Premier League season preview: Each club's pre-season preparations analysed ahead of new campaign's kick-off this Friday

18.08.2026, 14:04 skysports.com

Football hasn't stopped this summer, so to make sure you're up to speed with how every Premier League is shaping up ahead of the new season we've taken a look at their preparations for the new campaign.

From new managers and new signings to pre-season form and emerging talents, here's the lowdown on how the top 20 are looking...

A lot of Arsenal's transfer talk has surrounded Vinicius Junior and Bradley Barcola this summer, but has Christos Tzolis given Mikel Arteta a reason to think differently?

There was not a great deal of fanfare when the Greek winger moved for £34m from Club Brugge early in the window, but Tzolis has shown quite a lot of threat since arriving.

July 25: Arsenal 3-0 MK Dons - Arsenal training groundAugust 1: Girona 1-4 Arsenal - GironaAugust 5: Arsenal 1-3 Real Betis - DublinAugust 9: Arsenal 2-3 Borussia Dortmund - Emirates StadiumAugust 12: Arsenal 1-1 Como (4-3 pens) - Emirates StadiumAugust 16: Arsenal 3-0 Man City, Community Shield - Cardiff

In six pre-season games, Tzolis has six assists and one goal - including making two in the Community Shield against Man City. He is by no means flashy - he completed none of his dribbles in the win in Cardiff, for example - but he is very effective.

That pre-season form mirrored his form last season - getting 51 goal contributions in 52 games for Club Brugge. A set-piece threat too; if he gets anything close to those numbers in the regular season, then Arsenal have found themselves a £34m bargain.Sam Blitz

The doom and gloom mood of pre-season following the departures of Morgan Rogers and Youri Tielemans was momentarily lifted with the performance of Aston Villa against Paris Saint-Germain in the UEFA Super Cup final.

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New signing Joao Gomes and 17-year-old Brian Madjo have impressed in pre-season and stood out once again against PSG, despite the loss.

July 21: Walsall 0-5 Aston Villa - Pallet-Track Bescot StadiumJuly 25: Porto 2-1 Aston Villa - Estadio Do DragaoJuly 28: Aston Villa 2-4 Real Sociedad - Pallet-Track Bescot StadiumAugust 1: Indonesia All-Stars 1-3 Aston Villa - JakartaAugust 4: BG Pathum United 1-3 Aston Villa - Pathum ThaniAugust 7: Aston Villa 1-2 Bayern Munich, Hong KongAugust 12: UEFA Super Cup - PSG 2-1 Aston Villa, SalzburgAugust 15: Borussia Monchengladbach 2-1 Aston Villa - Borussia-Park

However, Unai Emery was dealt another blow when reports emerged of injuries for both players as they approach the season opener against Brighton. They will now join both Amadou Onana and new signing Johan Manzambi on the sidelines.

It has been a summer of change at Villa Park and navigating key player exits is difficult enough. Injuries and the absence of any form of pre-season for Ezri Konsa and Ollie Watkins due to their extended World Cup breaks now mean both the line-up and performance itself could throw up a few surprises at the Amex Stadium.Pat Rowe

After a free-scoring pre-season under new head coach Marco Rose there are hopes that life after Andoni Iraola can be just as bright for Bournemouth despite a first season in Europe to contend with.

The Cherries' succession plan is as strong for players as it is for managers and Rose will tinker with rather than overhaul Iraola's work and getting their transfer business done early has helped his squad settle ahead of their most testing season.

July 24: St Pauli 1-4 Bournemouth - SaalfeldenJuly 30: Augsburg 2-5 Bournemouth - SaalfeldenAugust 4: Bournemouth 10-1 Genoa - Bournemouth training ground (behind closed doors - 120 minutes)August 8: Real Betis 2-2 Bournemouth - SevilleAugust 15: Mainz 2-1 Bournemouth - Mewa Arena

An injury to Eli Kroupi Junior's foot injury will stop him from carrying on his superb form from last season for the foreseeable but there is already intrigue about the prospect of Alvaro Rodriguez, a summer arrival from Elche.

There are concerns over a lack of depth in central defence, especially with 22-year-old Antonio Silva expected to slot straight in to replace Marcos Senesi. But the ex-Benfica man has plenty of pedigree, making 20 appearances for Portugal already and 41 in the Champions League.Ron Walker

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Goal difference alone prevented the Bees from qualifying for Europe in May, but that's been forgotten now.

They've spent over £60m this summer, breaking their transfer record to sign Mali international midfielder Mamadou Sangare from Lens, while also adding proven Premier League players Callum Wilson and Jaidon Anthony to bolster the attack.

July 15: Brentford 3-2 AFC Wimbledon - behind closed doorsAugust 8: Rennes 2-4 Brentford - Stade RennaisAugust 15: Brentford 7-0 Eintracht Frankfurt - Gtech Community Stadium

Keith Andrews' side blew Eintracht Frankfurt away with a 7-0 win at the Gtech last Saturday, which set tongues wagging about what might be possible this term. Reaching Europe is sure to be the target internally - and this could well be the campaign they go one better.Dan Long

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It was a blow to Brighton to lose Danny Welbeck in the summer - but few fans will begrudge him the move at this stage of his career after he gave a lot to the club. Likewise, Brighton will feel they got brilliant money in for Jan Paul van Hecke and Carl Rushworth - the latter of which could be challenging James Trafford for the England jersey in the coming years.

In terms of incomings, it's the usual case of 'trust the process' with Brighton's recruitment team. The incredible hit rate has slowed a little in recent times, but the club have generally rebuilt pretty well year on year.

July 18: Brighton 4-1 Wycombe - Brighton training groundJuly 25: Annecy P-P Brighton - FranceAugust 1: Strasbourg 3-4 Brighton - AustriaAugust 8: Brighton 3-0 Roma - The AmexAugust 15: Brighton 1-0 Bologna - The Amex

Aims for the season? Nothing matters other than winning the Conference League. Having watched Crystal Palace lift the trophy last season, anything other than victory in Istanbul in June would be disaster.Simeon Gholam

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Xabi Alonso appears to be replicating his successful 3-4-3 formation, which delivered the Bundesliga title for Bayer Leverkusen, at Chelsea after testing the system in pre-season.

Alonso had fielded a 4-2-3-1 in their first three friendlies, but after switching to a back three against AC Milan - their best performance of the summer in a 3-0 win - it seems he could stick with it heading into their opening match against Fulham on Monday Night Football.

July 28: Chelsea 6-4 Western Sydney Wanderers - SydneyAugust 1: Chelsea 1-2 Tottenham - SydneyAugust 5: Chelsea 0-1 Juventus - Hong KongAugust 8: Chelsea 3-0 AC Milan - JakartaAugust 9: Johor Darul Ta'zim 3-3 Chelsea - JohorAugust 15: Chelsea 3-1 Real Sociedad - Stamford Bridge

Maxence Lacroix was at the heart of the back three in their final pre-season game against Real Sociedad while Morgan Rogers started on the left of a dangerous frontline including Joao Pedro and Cole Palmer. Marco Palestra struggled at left-wing back with Pedro Neto operating on the other side. It remains a work in progress.David Richardson

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A friendly win over Monaco was an encouraging way to finish pre-season and a clean sheet for 'keeper Carl Rushworth, who has signed on a permanent deal after his impressive loan last year, will add confidence to the backline which was the meanest in the second tier.

That belief could be tested with an extremely difficult opener at Arsenal on Friday night but after 25 years away expect Coventry and their fans to relish their Premier League return.

July 11: AFC Wimbledon 3-2 Coventry - behind closed doorsJuly 18: Northampton 0-0 Coventry - SixfieldsAugust 8: Coventry 3-1 Espanyol - Coventry Building Society ArenaAugust 14: Coventry 2-0 Monaco - Coventry Building Society Arena

They'll hope the creative Gustavo Hamer and powerhouse Taiwo Awoniyi can give Frank Lampard's side threat at the other end to cheer. But can they continue their front-foot approach at the highest level?Peter Smith

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Crystal Palace started pre-season with a new manager in Pierre Sage, but the Frenchman's attempts to implement a new playing style have been hampered as a host of first-team players were focused on the World Cup, rather than an opening 5-1 win over Swindon Town.

The reappearance of Matheus Franca, a forgotten Brazilian youngster, has been one of the rare positives as he scored a hat-trick against Swindon and has featured regularly.

July 18: Palace 5-1 Swindon - Palace training ground (behind closed doors)July 25: Bromley 3-0 Palace - Hayes LaneJuly 28: Palace 0-3 Lens (45-minute match)July 28: Palace 0-0 Famalicao (45-minute match)July 31: Palace 3-1 Al Ula - Giuseppe SinigagliaAugust 7: Fulham 1-2 Palace - Fulham training ground (behind closed doors)August 15: Freiburg 3-0 Crystal Palace - Europa-Park Stadion

A 3-0 loss to Bromley would not have offered much optimism to Sage, who then had to endure a stinging defeat by the same scoreline to former club RC Lens in a swift reunion at the Como Cup. Palace defeated FC Famalicao on penalties before scoring their first goals of the tournament, albeit in a consolation 3-0 victory over Saudi side Alula SC.

The returning Ismaila Sarr should be a key player for Sage, and he was on target with Franca in a 2-1 win over Fulham, but a 3-0 loss to Freiburg has left the new Palace boss to admit that he needs to temper his desire to tinker.Richard Damerell

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Everton's summer business has been steady with the addition of highly-rated Hayden Hackney plus Christian Norgaard from Arsenal offering extra bite and qua