This summer will be one of the biggest in Premier League history, as managers of 10+ teams could be changed, and some huge arrivals and departures could shift the league dynamics to a new phase of the competition. I believe a changing of the guard could begin with the ‘big 6’ becoming more like the ‘big 10’ with teams now regularly in Europe and contention for European places, and teams/players looking at these long-term projects as the target not the stepping stone.

As a result of this, we’ve gone through all 20 (current) Premier League teams to give one brief prediction for their summer or next season. With huge changes coming for many, these predictions are based purely on gut feeling and are written before the end of the current campaign meaning some predictions are based on how this season could end.

As always, if you have any predictions or thoughts yourself, leave a comment on this post or head over to our social channels to let us know your thoughts ahead of a busy and crucial summer.

Arsenal

When it comes to Arsenal, the prediction for next season is certainly mixed and largely dependent on how the season ends. My main prediction is that next season they will see a drop off in their dominance, however they will remain in the title hunt as I believe the challengers will all be in transition next season with no clear contender. I think Arsenal’s tactics will become minimised by rule changes and teams figuring out solutions to their set-pieces and physicality, especially in Europe where I think they will struggle to make the later stages. Domestically I see things returning to the narrative of recent years where they have decent league and cup form and will be challengers, but I think silverware will be limited as they hit the fall-out of this years efforts.

Aston Villa

For Aston Villa, I believe next season we will start to hear conversations about Unai Emery hitting his ceiling with the club. I personally am a huge fan of Emery, however his reputation is to take below-par teams to their maximum capacity which usually results in a Europa League trophy and consistent European qualification, exactly what he has brought to Villa. However, he’s seemingly never been at a club where they back him to push on further, and I believe Villa have already gone fairly heavy with recruitment in recent seasons and are feeling the brunt of this, meaning Champions League qualification and a Europa League trophy would be a huge result for the club, however next season fans will start to plant the seed of wanting more in terms of a title charge.

Bournemouth

Bournemouth fans must be in dream-land in recent seasons, managing to put themselves into pole position for European qualification next season and could even land themselves a Champions League place by the end of the campaign. Given another summer of overhaul is expected, I expect they will return to their mean of recent seasons, possibly still pushing for Conference League/Europa League qualification next time around, however they will drop to the mid-table positions as their new manager deals with a summer of departures and change. This won’t put them at risk of relegation for the next campaign, but with European commitments I believe they will become stretched and see a drop-off from this latest season.

Brentford

As we mentioned the overhaul for Bournemouth this summer, Brentford have been incredible in getting out of the same situation last summer and becoming even better on the other side. Keith Andrews is my manager of the season, and I believe they will be pushing to cement themselves further next season. I could see a European push coming in either the Conference League or Europa League, and I think they will enjoy a summer of incomings rather than the shock of key outgoings this summer, starting a 2-3 year spell where they remain in the 5th-7th spots in the table.

Brighton

Brighton have been in the top-half conversation for probably the last 5 years now, and with Fabian Hurzeler they have given him time and patience to work his magic and this has maintained their battles for European places. While similarly to Bournemouth and Brentford, their actual European place hasn’t been confirmed at time of writing, I would echo my predictions for Brentford as I believe they will continue to hold onto their key talents, adding smartly as they have become known to do, and I think a European push for silverware should be a key target in either the Europa League or Conference League next season while they should still have enough experience now to balance this alongside their domestic commitments.

Burnley

Burnley have been one of the Premier League’s yo-yo sides for recent years, however I think this time we might see them gone for a while. Scott Parker leaving after their relegation was confirmed is slightly disappointing as it just continues the relegated club cycle of hiring a manager to get them to the Premier League, struggling for a year and then hitting the reset button. Given the most likely name on their list at time of writing is Steven Gerrard, I believe they will be dropping off next season in a tight and unpredictable Championship season. Their defensive solidity that saw them promoted last season will struggle to return and I think Burnley’s time in the sun is at an end.

Chelsea

The hardest team to predict currently are Chelsea, with their next appointment making or breaking their potential. If they can persuade Fabregas, Alonso or Filipe Luis to join their project on a permanent basis, this gives them a chance to quickly forget the latest campaign and get back into the top 4/5 long-term and build something with the players they have available. However, if they opt for some of the other names mentioned such as Marco Silva, Andoni Iraola or Oliver Glasner, I think these will blow-up and add to another year of chaos which sees most of their key name players looking elsewhere, and huge questions coming from their ownership structure. I can see these exciting young managers coming into Chelsea with their reputations to back their standing from the squad and ownership, however with the proven Premier League head coaches I think they will clash significantly with the interference from above and realise quickly this isn’t the job they thought.

Crystal Palace

Palace are currently enjoying their arguably best ever run with the FA Cup, Community Shield and soon to be Conference League titles all coming in the span of a year. However, they face yet more departures this summer with Glasner confirmed to be out, Mateta expected to leave and their key players such as Adam Wharton on the targeted list for many clubs. Previously it’s felt like Palace could remain steady despite these departures, however if they don’t get Iraola in as their next manager I think they could struggle next season. I think someone like Kieran McKenna would be a good choice however I can’t see them mounting a top 7 finish especially with a depleted squad, a year of turnover and probably Europa League qualification coming from their Conference League success.

Everton

When it comes to Everton, their latest efforts have put to bed any risk that a new stadium would de-rail the club and see them struggle, as David Moyes has been a steady hand, while their summer recruitment last time out looked impressive. However, I think looking ahead to next season, they may be in a similar situation to Aston Villa, in that they will begin to plant the seeds in the fanbase of ‘what’s next?’ as they will watch other teams around them have big summers of change with managers coming and going, and players arriving and departing, while I expect they will largely remain consistent to their current setup. While Moyes will keep them safe next season, I think an early dip in form could bring forward a question that the fans want to see a bit more and see some European nights at their new ground.

Fulham

Rounding off this first half of predictions we have Fulham, who I think are near certain to lose Marco Silva this summer, with the Benfica job probably on his radar. As a result I think Fulham need to brace for a season hovering around the drop zone, as I cannot see them doing enough this summer to steady a season of upheaval. I believe their squad could become questioned with some key departures and struggles to replace their key players, and losing a talismanic manager who has been crucial to their Premier League adventures means they need a leadership that I don’t think they contain. I’m not thinking they will be relegated but they will definitely get dragged into the conversation.

Don’t forget if you have any predictions or thoughts yourself, leave a comment on this post or head over to our social channels to let us know your thoughts ahead of a busy and crucial summer.