), Ryo Miaichi (Arsenal, loan), Ivan Ramis (Mallorca, Undisc.), Arouna Kone (Levante, Undisc.) Players Out: Mohamed Diame (West Ham, free), Steve Gohouri (Released), Chris Kirkland (Released), Hugo Rodallega (Fulham, free)
Surely the question has to be, when will the Premiership clock strike twelve for Wigan? It has been remarkable how they have managed to escape from certain relegation in recent seasons and will surely be embroiled in another mass relegation battle this season. The fact they have managed to keep hold of Roberto Martinez is a great credit to Dave Whelan and that may end up being a key factor in Wigan maintaining their Premiership status. Kone was a good talent when at PSV and Ivory Coast, but had slightly slipped off the radar. But a striker never loses his eye for goal which is what Kone has. Fyvie is a midfielder for the future whereas Miaichi will provide speed down the wing. Ramis will provide experience and stability at the back alongside Gary Caldwell. But it is going to be another tough season for Wigan.
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