Leeds to go up and League Two dark horses? Full lowdown and predictions for the Championship and Leagues One and Two
SO, here we go! Another new football season kicks off tonight with four matches in the EFL.
Here, SunSport gives a lowdown on what is going on across the three divisions . . .
CHAMPIONSHIP
DANIEL FARKE hopes to take Leeds up at the second attempt but, as things stand, his squad is weaker than when they lost the play-off final to Southampton.
Championship player-of-the-year Crysencio Summerville has gone to West Ham, local wonderkid Archie Gray to Tottenham and Glen Kamara to Rennes.
They have, however, brought in Sheffield United right-back Jayden Bogle and midfielder Joe Rothwell on loan from Bournemouth.
They will be up there but I’m not convinced about top-two.
Relegated trio Luton, Sheffield United and Burnley should all be competing for a quick return — and watch out for Shandon Baptiste, who could be a useful signing for the Hatters.
The Blades have been very busy in the transfer market. Left-back Harrison Burrows looks a great buy from Peterborough — as does the experienced Kieffer Moore from Bournemouth up front.
Burnley’s best signing was appointing manager Scott Parker after Vincent Kompany left for Bayern Munich.
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He has a 100 per cent record in taking clubs up to the Premier League after doing so with Fulham and Bournemouth.
One player to watch out for is Sheffield United midfielder Oliver Arblaster, 20 — he was composed in the Prem when he got a chance — and I also like the look of Middlesbrough’s Dutch defender Rav van den Berg, 20.
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LEAGUE ONE
IT is utterly ridiculous that Birmingham are in the third tier.
When the new American owners said they were going to get the team out of the Championship fans did not expect that to mean dropping to this level.
Going to be hard for them too as League One is a tough one to get out of — just ask Charlton and the likes of Sunderland and Portsmouth, who found it difficult before getting promoted.
But they have been busy as they look to buy themselves out of the division.
In have come Addicks striker Alfie May, Hull keeper Ryan Allsop, Brighton midfielder Marc Leonard and paying big bucks for defender Christoph Klarer (Darmstadt), midfielder Willum Thor Willumsson (Go Ahead Eagles), winger Emil Hansson (Heracles Almelo) and left-back Alex Cochrane (Hearts).
Elsewhere, Ryan Reynolds’ Wrexham are aiming for a hat-trick of promotions.
Arsenal keeper Arthur Okonkwo, 20, and Plymouth back-up stopper Callum Burton, 27, have signed but Charlton midfielder George Dobson, 26, and Plymouth Dan Scarr, 29, are the only experienced players they have brought in so far.
Probably a season of consolidation for them.
Justin Allen's EFL promotion picks
HERE'S who I reckon will be celebrating at the end of the season.
Two of the three clubs relegated from the Prem should go straight back up.
But Leeds can stop it being three out of three – by shrugging off last term’s near miss.
Down in League One, Birmingham’s new manager Chris Davies, who was well regarded as Ange Postecoglou’s assistant at Tottenham, could return the Blues to the Championship at the first attempt.
And in L2, I’m tipping the two clubs coming up from the National League to both go up again.
Championship: Burnley, Sheff U, Leeds
League One: Birmingham, Rotherham, Huddersfield
League Two: Chesterfield, Gillingham, Notts County, Bromley
LEAGUE TWO
BROMLEY make their EFL bow and watch out for them enjoying a strong campaign under boss Andy Woodman.
But National League champions Chesterfield will be the better equipped team and should challenge for promotion with the resources at Paul Cook’s disposal.
Defender Chey Dunkley from Shrewsbury and striker Paddy Madden from Stockport are good experienced hands at this level while full-backs Vontae Daley-Campbell (Peterborough) and Lewis Gordon (Bristol Rovers) look astute signings — as does Devan Tanton, 20, on loan from Fulham.
I might be biased as a Man of Kent but I have a feeling Gillingham are in for a good season under Mark Bonner, who took Cambridge up three years ago.
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Chelsea have reportedly agreed a £35m deal for Atletico Madrid striker Samu Omorodion.
Conor Gallagher has completed his medical ahead of a £34million move to Atletico Madrid.
Manchester City are also selling striker Julian Alvarez to the La Liga side – and the deal is almost certain to get done despite a slight hitch over personal terms.
Tottenham have identified Dominic Solanke as a major transfer target before the end of the window, according to reports.
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