Who will be Signing of the Season?

Yesterday, just before Man United's unceremonious dumping out of the Capital One Cup by a superb MK Dons side, Angel Di Maria became the most expensive signing for an English club of all time. As Fernando Torres will attest to, money doesn't always equal success, but Di Maria could well be the best signing of the season if he can reproduce his form from last season and if Man United can fit him into their side, but enough has been said and written about Di Maria's role. This is about players who could be the Signing of the Season for less than Mario Balotelli, another big name signing, as I look at the slightly lower profile signings that could shine this season.

1. Remy Cabella

Despite being touted as a star attacking midfielder in France with many French journalists and fans endorsing him for some of the biggest European teams (no disrespect to Newcastle, but they're not quite Dortmund or Atletico), it seemed that teams were reluctant to take a risk on the creative midfielder. Cabella is a very quick, skilful midfielder who loves to take a man on and is a very good goalscorer from midfield. He creates chances for those around him and though Newcastle are yet to score, he has been the brightest spark in the team and their season's hopes could rest on him.

2. Bojan Krkic

8 years ago, if you'd have told the coaching staff at Barcelona, and any scouts who'd seen him play, that Bojan would end up at Stoke at 24, they'd have laughed in your face. Having been touted as the biggest young talent in the world with comparisons made to Lionel Messi, those comparisons seem a long way away now. However, there was a reason that he was rated so highly by Barcelona, so if Bojan can showcase his talent that he clearly possesses, then £6.5 million could be an absolute steal for Stoke. Bojan is a wonderfully gifted player with a similar style to the aforementioned little Argentinian, who could be an absolutely amazing signing if, if, he can flourish in England.

3. Cheikhou Kouyate

West Ham have recruited extremely impressively; Mauro Zarate is similarly talented to Bojan, but Cheikhou Kouyate could be the real coup for West Ham. A powerful midfielder who is adept at playing at centre-back too, Kouyate joins national team mate Mohamed Diame at West Ham and after two impressive performances for West Ham, he looks like he could be an improvement. Diame is extremely talented but inconsistent so Hammers fans will be hoping he can continue his form which has some people comparing him to Patrick Vieira. Maybe a touch too far, but Kouyate could be a extremely impressive signing who goes under the radar.

4. Gylfi Sigurdsson

After a mixed spell at Tottenham, Sigurdsson is back at Swansea, where he appears to be more comfortable, which is wonderful for Swansea fans to see, but also the neutrals. Sigurdsson is a yard of pace away from being an elite player, making him a perfect fit for a team aiming to break into the top half of the table. He is a wonderful striker of the ball, capable of scoring goals from almost any distance, with impeccable technique and passing range. Surrounded by the pace and skill of players like Nathan Dyer and Wilfried Bony, he could really show his talents this year and really grow into the player that he looked like he would be as a young player.

5. Dusan Tadic

The most expensive buy in this article, Tadic comes with a big reputation in the Netherlands, despite not too many people knowing who he is in this country. Tadic is a direct replacement to Adam Lallana at Southampton, at half the price they sold him for. He's a similar player - capable of beating a man and creating chances for the players around him - but time will tell whether he can be as successful. If he is, then he has to be considered a bargain, due to the price of Lallana. Tadic has a lot of ability and could be one of the best creators in the league if he hits form.

So who will be the lower profile Signing of the Season? I personally fancy Cabella to shine this season, but it could easily be any of the mentioned players. Let me know who you think will blossom in the Premier League this season, on Twitter at @ElliottBCFC.

The Resurgence of 3/5 at the Back

Systems and formations go in and out of fashion, almost cyclically. 3, or 5 depending on how you play it, at the back used to be a mainstay in English football until 4-4-2 became commonplace. Elsewhere in Europe, they were moving on from 4-4-2, discovering 4-3-3 and 4-2-3-1, which we in England then adopted. We're often behind on these fashions, but we seem to be a bit quicker this time. Though Italian clubs have been playing 3 centre-backs for years, we seem to be trying to adopt to the dominant styles of the Spanish and German teams - or at least some teams are.

The most high profile change to a 3 centre-back system is the much discussed change from Manchester United under Louis Van Gaal. Playing 3-5-2 allows them to play their three most dangerous players - Juan Mata, Wayne Rooney and Robin Van Persie - at the same time. Last season, Man U tried to play a 4-2-3-1 system, which didn't allow them to play all three in their positions. This may also get the best out of Shinji Kagawa too, as he will have room to playmake in his standard position. Not only this, but Man U had trouble controlling games last season, and having more 5 in midfield should help them control the game. Defensively, there have been many a concern expressed about the quality of their defenders, so playing 3 centre-backs should help them defensively.

Van Gaal obviously has previous with 3 centre-backs, having played it with Netherlands at the World Cup. This obviously worked well for Netherlands against very good teams, like Spain, but they struggled to break down the more defensive teams such as Costa Rica. That can be an issue with the formation, which depends mostly on the wing-backs, who are the possibly the most important players in the system. Netherlands had fairly defensive wing-backs in their system. Daley Blind is a superb player but won't stretch a game and fire crosses in, and neither will Dirk Kuyt. In this system, the wide players are needed to add an extra dimension to the attack, otherwise they risk becoming predictable and easy to defend.

They mustn't forget their defensive duties however, as this can be another main weakness of the formation. The flanks can be left open for exploitation if wing-backs either aren't good enough defensively, or push too high up, so teams must be careful against top wingers. This could be an issue for Man U when they play against Eden Hazard for example. Rafael, if he plays, struggles to deal with top class wide men and if doubled up on would really struggle. If they sign Cuadrado, for example, he may be required to go forward to add more going forwards, leaving gaps that can be exploited.

One of the best wing-backs in English football at the moment is Ahmed Elmohamady, for Hull. Steve Bruce implemented a very successful system at Hull that allowed him to bomb on from wing-back, which he did with aplomb last season. Hull played a deeper trio in midfield, allowing Huddlestone to control games whilst Livermore and Meyler protect him and break forwards. Having the 3 at the back system meant that Huddlestone could play in a 3, which is where he excels, whilst Hull can play 2 up top, which meant they threatened teams instead of being toothless up front, which they may well have been playing 4-5-1.

Hull played with 3 'standard' centre-backs, whose jobs were defending almost exclusively, whereas many teams prefer to have a sweeper, who is more liberal. Defensively, he cleans up behind the defence, but on the ball he controls the game with his passing and leadership. Mexico did this particularly well in the World Cup, with Rafael Marquez pulling the strings, strolling around the pitch and spraying the ball around. Harry Redknapp appears to be trying to recreate this with Rio Ferdinand at QPR. QPR are trying to play 3-5-2 or maybe even the lesser seen 3-4-3, presumably with Isla and Traore as wing-backs, which should suit them down to the ground.

With Hull, QPR and Man United all playing 3 at the back in the Premier League, and many other teams using it at times (Everton have been known too, for example) it seems that 3 at the back systems are coming back into fashion. With attacking full-backs being the norm nowadays, the transition into wing-backs could be a very simple one, meaning we could see more and more teams switching over. 3 at the back is making a comeback, so jump on the bandwagon.

Team Previews - Southampton

Predicted Line-Up:

Strengths:

Flexibility - With the incoming signing of Shane Long sure to be completed very soon, Southampton have 2 very different forwards, which allows them to change style and formation whenever they want. They can change to 2 up front, or they can move Long up top in the current 4-2-3-1 formation. This allows them to counter different types of defences - a high line will struggle with Long, whereas deep lines will struggle with Pellè.

Midfield - Despite the sales of Lallana and possibly Schneiderlin, Southampton actually have a very strong midfield. Cork is a fantastic player who is very underrated, Wanyama is a strong ball winning midfielder who contrasts well with Cork and Ward-Prowse is an extremely talented young playmaker with fantastic delivery from set-pieces. 

Creation - Dusan Tadic is a wonderfully talented player and will be a creative force for the Saints. With players like Ward-Prowse, Sean Davis and Jay Rodriguez all supplying the forwards, there should be no problem with scoring goals.

Weaknesses:

Central Defence - Jose Fonte is a good centre-back, however Yoshida is not really good enough for a mid-table Premier League team. Dejan Lovren was a key part of Saints' success last season and will be sorely missed. However, Saints do have two solid full-backs, but they may be weak in the heart of the defence.

Signings: 

Dusan Tadic - The Eredivisie is full of talent and Tadic was one of the top players in the Eredivisie last year. There have been plenty of success stories in recent years of players signed from the Dutch league - look at Suarez and Bony - so Southampton will be hoping Tadic can excel. He is a skilful playmaker who can beat a man and is a wonderful passer. 

Graziano Pellè - A strong centre-forward who is great in the air but decent with his feet too. He should be a more than capable replacement for Lambert. Another Eredivisie star, Pellè could be Saints' main goalscorer next season if he can reproduce his form.

Ryan Bertrand - Very good loan signing for Saints, Bertrand is a very capable defender who is decent going forward. Luke Shaw he is not, but Bertrand is a good left-back in his own right. I wouldn't be surprised to see him move in a permanent deal at the end of the season.

Saphir Taider - A dynamic midfielder who keeps hold of the ball well and works very hard to win it back. He's not a goalscoring midfielder, but he should be a reasonable replacement for Schneiderlin, given his reputation as a hardworking and physical player.

Shane Long - Not particularly prolific, but Long is a hardworking forward who creates space for the players around him with his pace and work rate. I think he'll be far more prolific in a Southampton shirt, but £12m is a lot of money for him and I'm not sure he's that good.

Fraser Forster - Top class 'keeper who will be a wonderful signing, in my opinion. He is commanding but still a brilliant shot stopper and should be a mainstay in the England squad in the next few years.

Who They Should Sign:

A Central Defender - Saints need another centre-back quickly, and a very good one. The problem for them is that top class centre-backs are in short supply at the moment, so they will have to pay a lot to find one.

A Winger - Saints need some cover for Rodriguez and Tadic, as one injury would leave them short out wide. I have a feeling that Long may be used out wide too and think he'll do a great job in the Rodriguez role, but another winger would not go amiss.

Final Thoughts:

People saying that Saints' squad is not good enough after being ravaged by 'bigger' teams are overreacting, in my opinion. Their squad is good enough for a mid-table finish and they've made a lot of money this summer. Whilst their squad is weaker than it was, it's not that big a difference.

Southampton will hope that Pellè and Tadic bed in quickly, as this will greatly improve their chances of a top 10 finish. They'll need Rodriguez to recapture his pre-injury form from last season, then they will be a dangerous outfit. 

I genuinely believe that there is no chance of Southampton going down and they should be in line for another mid-table finish.

Team Previews - QPR

Predicted Line-Up:

Strengths:

Hard-working Midfield - Mutch, Henry and Barton are all combative and tenacious midfielders who can and will pressure the opposition and win the ball back. Having said that, they can play as well - Barton is a fantastic midfield dictator whilst Mutch has a lovely range of passing and an eye for goal. 

Pace out Wide - Hoilett, Phillips and Wright-Phillips are pacey wide men who will be dangerous on the counter-attack for any team. QPR have capable full backs who can overlap too, especially Isla, which will 

allow their wingers to cut inside as well.

Experience - Of all the promoted sides, QPR comfortably have the most internationals and Premier League appearances underneath their belt, which should really help them.

Weaknesses:

Age - Age is a double-edged sword; whilst experience is very useful, there comes a time when older players struggle for pace and fitness. Players such as Ferdinand, Dunne, Hill and Zamora are maybe past their prime, and may struggle with the rigours of the Premier League.

Possible Lack of Depth - Though QPR have a decent sized squad, the replacements for their starters really aren't to the same level and this could be their downfall.

Signings:

Steven Caulker - Could be a very good signing. Caulker is an athletic centre-half who is extremely good in the air and a goalscoring threat. However, Caulker isn't the most reliable defender and does make the odd mistake. If QPR get the best out of him, he'll be a top signing. 

Rio Ferdinand - No longer good enough, in my opinion. Obviously he was a superb defender in his day, but age and injuries have not been kind to Rio. This is a typical QPR signing that could backfire.

Mauricio Isla - Very good player, capable of playing at right-back or right wing. Isla had a good World Cup and is a fantastically talented player who will do well at QPR.

Jordon Mutch - A very talented young player, though injury prone. If Mutch can avoid injuries he will be a fantastic signing for the R's. He's dynamic, intelligent and can pick a pass, as well as being able to score the odd goal.

Who They Should Sign:

A young centre-half - A long term replacement to Richard Dunne should be on Redknapp's shopping list. Dunne is and was a very good player but how long that will last is arguable. Caulker was a good step towards that, but they need another defender would be a good idea.

A right-winger - Shaun Wright-Phillips is no longer good enough for the Premier League, so finding someone else to play there either as back up to, or preferably ahead of, Junior Hoilett, would be a good signing.

Final Thoughts: 

QPR should just about have enough about them to stay up. They have a combative midfield who will control games against teams around them in the league, a good goalscorer in Charlie Austin and some fast wingers to hit teams on the counter. Defensively, they may struggle a little bit, but they should be ok. 

The experience in the team should help QPR against the other teams in the lower half of the division. They won't aim to beat the top half teams in the league and any points against them will be a bonus. QPR should beat teams around them which should make them certainties to stay up.

QPR will just aim to stay up this season, and then establish themselves as a Premier League club next year. With the substantial investment that will surely come next year, that should be of no issue.

Team Previews - Newcastle

Predicted Line-Up:

Strengths:

Creativity - Remy Cabella is a wonderful footballer who can create and score goals with his pace and skill. Not only that, but Moussa Sissoko is a very underrated creator, having created the fifth most chances in the league. He usually plays out wide, however Newcastle don't seem to have another winger unless Cabella plays out wide in a 4-3-3 or 4-4-2, as it seems that Ben Arfa won't play much part.

Unpredictability - Most teams won't know quite how Newcastle are going to play and what their new players are capable of. Riviere and De Jong haven't played in the Premier League before so defences may not be prepared for them. De Jong appears to be similar to Berbatov - a player who plays at a slower pace but with a lot of technical ability - whereas Riviere is a pacier player who looks to get in behind defences. I'm not really sure about Perez, but I'd guess he's more of a Riviere-type as he can play out wide too.

Weaknesses:

Slow at the Back - Williamson is very good in the air but struggles against players who run at him due to his pace. Coloccini is a good player but isn't the quickest either, which may leave Newcastle exposed.

Possession - Newcastle may struggle to keep the ball if they pass out from midfield, as whilst I rate Tiote as a holding midfielder he isn't the best passer in the world. Anita is a better passer as is Colback, but neither are ideal for a possession game, so Newcastle may be forced to play direct football. 

Signings:

Emmanuel Riviere - Newcastle needed a forward and Remy had done very well for them, so Riviere made perfect sense, being a similar player. He's extremely fast and loves to run in behind, so he should grab some goals for Newcastle if they can find his runs in behind.

Remy Cabella - A superb footballer who many were surprised to see go to Newcastle, as he is extremely talented. Many thought he was destined for a top European team, so if Newcastle can get the best out of him they have a real player on their hands. For £8m he could be one of the best buys of the summer.

Ayoze Perez - Again, a player I don't know much about but one who has a good record and has been linked with some big teams. A young striker who is one for the future it seems, but should excite Newcastle fans.

Siem De Jong - Newcastle will hope he will have more of an impact than fellow Dutch De Jong, Luuk. Siem De Jong is a player who Pardew rates as a very technically gifted player in the mould of Teddy Sheringham. At just 25 years old, De Jong is actually very experienced for a young player, having played 168 games for Ajax. 

Facundo Ferreyra - A young forward on loan from Shakhtar who has never really settled in Ukraine, so Newcastle will be hoping that he can settle in the North East and show his goalscoring talent, as his record is very good for a young striker.

Daryl Janmaat - A very good right back who played at the world cup, Janmaat is fast, strong and loves to go forward. He is aggressive and very good on the ball in terms of passing, so he should be a natural replacement for Debuchy.

Jack Colback - In an unpopular move for Sunderland fans, boyhood Toon fan Colback left on a free to join Newcastle. Colback is a tireless midfielder who is a solid passer and very good defensively, but isn't hugely creative going forward. Colback should help out the defence with his energy and defensive ability.

Who They Should Sign:

A Centre-Back - Newcastle need a centre half to really compete in the top half, as they seem weak there at the moment. However, every team seems to need a central defender at current, so finding a good one for a good price is very difficult. 

Final Thoughts:

Newcastle are an unpredictable team, so trying to guess how their season will go is difficult. However they have recruited well and identified their weakness, forward, and signed players to try and rectify the problem, so in theory they should do well.

If Newcastle are to succeed, they need their new signings to gel quickly. Cabella, De Jong and Riviere could be an extremely dangerous unit if they click and work together. Newcastle have a very strong starting line-up and some good back-ups, but they need a bit of luck regarding injuries and suspensions.

Newcastle should finish in the top 10 again, as long as their signings bed in fairly quickly. They shouldn't be anywhere near the relegation zone but you never know - but the same could be said about the top 6.

Team Previews - Manchester United

Predicted Line-Up:

Strengths:

Firepower - A front three that consists of 2 20 goal a season strikers and one of the best playmakers in Europe is scary enough, but should Vidal sign, which looks likely, he will add a few goals from midfield too. Man United's goalscoring prowess is absurd.

Energy - In signing Herrera, Van Gaal has added a lot of energy to a stale and stagnant United team. Not only that, but Shaw's pace and dynamism will be key, as will Cuadrado's should he sign, which, again, looks likely. With a younger defence than last season too, United should be a more pacey and energetic side.

Depth - Man United don't have loads of depth, but compared to most teams they have some fantastic back-up players. Hernandez, Valencia and Kagawa are among the best subs in the league, for example. Whether or not it's quite the level of depth required for a title challenge we shall see.

Weaknesses:

Central Defence - Currently United have a very weak defence. They have 3 recognised senior centre-backs and none of them are really good enough for a title challenging team. Jones and Smalling are decent players but not top level players.

Signings:

Ander Herrera - Energetic, skilful and dynamic, Herrera should be exactly the player that United missed so dearly last season. He wasn't the cheapest buy they could have made, but when money is no object like it is for United, then that's irrelevant and Herrera should be a perfect signing. 

Luke Shaw - Contrary to popular opinion, I think Shaw was a fantastic signing, even for a huge fee. United may not have to buy a left-back for the next 10-15 years. Shaw is a wonderful player on the ball but still strong defensively and is almost certain to be top drawer left back.

(Arturo Vidal) - Should this deal go through, United will be a force to be reckoned with. Vidal is a world-class midfielder who can do everything and anything that is needed of him. He's fast, strong, energetic, can score goals, create goals and defend. The ultimate footballer. Would be an incredible signing.

(Juan Cuadrado) - Another quality signing if completed, Cuadrado is an exciting player. Extremely skilful and creative, Cuadrado would add a threat out wide that they desperately need. Steep price, but again United should not care about that.

Who They Should Sign:

A Centre-Back or two - United need some players at centre-back desperately, and with rumours of Roma defender Mehdi Benatia being on Van Gaal's shortlist it seems that United are trying to address this. 2 top class centre-backs would make United's squad ready to challenge for honours.

Final Thoughts:

United's squad is significantly better than it was last year and with the intimidation factor seemingly coming back with Van Gaal's appointment, everything is looking up for United fans. The additions of Shaw and Herrera have really bolstered the squad and Vidal and Cuadrado would make them a very scary proposition.

United will be a lot more difficult to beat this season than last season which isn't too much of a surprise, but it should make them a top 4 team. Man City and Chelsea look stronger at present, but United can make a challenge with a few acquisitions. 

Van Gaal's appointment should be a fantastic fit for United, and don't be surprised if Van Gaal wins a trophy in his first season. This should be a good season for United fans.

Team Previews - Manchester City

Predicted Line-Up:

Strengths:

Goals, Goals, Goals - Nasri and Silva will create chances against any defence in the league, combined with Aguero's movement and pace there are going to be plenty of goals. Dzeko, Negredo and Jovetic are all more than capable of scoring goals especially with those 3 buzzing around them. Add to that the best goalscoring midfielder in the league, Yaya Toure, and you have a frightening attack.

Top Defence and Goalkeeper - Assuming City sign Mangala which looks extremely likely, they have a very strong, athletic centre-back pairing that is up there with the best in the world. With World Cup finalists Pablo Zabaleta and Martin Demichelis in the ranks they have some talented players at right back and as back-up. Joe Hart is a terrific goalkeeper who, despite his dip in form last season, is capable of changing games with some great saves.

Intimidation - Teams are scared to play Man City now, which is more than can be said for teams like their neighbours United last season. This sounds like a minor thing but it really isn't, if a team steps on to the pitch already defeated, or doubting that they can beat them, they're almost certain to win. 

Depth - Jesus Navas, Dzeko and Jovetic among others grace Man City's star studded bench, which shows their insane depth. When you have that many good players, you can put out a weakened team and crush most teams. 

Weaknesses:

Left-Back - Kolarov is brilliant going forward but suspect defensively, whereas Clichy is solid but not brilliant going forward. Most top teams have full backs who can do both, so maybe City should look for that. 

Controlling Midfield - Though Man City's midfield is littered with talent, Toure isn't great defensively so this often leaves them exposed in midfield. Teams like Arsenal who play with more than one attacking midfielder might be able to exploit that gap.

Signings:

Eliaquim Mangala - Not yet completed but all signs seem to point to Mangala being at City next year, which should be a great signing. I haven't seen much of him but people who know more than me say he's a perfect fit for any top team. Strong, fast and commanding, Mangala appears to be a carbon copy of Kompany.

Frank Lampard - In one of the weirdest signings of the window, Lampard moved to Man City on loan for a short while. I'm not really sure if and when and where Man City will play him, but I'm intrigued. I don't need to tell you what Lampard can do, but we'll see whether this is anything more than a publicity stunt.

Fernando - Another Brazilian anchor man that Man City will be as successful as Fernandinho. City seem to be hoping to confuse commentators and fans everywhere by signing similar players with similar names and will be hoping he'll have a similar debut season.

Bacary Sagna - Bit of a weird one. Sagna is a good player but isn't any better than Zabaleta, so Sagna must just be back-up. I don't understand why Sagna would leave for a rotation place when he was first choice at Arsenal - maybe money talks.

Who They Should Sign:

A Left-Back - As previously stated, City need a left-back who is brilliant going forwards and backwards. However, finding one is easier said than done and I feel that Luke Shaw would have been a great signing, but that ship has sailed.

Final Thoughts:

Man City look ready to make a proper defence of their title. Their squad is strong in every area and they have a lot of depth and a top manager. They can score goals seemingly at will and have a strong defence that can keep out top forwards. Squad-wise, they are one of, if not, the strongest in the league.

City will win nearly every game against teams outside the top 6 because of their incredible firepower, so that shouldn't be a problem. Their season rests on the big games and whether or not they can control the midfield in those games. Maybe playing Toure higher up the pitch and playing two pivots would fix that against bigger teams but we will see what Pellegrini chooses to do.

Man City and Chelsea look like the teams to beat at the moment and I think City will fall just short of winning the title again. I think they'll come second but only time will tell.

Team Previews - Liverpool

Predicted Line-Up:

Strengths:

Pace - Liverpool have bags of pace going forward with Sterling and Sturridge especially, making them a nightmare for slower defenders and makes a lot of teams reluctant to attack them. This allows Liverpool to blitz teams very early on and score a lot of goals quickly.

Depth and Versatility - Liverpool have a lot of very decent players all over the park who all have different skills and abilities that allow Liverpool to change their tactics to beat all types of opponents. Markovic and Sterling are fast dribblers who can stretch games, whereas Lallana is more technical and creative, for example.

Tactics - Brendan Rodgers has proved himself to be more than a capable tactician and has turned Liverpool into an aggressive and energetic side with a clear gameplan, which makes their great squad play amazingly.

Weaknesses:

Leaky Defence - Dejan Lovren is a wonderful player, but whilst Liverpool still have Gerrard and Henderson in defensive midfield Liverpool are going to struggle to keep attackers out. Liverpool's problem last year was conceding goals and I feel that this is going to continue.

Lack of Luis Suarez - Any team would miss a player of Suarez' quality and Liverpool will miss the 30 goals a season that Suarez brought to the team. Not only that, but he was an integral part of the aggressive pressing system that Liverpool play and Lambert won't be able to do quite the same.

Signings:

Lazar Markovic - Markovic is bound to become a star in the next few years so Liverpool have done well to secure his services for the next few years. Markovic is fast, creative and direct, which makes him ideal for Liverpool's system and we shall see how he progresses.

Adam Lallana - Lallana is the closest thing that England have to a Spanish footballer. Lallana is an elegant footballer with superb balance and skill that makes him so dangerous. Having said that, £25m is a ridiculous amount for a player who you can find hundreds of in Spain. Lallana will be good for Liverpool, but I don't think £25m good.

Rickie Lambert - Growing up as a Liverpool fan, this must be a dream come true for Lambert. Although Lambert is the wrong side of 30, he is a very gifted player and is experienced, which Liverpool need in their young side. Lambert could be a very astute signing as he gives Liverpool something different and won't expect to start every game.

Emre Can - Can is a young midfielder who is a wonderfully talented player, capable of attacking and defending equally as well. Whether or not he will start I'm not sure, but he seems to be a great long term replacement to Steven Gerrard.

Dejan Lovren - Top class defender but Liverpool need to make sure he isn't isolated like Sakho often found himself last season. Lovren is a terrific defender and will make a great signing if Liverpool can sort out the midfield issue.

Javier Manquillo - Not sure quite how good he is, but he hasn't played much senior football so this could be a gamble from Rodgers, but having another right back is really useful.

Who They Should Sign:

A Left Back - Left back seems to be the weakest position, with Flanagan playing there at the moment, so signing a young full back like Alberto Moreno, who they have been linked with, would be a great signing.

Final Thoughts:

Liverpool have an exciting young squad and some wonderful footballers, but this season appears to be one of transition. With so many young players, they will need some experience before becoming reliable members of a top squad, but Liverpool may still make it into the top 4, if they can click quickly.

Games against the bigger teams are always key, but Liverpool need to make sure they are consistent enough to beat teams in the lower parts of the league. With a young team this might be an issue, but I think they can easily beat any team on their day.

Unfortunately for Liverpool, other teams around them have all strengthened a lot, so they may just miss out on the top 4, especially as they are in a transitional season. However, if they can carry on their form from last season, then who knows what can happen?

Team Previews - Leicester

Predicted Line-Up:

Strengths: 

Goals - Leicester have plenty of players who have proven themselves to be capable goalscorers. Ulloa, Nugent and Wood have all scored a lot of goals wherever they have been and Knockaert is more than capable of adding goals from midfield. 

Stopping Goals - Kasper Schmeichel may not quite have yet reached the level of his father, but he is still a terrific goalkeeper who is more than capable of changing games and winning Leicester some extremely valuable points. Wes Morgan is a very talented centre-back who has been playing at a level that was maybe beneath him for a while now, so it seems that he will finally have his chance to play at the top level.

Weaknesses:

Lack of Premier League Experience - Whilst Leicester have some very experienced players not too many of them have actually played at the top level which may prove to be a real problem. A lot of teams around them who they may be in a relegation battle with have a lot of experience which could hinder Leicester's chances.

Left-Back Problem - Neither Konchesky nor Schlupp are particularly great defenders and whilst this was fine in the Championship, they could come unstuck against top class right wingers. Even though Konchesky is experienced he wasn't brilliant at a younger age, never mind later on in his career.

Potential Lack of Quality - Whilst Leicester have a lot of players who are superb at Championship level, this may be a step-up they can't deal with. Players such as Upson, Nugent, Drinkwater and Knockaert need to step up to deal with the improved quality.

Signings:

Marc Albrighton - One mark of how good a player is is how upset fans are when they leave. Most Villa fans were upset to see Albrighton leave, which should encourage Leicester fans. He's quick, direct and likes to cross the ball, which should be perfect for Ulloa. Albrighton could be a very good signing if Leicester can keep giving him the ball.

Leonardo Ulloa - At a very steep price of £8m, Ulloa has made the leap up to a higher level that Leicester will be hoping he'll be able to make. He's a very capable striker who can score all types of goals, but he's especially good in the air, which means that Leicester will be able to score goals from crosses and long balls as well as feeding balls in behind for Nugent.

Louis Rowley - I don't know much about him but he's young and versatile, capable of playing in midfield or left-back, but I'm not sure how good he is. This may be a very good signing if Rowley is good enough, but I think it might be one for the future.

Who They Should Sign:

A Central Defender - Matthew Upson is not in the prime of his career and I'm not sure he's good enough for the Premier League any more, so finding a partner for Morgan should be a priority.

A Left-Back - I'm not convinced in the players that Leicester have on the left side of the defence, so signing a better defensive full back would be very handy.

Final Thoughts:

Leicester are probably going to struggle this season, but I think they may just about have enough to keep them up. They have players who are capable of scoring goals which is often what relegated teams struggle with, so they will rely on the goals of players like Nugent and Chris Wood to win them games. 

Leicester's season will hinge on games against teams in the lower half of the league, which means that they need their midfield to control games against them, so Leicester will need Drinkwater to have as good a season this year as he did last. With Schmeichel in goal they have a safety net if all doesn't go to plan too, which could be invaluable. 

Leicester might just stay up if they can keep teams out, as they should not struggle with goals too much. With one or two more signings at the back I think they will be fine.