It's nearly time, lads! The return of the Premier League is almost upon us and it's time for punters up-and-down the land to showcase their true betting pedigree and bash the bookies...
Players In
Leroy Fer (QPR - £4.76m), Mike van der Hoorn (Ajax - £2.13m), George Byers (Watford - free), Tyler Reid (Manchester United - free), Fernando Llorente (Sevilla - loan), Borja Baston (Atletico de Madrid - £15.5m) and Mark Brighitti (Newcastle City - free)
Players Out
Eder (Lille - £3.83m), Alberto Paloschi (Atalanta - £5.1m), Bafetimbi Gomis (Marseille - loan), Andre Ayew (West Ham United - £20.5m) and Ashley Williams (Everton - £12m)
Season Preview
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Swansea City. Many a football fans potential "surprise package" at the beginning of a season. Since their arrival to the PL in the 11/12 season, the Welsh side have surprised fans and pundits with their longevity in the league. Having never finished lower than 12th, the question is can they go the next step and start pushing further up that table.
Francesco Guidolin will be the man aiming to achieve that this season. Last season, they finished the season strongly, forcing themselves away from a relegation scrap that they were hovering over two thirds into the season. With the correct signings and retaining their important lads could they do it?
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Some rumours going around are predominantly attacking options. Spurs' Nacer Chadli, the Fox's Leonardo Ulloa, and even the lanky, ex-robot dancing Peter Crouch has been thrown around the rumour mill. Not to mention Wales' Hal Robson-Kanu. If they can force any of those deals, and keep some of their key players then they could be around that 7th-10th place battle once again.
Key Player
Borja Baston - Nearly in the bag for this young lad, at only 23 he's already created a little buzz over in Spain. Bagging 23 goals in the 14/15 season for Real Zaragoza and 18 goals for Eibar last year. Could definitely be £15m well spent.
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Fernando Llorente - Signed for an undisclosed fee, this guy could be a real coup for the Swans. Having played for a number of Europe's top sides, including Bilbao, Juventus and Sevilla, scoring 112 in 353 for those clubs combined. That average of a goal every three games could prove vital for Swansea's season.
Best Bets
Paddy Power are pricing Swansea at 80/1 to get a surprise top 4 finish and 1250/1 to be an even bigger surprise and get their name engraved onto that Premier League trophy. 38 games, and a league known for it's shock packages, that £5 you'd spend on a kebab at the end of a night out could earn you a good little fortune should The Swans have an unbelievable season.
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On the other end of the spectrum, William Hill have got them down at 4/1 to be relegated. With proving to be a "mid-table" team in the last five seasons, it could be worth throwing a spare tenner and hoping for a calamity season from the Welsh side.
My opinion? 16th in January, sack the manager, bring in another random Italian manager, 11th come May. Odds on in my book. And in SkyBet's. They're 1/5 for a Bottom Half Finish.
Words By: @_craigstokes
