Birmingham City, Wrexham, and Charlton Athletic will all face the test of the Championship next season. Regarded by many as the most exciting league in the world, it remains to be seen how the three newly promoted sides will fare.
Embed from Getty ImagesBirmingham City
Having recently unveiled their new Sports Quarter plan, Birmingham City appear to be going from strength to strength under Tom Wagner and Knighthead Capital Management. As a result, optimism is high for their return to Championship football, and rightly so.
The Sports Quarter plan aims to develop a new home for the club, with the site exceeding 125 acres and boasting 19 football pitches, according to Birmingham Live. The new targeted stadium is believed to hold 62,000 and will be the centrepiece of the Sports Quarter.
Speaking to the BBC, chairman Wagner said that achieving promotion to the Premier League “is certainly the goal” next season. Birmingham broke the points record in League One last season.
On the pitch, Chris Davies’ side possesses several players who should be capable of adapting to life in the Championship. Key players like Christoph Klarer, Kyrystian Bielik, Tomoki Iwata and Jay Stansfield should all shine in the division. With a few additions, Blues will possess a very competitive Championship side.
Embed from Getty ImagesBirmingham City are already attempting to strengthen this summer. Goalkeeper James Beadle is expected to join on loan from Brighton & Hove Albion. The shot-stopper spent the last 18 months on loan at Sheffield Wednesday and will be a part of Lee Carsley’s England side at the European Under-21 Championship.
Kwame Poku has long been linked with a move to St. Andrews. The winger is set to be a free agent at the end of the month and depart Peterborough United. Birmingham aren’t without stiff competition for Poku, with Rangers and teams in Germany and Spain, according to the Peterborough Telegraph.
Elsewhere, Dutch winger Sontje Hansen is of interest to Blues. The 23-year-old NEC Nijmegen man is valued at £4m by Transfermarkt and contributed to 11 goal involvements in all competitions last season.
If these additions are brought into an already strong squad, Birmingham City should find themselves well clear of safety and pushing for the chance of promotion. The season should be one of excitement and optimism for Blues fans.
Embed from Getty ImagesWrexham
With three promotions on the bounce, Wrexham made history by reaching the Championship last season. Sky Sports will be rubbing their hands together with how many of their games they can televise, and Ryan Reynolds’ and Rob McElhenney’s side will certainly be in the headlines.
The new season will be the first time in 43 years that Wrexham have played in the second tier, and it’s certainly going to be the toughest test yet for Phil Parkinson and his team. The club are also to meet their competitors financially as well, with many clubs having great financial backing.
Parkinson himself has a wealth of experience coaching at this level, which will no doubt be a needed factor for The Red Dragons. His side possesses plenty of talent, including player of the season winner Oliver Rathbone and fan favourite youngster Max Cleworth.
Embed from Getty ImagesAdditions are likely to be required, with Wrexham possessing somewhat of an ageing side. With the money that they have at their disposal, many of the Premier League players with expiring contracts were linked to the Racecourse Ground.
One such player was Jamie Vardy, who was immediately linked to the club following his decision to call time on his tenure at Leicester City.
Of these links, some are stronger than others. Tom Cairney was reportedly a major target, with his Fulham contract set to expire at the end of the season. However, recent reports from The Standard suggest that the Fulham captain wishes to stay at Craven Cottage.
Will this be the first time since their promotion to the football league that Wrexham find their level? That remains to be seen.
Embed from Getty ImagesCharlton Athletic
Playoff final winners at Wembley, Charlton Athletic, make their return to the Championship after five years in League One.
Boosted by the contract extension signed by Nathan Jones, Charlton will be vying for survival next season. The Welshman signed a new five-year deal at The Valley, keeping him at the club until 2030.
Jones had been linked with his boyhood club Cardiff City, but his decision to stay means Charlton keep hold of a vastly experienced and qualified manager in the Championship.
There is set to be a change off the field for Charlton, with the BBC reporting that they are set to appoint former Barnsley and Nottingham Forest Chief Executive Dane Murphy as CEO. Chairman, Gavin Carter, told the BBC: “Dane is an ambitious, dynamic and forward-thinking leader with experience at the top level of the game. He understands what it takes to create a high-performance culture and deliver results.”
Embed from Getty ImagesTo make life in the Championship easier, Charlton need to ensure they have a strong transfer window. The departure of exciting youngster Thierry Small to Preston North End is certainly a blow to The Addicks. His replacement needs to be identified and brought in to give Charlton the best possible chance of survival.
One player who has been touted to replace Small is Danny Imray. The Football League World have explained why he should be recruited by the club, impressing last season in League Two for Bromley while on loan from Crystal Palace.
Due to the stiff competition, Charlton are likely to be one of the favourites to face the drop. However, under the guidance of Jones, they may find themselves in a stronger position than some.
Embed from Getty ImagesWritten by Callum Pawley
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