Hammers & Boro to go up? Championship club-by-club preview

Here we go again... you can leave the Viking Row, Wonderwall, Mexican ducks and (most) hydration breaks in the summer of '26 - proper football is back.

The open road of the Championship season stretches nine months before us, punctuated by 46 twists and turns along the way.

Whisper it, but it looks like being one of the most open and competitive seasons ever in a division which is already known around the world for being ridiculously unpredictable.

Just four of the 24 clubs in the second tier have the benefit of parachute payments in 2026-27, newly relegated West Ham, Wolves and Burnley, while the other, Southampton, begin the campaign with a four-point penalty after the spygate scandal which cast a shadow over the climax of the last campaign.

Lincoln City take their place in the division for the first time since 1961 after their heroics in League One, while Cardiff bounced back after a 12-month exile as runners-up and Bolton join them in the Championship for the first time since 2019.

As Wolves and Blackburn prepare to hit the open road on Friday, BBC Sport correspondents across England and Wales break down the 24 teams and what - at this stage at least, given the transfer window remains open until 1 September - we can expect from them.

Jobi McAnuff from the BBC's dedicated EFL podcast 72+ also offers his predicted finishes in the table.

Richard Wilford, BBC Radio WM

Head coach: Chris Davies

Last season: 10th

Key ins: James Beadle (Brighton, loan), Dael Fry (Middlesbrough), Kristoffer Lund (Palermo), Jhon Solis (Girona), Luis Vazquez (Anderlecht)

Key outs: Kai Wagner (Philadelphia Union), Ibrahim Osman (end of loan), Jonathan Panzo (released), Tommy Doyle (end of loan), Kyogo Furuhashi (LA Galaxy)

Expectations? While many supporters expected play-off places last season, this time around it is a more realistic ambition. Indeed, entering his third season boss Chris Davies will likely accept that the expectation of the owners will be a top eight finish as a minimum.

Strengths? There is a sense of continuity from the second half of last season when the squad was revamped with younger, hungrier players. The likes of winger Carlos Vicente, midfield stopper Jhon Solis and striker August Priske will have all benefited from the experience they gained. Skipper Christoph Klarer and Phil Neumann should be one of the more formidable central defensive pairings in the Championship.

Weaknesses? Any route to the play-offs will require a rethink as to how Chris Davies sets up away from home. Last season they fell short on their travels - their five away wins put them in the Championship's bottom six and only two clubs scored fewer goals away from home. By way of contrast St Andrew's was something of a fortress, a 44-point haul was the fourth best record in the division.

Difference-maker? This could be a breakthrough year for young Danish striker August Priske. His first Blues goal came on the final day of last season at his father's former club Portsmouth, and he has regularly found the net in the warm-up games this summer. Priske has bulked up over the break putting some meat on his 6ft 5in frame. Over a full season, the 22-year-old may just prove to be a 15-goal plus striker.

Jobi's prediction: 11th

Andy Bayes, BBC Radio Lancashire

Head coach: Tony Mowbray

Last season: 20th

Key ins: Jayden Fevrier (Stockport), Sam Morsy (free)

Key outs: Sondre Tronstad (out of contract), Ryan Hedges (released)

Expectations? The main objective is to avoid a repeat of last season's struggles. Rovers won only four home games at Ewood Park last term and improving that record will be crucial. Tony Mowbray believes the squad still needs more quality and is hoping to bring in further additions before the transfer window closes.

Strengths? The experience gained from successfully battling relegation in two of the past three seasons should benefit the squad. Just as importantly, keeping key players fit and available throughout the campaign would significantly improve Rovers' chances of a more comfortable season.

Weaknesses? The squad still lacks Championship experience in key areas. Michael O'Neill highlighted this during his time at the club, and Mowbray has echoed similar concerns, although his primary focus is on adding quality. The Championship is a demanding league, and it can be difficult for inexperienced players to adapt quickly. The goalkeeping area is also of concern. Both Balazs Toth and Aynsley Pears are in the final year of their contracts. Toth could still leave before the window closes.

Difference-maker? Centre-back Tom Atcheson has begun the season as the first-choice option in defence. He turns 20 in September and is already being tipped for the top. The decision to hand him the number six shirt is a significant vote of confidence and it's likely he is already attracting interest from Premier League clubs.

Jobi's prediction: 22nd

Jack Dearden, BBC Radio Manchester

Head coach: Steven Schumacher

Last season: 5th in League One (play-off winners)

Key ins: Luca Stephenson (Liverpool), Ryan Hardie (Wrexham, loan), Gaizka Larrazabal (free), Lewis Brunt (Wrexham)

Key outs: Amario Cozier-Duberry (end of loan)

Expectations? The bottom line for me this season has to be about consolidating a return to this level, that's not to be confused with a lack of ambition, but a reality check. Bolton are more than capable of providing a few upsets and having a successful season, but they must find their feet early.

Strengths? Having had previous experience of the Championship Steven Schumacher is fully aware of what's needed in terms of performance and the value of an improved squad. It appears that they'll be operating on one of the divisions lowest budgets, which is why close season recruitment could be they key - a search which has been accelerated in the last few days, with eight new arrivals at the time of writing - and I'd suggest at least one more, possibly two on the way.

Weaknesses? Up front is ultimately where the main focus could fall. The ratio of opportunities created to goals scored is the main area for improvement - easier said than done admittedly, but no one suggested it was going to be straightforward, not many things are with Wanderers.

Difference-maker? Hardie - arguably his best spell of goalscoring came when he was with Schumacher at Plymouth. He could be a player to make a big difference to Bolton.

Jobi's prediction: 21st

Ed Hadwin, BBC Radio Bristol

Head coach: Michael Skubala

Last season: 12th

Key ins: Lorent Tolaj (Plymouth), Dom Ballard (Leyton Orient), Sam Tickle (Wigan), Lisav Eissat (Maccabi Haifa), off the pitch Michael Skubala and James Ellis.

Key outs: Radek Vitek (end of loan), Ross McCrorie (Rangers), Mark Sykes (Millwall).

Expectations? More positive than they were at the end of last season but fairly realistic. It's been a big summer of change at Ashton Gate off the pitch, with James Ellis coming in as sporting director and Michael Skubala as head coach. With eight new signings and a bit more money spent than many fans were expecting, there's genuine optimism that things could change at City for the better and they could finally be genuine promotion contenders. But with so much change, that might take a bit of time.

Strengths? City have a strong looking set of centre-backs and central midfielders if they can keep them fit. At times last season it was last man standing, particularly in defence, but the additions of Eissat and midfielder Gibson Yah should help with that. If Jason Knight, who is also out of contract next summer, follows Max Bird in leaving before the window closes, they'll certainly need replacing.

Weaknesses? The signings of Tolaj and Ballard, who were among the best players in League One last season, has got City fans excited about their forward options for the first time in a long time. Both have good scoring records, but have never played in the Championship before. There are reasons to believe both will adapt well, but for now that still remains a question mark. As does the amount of time it will take the whole squad to adapt to a different style of football under Skubala.

Difference-maker? Tolaj certainly looks like he could be a cult hero at Ashton Gate with his all-action displays (and goals), but Yu Hirakawa is perhaps the most interesting. The Japanese winger helped Hull City to promotion to the Premier League on loan in the second half of last season. He couldn't find a place in the Bristol City squad as successive managers have played without genuine wingers. But with that changing under Skubala, he could be just the man they need for a team that has struggled to create chances against good defensive teams in the last few seasons.

Jobi's prediction: 14th

Andy Bayes, BBC Radio Lancashire

Head coach: Nicky Hayen

Last season: 19th in Premier League

Key ins: Ugo Raghouber (Lille)

Key outs: Maxime Esteve (Leipzig), Jaidon Anthony (Brentford), Luca Koleosho (Paris FC), Florentino Luis (Ipswich).

Expectations? It's still too early to make a firm judgement on Burnley's prospects. The Clarets have earned promotion from the Championship in each of the past two seasons they played in the division, both times reaching 100 points or more. They made bouncing straight back to the Premier League look easy. This summer, though, there is still plenty of business to be done before supporters and pundits can get a clear picture of what Burnley might achieve.

Strengths? Burnley have several players with a point to prove. Aaron Ramsey joined the club for a significant fee three years ago but has struggled with injuries. If he can stay fit, he could feel like a new signing. Mike Tresor failed to make a major impact under Burnley's previous two managers, but there is hope new head coach Nicky Hayen can help him rediscover his best form.

Weaknesses? The biggest concern is the possibility of losing more key players before the window closes. Zian Flemming is one to watch. The forward has been linked with a return to the Premier League and would be a difficult player to replace. Hayen has made it clear that any player who does not want to be part of his plans can leave, provided the club receives the right offer.

Difference-maker? Marcus Edwards could be a key figure this season. The attacker made a positive impression after arriving during the second half of Burnley's promotion-winning campaign in 2024-25. Many fans felt he was not given enough opportunities in the Premier League last season, and the Championship could provide the perfect stage for him to show his quality on a regular basis.

Jobi's prediction: 5th

Philip Marsh, BBC Radio Wales

Manager: Brian Barry-Murphy

Last season: 2nd in League One (promoted)

Key ins: Nathan Trott (Copenhagen), Jack Moylan (Lincoln)

Key outs: Ryan Wintle (MK Dons)

Expectations? Survival will be first priority for head coach Brian Barry-Murphy, who has brought life back to the club with his exciting style of football. If the Bluebirds can start the season strongly a top-half finish would mark a successful return to what is an extremely competitive Championship.

Strengths? The Cardiff squad is filled with young talent, many of who came through the academy. Under Barry-Murphy they have been allowed to express themselves and last season it worked wonders, bringing an excitement to the club not seen in many years. The pace at which they play and the freedom allowed by Barry-Murphy will see Cardiff carry a threat against any opposition.

Weaknesses? Strangely it feels as if Cardiff's biggest strength is also their biggest weakness. At present there are only three players in the Cardiff squad over the age of 30, and on occasions last season they showed signs of naivety - the likes of which will see you get punished in the Championship. On paper a few signings with significant Championship experience would not go amiss, but Barry-Murphy has stuck to his guns so far and that is unlikely to change anytime soon.

Difference-maker? The young talents of Dylan Lawlor, brothers Rubin and Joel Colwill and Cian Ashford will all have a significant role to play, but if Cardiff are to have a successful season they need goals, and all eyes will be on striker Yousef Salech. Despite being relegated to League One, the powerful Danish striker scored eight goals in 20 Championship games two seasons ago and netted 15 goals last campaign before a nasty neck injury saw him sidelined. If he is fully fit once more he will be a handful for any defender.

Jobi's prediction: 23rd

Louis Mendez, BBC Radio London

Manager: Nathan Jones

Last season: 19th

Key ins: Ivan Mesik (Heracles), Billy Koumetio (Dundee), Karlan Grant (West Brom), Danny McNamara (Millwall), Millenic Alli (Luton).

Key outs: Luke Berry, Lyndon Dykes, Macaulay Gillesphey, Karoy Anderson, Jayden Fevrier, Harry Clarke, Luke Chambers, Conor Coady

Expectations? Another season of trying to steer clear of danger.

Strengths? Charlton's defensive structure. It was more apparent at the start of last season rather than the end but they did keep a decent amount of clean sheets.

Weaknesses? Both fashioning and taking chances. The Addicks were among the lowest scorers in the division last term.

Difference-maker? Karlan Grant. Returned to the club in the summer and Nathan Jones will hope he will add more bite and quality to that attack.

Jobi's prediction: 18th

Ed Dawes, BBC Radio Derby

Head coach: John Eustace

Last season: 8th

Key ins: Bobby Clark (Salzburg), Sam Szmodics (Ipswich)

Key outs: Liam Thompson (Mansfield)

Expectations? The collapse of the proposed takeover brought an abrupt end to hopes of significant new investment and a major transfer boost. For now, much rests on the final weeks of the transfer window. The current squad has quality but lacks depth, making further additions essential if Derby are to fulfil ambitions of challenging in the top half of the table.

Strengths? The outlook for the season has changed considerably in a short space of time. Derby possess a strong spine, with goalkeeper Jacob Widell Zetterstrom providing reliability at the back, captain Lewis Travis entering his first full season at the club after an injury-free pre-season, and Carlton Morris offering a focal point in attack if he can recapture the form he showed before injury last term.

Weaknesses? The Rams remain short in several positions, including both wide areas, full-back, central midfield and in attack. Finding players with proven Championship pedigree is rarely straightforward, and Derby's recruitment team face a challenging few weeks.

Difference-maker? Bobby Clark is likely to be one of the players to watch this season. At 21, he has the talent and potential to become one of Derby's most valuable assets. Patrick Agyemang is not expected to return until January following the injury that ruled him out of the World Cup, but his comeback could feel like a new signing midway through the season.

Jobi's prediction: 10th

Rob Makepeace, BBC Radio Lincolnshire

Head coaches: Chris Cohen and Tom Shaw

Last season: First in League One, champions

Key ins: Andrei Coubis (Universitatea Cluj), Tanto Olaofe (Charlton, loan), Mason Melia (Tottenham, loan)

Key outs: Jack Moylan (Cardiff), Michael Skubala (head coach, Bristol City)

Expectations? Survive! When you haven't been at this level in over 60 years, just being able to stay up will be an achievement. It's going to be tough for the Imps with them expecting to have the lowest budget in the league. However, like they did last season when they blew League One away with not the biggest budget, City will be hoping to upset the odds once again.

Strengths? It's been a summer of little movement so the core of the squad which helped them achieve promotion remain and the continuity will help. They have a number of players like Tendayi Darikwa and Adam Reach who've done it at Championship level. The appointment of two head coaches might have raised a few eyebrows, but Chris Cohen and Tom Shaw are highly thought of in the footballing world and what might seem a risk might turn out to be a masterstroke.

Weaknesses? It's been a quiet window for City but between now and the end of August you would expect a few more faces to come through the door.

Difference-maker? After a difficult first season, goalkeeper George Wickens played a major part last season and signed a new contract over the summer. Through developing his game with goalkeeping coach David Preece, Wickens could be one of those English goalkeepers who suddenly finds himself in the spotlight in the coming years, just like Lincoln's former loannee Carl Rushworth.

Jobi's prediction: 24th

Mark Drury, BBC Radio Tees

Head coach: Kim Hellberg

Last season: 5th (lost in play-off final)

Key ins: Will Lankshear (Tottenham), Sebastian Berhalter (Vancouver Whitecaps)

Key outs: Hayden Hackney (Everton), Dael Fry (Birmingham)

Expectations? After narrowly missing out on promotion last season, Boro expect to give it another good go this time around. The expanded play-offs are an absolute must for Kim Hellberg's side. Expectations were raised last season and Coventry's title win shows promotion doesn't always have to be beyond teams without parachute payments.

Strengths? Boro were defensively sound last season and brilliant at closing out games in which they scored first. Hellberg's style of play impressed opposing managers and fans alike and at its best is capable of blowing teams away.

Weaknesses? Last season's big problem was Boro's inability to break down teams who decided to sit deep and gift them possession. That led to a run of two wins from the last 10 games of the season which saw them drop out of the top two with the finishing line in sight. Boro hope the addition of Lankshear and Kyle Joseph up front will provide the ability to batter the door down if attempting to pick the lock fails.

Difference-maker? Will Lankshear. Boro have paid big money for an out and out number nine while it's hoped USA international Seb Berhalter continues the form that saw him shine for his country at the World Cup. In defence, Adilson Malanda was an outstanding addition during the second half of last season. Boro need his partnership with Alfie Jones to give them the platform to go out and dominate games.

Jobi's prediction: 2nd

Nick Godwin, BBC Sport London

Head coach: Alex Neil

Last season: 3rd

Key ins: Kyrell Lisbie (Peterborough), Lyndon Dykes (Charlton)

Key outs: Billy Mitchell (Sheff Wed)

Expectations? After reaching the Championship play-offs for the first time in over two decades, the ambition will be for Millwall to challenge again. The fanbase is realistic, as there are many wealthier teams also going for promotion. However the way they dismantled so many reputations last season has shown what can be achieved.

Strengths? Manager Alex Neil is a huge asset. Not only does he seem to understand the club and the fan base – not everybody does – but he also has a great deal of experience in managing teams who win promotion. His know how could once again prove essential in those season-defining moments.

Weaknesses? Neil has received consistent backing from the Berylson family who own the club since he arrived and this summer has seen more investment to make the team as competitive in the Championship as possible. However, they will be up against teams with much larger budgets and that could, in the end, be a deciding factor. But it won't be for the want of trying.

Difference-maker? Millwall have been searching for a proper goalscorer for years. If Josh Coburn can replicate the form he showed for parts of last season – and remain injury free – then he could be that added ingredient that will give them an extra edge.

Jobi's prediction: 6th

Chris Goreham, BBC Radio Norfolk

Head coach: Philippe Clement

Last season: 9th

Key ins: Andre Brooks (Sheffield United), Sam Field (QPR), Darlin Yongwa (Lorient), Bruno Alves (Cruzeiro, loan).

Key outs: Shane Duffy, Emi Marcondes (end of contract)

Expectations? Cautious optimism is the overriding mood around the Norwich fan base. Only three teams won more Championship points in the second half of last season so there is real hope that Philippe Clement can pick up from where he left off, helped by having a full pre-season with the squad.

Strengths? Continuity. Norwich City have looked in good shape since Clement inherited a team that seemed destined for League One last November. The previous two summers have seen the head coach change and a series of signings from different foreign markets. The quieter, calmer close season this time is being seen as a positive.

Weaknesses? Injuries. Clement was frustrated last season by the number of players who were regularly sidelined. It's led to the club making a host of appointments in its sport science and fitness department. However they have lost winger Ali Ahmed to an ACL injury that means he's set to miss the entire season. Kellen Fisher, Jovon Makama and Lucien Mahovo are all likely to miss the opening weeks.

Difference-maker? Makama looked like a superb prospect after arriving from Lincoln last summer. He scored 13 goals before his season ended prematurely in February. Australian World Cup striker Mo Toure scored 10 goals in 12 games after signing last winter, including two hat-tricks. He made it 11 in 13 with a goal just 40 seconds into the Carabao Cup win over MK Dons. Andre Brooks has looked the part in pre-season, too.

Jobi's prediction: 7th

Andrew Moon, BBC Radio Solent

Head coach: John Mousinho

Last season: 18th

Key ins: Rocco Shein (Fredrikstad), Marko Milovanovic (Almeria), Abu Kamara (Hull City)

Key outs: Andre Dozzell (DC United, free)

Expectations? The ambition is to steer clear of the relegation battle. However, despite already spending around double what they did last summer, Pompey's budget remains modest and any improvement on last season's finish of 18th should be considered a fine effort.

Strengths? Josh Murphy and Abu Kamara have the potential to be a very exciting pair on the flanks, although both were injured for the majority of last season. Terry Devlin came on leaps and bounds last season and it's a surprise no one has tried to prise him away this summer. Adrian Segecic's tally of 11 goals in his debut season was impressive.

Weaknesses? Injuries hit Portsmouth hard last season and while that's something every team can expect, Pompey don't have the depth in quality to cope without key players. There's reasons to be encouraged by the new arrivals but there's very little Championship experience between them. Gone are the days of clubs naively thinking they can turn up at Fratton Park and easily win. Teams take Pompey very seriously at home and the Blues have struggled to break down sides who sit back against them.

Difference-maker? A fit and firing Josh Murphy is one of the best players in the Championship. Injuries ruined his last campaign and he's unlikely to feature in the season opener. But if he can re-find the form of two seasons ago, it's hard to see Pompey getting relegated. They are a different proposition with him playing.

Jobi's prediction: 20th

Andy Bayes, BBC Radio Lancashire

Manager: Paul Heckingbottom

Last season: 14th

Key ins: Alfie Devine (Tottenham), Delano Burgzorg (Middlesbrough, loan), Jusef Erabi (Genk, loan).

Key outs: Ben Whiteman (Wrexham)

Expectations? Preston North End are expected to make further significant additions to the first-team squad before the transfer window closes. The club has already spent a record £6m on Alfie Devine and if North End can strengthen in the way they hope, supporters will be aiming for a repeat of last season's strong first-half, but without the dramatic decline that followed after the turn of the year.

Strengths? North End have invested heavily in a new playing surface at Deepdale after the state of the pitch became a major issue last winter. It's cost north of £1.5m to make the required improvements. The previous surface made it difficult to play the style of football Heckingbottom wants and the club will hope the new pitch provides a platform for a more consistent campaign.

Weaknesses? Squad depth remains a concern. Several influential loan players have returned to their parent clubs or moved elsewhere, while experienced figures such as Robbie Brady have departed. Lewis Dobbin and Harrison Armstrong, in particular, leave sizeable gaps to fill, while Daniel Jebbison's departure also reduces Preston's options in attack.

Difference-maker? Devine is Preston's record signing and arguably their standout player. He impressed during his loan spell from Spurs last season and, having now joined permanently, there is every reason to believe he can take his game to another level. That said, he will need more quality around him if both he and the team are to reach their full potential.

Jobi's prediction: 19th

Andy Rowley, BBC Sport London

Head coach: Julien Stephan

Last season: 15th

Key ins: Calum Ward (Motherwell), Pierce Charles (Manchester City, loan), Boy Kemper (NAC Breda, free), Tariq Lamptey (Fiorentina, free), Glen Kamara (Rennes), Dennis Cirkin (Sunderland, free)

Key outs: Steve Cook (Wycombe), Sam Field (Norwich) Paul Nardi (end of contract), Isaac Hayden (end of contract). Manager Julien Stephan's number two Alou Diarra also left over the summer.

Expectations? Hopes appear to be quite high after a promising transfer window and pre-season. Can QPR bridge the gap against the higher spending teams in the division, because that is what it will take to reach the top eight. Progress will be a top-half finish but if they start well and have better luck with injuries then maybe they can push on further.

Strengths? The fact that manager Julien Stephan has a season under his belt in the Championship should help, along with him being able to shape the squad more to his requirements.

Weaknesses? QPR conceded 73 goals last season. Only beleaguered Sheffield Wednesday conceded more across the season. Stephan has to sort this out if they're going to be challenging further up the table this season.

Difference-maker? I have a hunch that Rumarn Burrell could go well with a fair wind. He's got a lot of the qualities a forward requires to be successful in the Championship so if he stays fit and, crucially, if he gets good service, I think he could be a big hit.

Jobi's prediction: 13th

Andy Giddings, BBC Radio Sheffield

Manager: Chris Wilder

Last season: 13th

Key ins: Romelle Donovan (Brentford, loan), Matt Doherty (free), Kalvin Phillips (loan)

Key outs: Gus Hamer (Coventry), Andre Brooks (Norwich)

Expectations? Expectations are lowering with each passing day in the transfer window. It not a shock that key players have been sold, but it hasn't helped the mood of an increasingly frustrated fanbase that's growing concerned about the lack of clarity from the boardroom.

Strengths? Sheffield United have some excellent players, with many proving with the Blades that they can mix it with the best in the Championship the season before last. Getting the best out of those players again is one of manager Chris Wilder's stated challenges this season. Having Wilder at the helm, and under a longer contract, is a major plus point after the failed experiments of the previous summer

Weaknesses? At the time of writing, strength in depth. They currently need two centre-backs, a midfielder and two left sided players, one of whom will be seen as a direct replacement for Gus Hamer. There is pressure on the owners to provide that otherwise the Blades will be trading their way out of the promotion picture.

Difference-maker? Hamer's replacement (pending) and a fit again Michael Cooper in goal. He's up there with the best keepers in the division.

Jobi's prediction: 8th

Adam Blackmore, BBC Radio Solent

Head coach: Tonda Eckert

Last season: 4th (expelled from play-off final)

Key ins: Divin Mubama (Man City, loan), Cyle Larin (Mallorca), Daniel Peretz (Bayern Munich)

Key outs: Ross Stewart (Swansea, free), Shea Charles (Fulham)

Expectations? Southampton's players and head coach have made it clear that they want automatic promotion

Strengths? So far in the window Southampton have kept a large core of the players who went 21 leagues games unbeaten at the end of last season, and also permanently signed two key players from that squad who were on loan, in Cyle Larin and Daniel Peretz.

Weaknesses? Man City striker Divin Mubama has been brought in on loan to replace Ross Stewart. He has huge potential but after five goals in 20 starts before injury at Stoke, needs to show he can deliver over the course of a Championship season.

Difference-maker? Most fans would say Brazilian winger Leo Scienza is the difference-maker, and I wouldn't disagree. Barring a big club coming in with a stupid bid before the window shuts, Scienza will be giving full-backs nightmares all season.

Jobi's prediction: 4th

Mark Elliott, BBC Radio Stoke

Manager: Mark Robins

Last season: 17th

Key ins: Ethan Galbraith (Swansea), Djibril Soumare (Braga), Svante Ingelsson (Sheff Wed), Josh Griffiths (West Brom)

Key outs: Ashley Phillips (end of loan)

Expectations? The club's hierarchy has been clear. They expect to be competing for a play-off place this season.

Strengths? Stoke's good start to last season was built on a solid defence and Viktor Johansson's outstanding goalkeeping. Maintaining that solidity whilst adding more attacking efficiency is the key to success for the Potters.

Weaknesses? A lack of attacking threat outside of the goals and assists Sorba Thomas can provide. Stoke don't have a prolific striker and the rest of the squad has yet to prove it can contribute enough goals to make up for that.

Difference-maker? Young centre-back Luke Graham will take time to adapt following his summer move from Dundee but he's left-footed, robust and happy to step out of defence and has shown enough of his potential already to indicate he could turn into a very good player over the next year or two.

Jobi's prediction: 15th

Gareth Vincent, BBC Wales

Head coach: Vitor Matos

Last season: 11th

Key ins: Elijah Just (Motherwell), Joseph Opoku (Zalte Waregem), Tiago Parente (Benfica, loan), Ross Stewart (Southampton, free), Stephen Welsh (Celtic, free), Moussa Yeo (RB Salzburg)

Key outs: Cameron Congreve (Westerlo), Ollie Cooper (Notts Co, loan), Liam Cullen (Leicester), Ethan Galbraith (Stoke), Sam Parker (Wycombe, loan), Ricardo Santos (Sheff Wed)

Expectations? Not for the first time in recent years, Swansea head into a new Championship season hoping they can improve on a mid-table finish by mounting a genuine play-off push. With transfer questions still to be answered – particularly surrounding Zan Vipotnik – it is difficult to judge exactly how strong Swansea are. But after a second successive summer in which they have shown ambition in the market, the club's owners will be looking for progress after a second successive 11th-placed finish in May.

Strengths? Vipotnik, the Championship's top goalscorer last season, was Swansea's key man up front, while Ethan Galbraith was another top performer alongside left-back Josh Tymon and goalkeeper Lawrence Vigouroux. With Galbraith gone and Vipotnik's future uncertain, Swansea will need some of their new recruits to step up. Following Vitor Matos' appointment last November, Swansea played a pressing game which was particularly effective at home. Given his history working alongside Jurgen Klopp, Matos' commitment to the press is unlikely to change.

Weaknesses? Matos will be keen to improve his team's away record, given that a few more results on the road would have made a big difference last time around. Should Vipotnik move on, Swansea will be left looking to Adam Idah – who endured a tricky first season at the club – and new recruit Ross Stewart to carry the baton up front. Swansea's weakest department last season was out wide, an issue they have attempted to address by spending significantly on the likes of Joseph Opoku and Moussa Yeo.

Difference-maker? He has not been around long, but 21-year-old Ghana winger Opoku looks a player with the physical qualities to thrive in the Championship. Academy product Filip Lissah, meanwhile, seems set to become a first-team regular at Swansea for the first time after the classy defender impressed while on loan at Falkirk last season.

Jobi's prediction: 12th

Geoff Doyle, BBC Three Counties Radio

Head coach: Alessio Dionisi

Last season: 16th

Key ins: Federico Ravaglia (Bologna), Iker Bravo (Udinese), Omar Traore (Udinese), Jordan Zemura (Udinese).

Key outs: Giorgi Chakvetadze (Udinese), Nestory Irankunda (Sporting)

Expectations? The Watford board and owner Gino Pozzo would hope to be involved in a promotion challenge like they were last season until the final six weeks. For many fans - and this correspondent - expectations are lower. Watford ended the season dreadfully (failed to win in their last eight games) finishing 16th. Recruitment has been slow to say the least, so a mid-table finish seems most likely.

Strengths? Watford still have plenty of talent within their ranks with Othmane Maamma top of that list, although it would be no surprise to see interest in him before the transfer window shuts. The Hornets also still have Kwadwo Baah, who needs to re-discover his form and Rocco Vata who was hampered by injury last season, plus Edoardo Bove, who should be better having had a full pre-season.

Weaknesses? The spine of the team is a real concern as it stands. Watford have just two recognised centre-backs. Most clubs would have five. Signings (probably loans) will come in but they will have to integrate into the team and have an immediate impact (under a new head coach) which is never easy. Central midfield appears light with Imran Louza's future still up in the air. And upfront, the Hornets have two young centre forwards who are not quite at Championship level. Watford need to make some quality signings, quickly.

Difference-maker? Maamma is the standout player. The naturally gifted attacker can play left or right and is destined to play at the top level. Great balance, silky touch, game intelligence, and scores goals Maamma looks like one who will keep getting better and better. Hopefully, he will be with Watford for the season. Lesser known is young attacker Amin Nabizada is set for a break-out season.

Jobi's prediction: 16th

Steve Hermon, BBC Radio WM

Head coach: James Morrison

Last season: 21st

Key ins: Barney Stewart (Falkirk), Jimmy-Jay Morgan (Chelsea, loan), Conor Townsend (Ipswich), Matt Ingram (Oxford United), Felix Horn Myhre (SK Brann), Rabby Nzingoula (Strasbourg)

Key outs: Jed Wallace (Bristol City), Karlan Grant (Charlton), Josh Maja (Le Havre), Daryl Dike (Orlando City), Josh Griffiths (Stoke).

Expectations? A massive improvement on last season, hopefully. The club inexplicably flirted with relegation to League One, but James Morrison rescued them with a 10-game unbeaten run. He now has the job permanently and, with two extra play-off spots on offer, that should always be the aim for a club the size of Albion. Achieving that is a different conversation, though, and with a younger, developing squad, a top-half finish would at least be a positive sign of progress.

Strengths? Morrison's miraculous rescue act was built on defensive solidity. He deployed a 4-4-2 formation, which is rare in the modern day, and players played in positions they were comfortable with. The team kept seven clean sheets in their final nine games, but also increased entries into the opposition penalty area thanks to advancing full-backs, so it was far from dull. Hopefully that organised intensity continues.

Weaknesses? Shots increased under Morrison, but turning chances into goals was a problem over the course of the previous campaign. Only four teams scored fewer than the Baggies, and two of them were relegated (Oxford and Sheffield Wednesday). Main striker Aune Heggebo bagged nine league goals in his debut season in England, so the Norwegian will want to improve on that, but he needs help. Spreading goals across the whole team is a must.

Difference-maker? Jimmy-Jay Morgan has scored five goals in pre-season and looks promising, but having not played in the second tier before, and after bigging up Isaac Price in this article last summer, I'm reluctant to put that pressure on the young forward's shoulders. Horn Myhre is a complete newbie to English football, but at 27 and having played in European competitions, he should be able to handle any expectations. I'm excited to see how the midfielder fares after being dubbed Brann's 'most important player' by one Norwegian journalist I spoke to. If he adapts quickly, he could play a pivotal role.

Jobi's prediction: 17th

Ben Ashton, BBC Sport England

Head coach: Nuno Espirito Santo

Last season: 18th in Premier League

Key ins: Manor Solomon (Tottenham), Joel Veltman (Brighton, free), Keiber Lamadrid (Deportivo La Guaira)

Key outs: Mateus Fernandes (Tottenham), Crysencio Summerville (Al-Hilal), Freddie Potts (Club Brugge), Callum Wilson (Brentford, free), Adama Traore (released), Lukasz Fabianski (released)

Expectations? Anything less than automatic promotion will feel like an underachievement for a club the size of West Ham. If they manage to go up via the play-offs, it would still be considered job done, albeit not the preferred route. Failure to bounce straight back to the Premier League would be a failure.

Strengths? It is hard to look past the fact Nuno Espirito Santo has stayed at the club. The Portuguese is an excellent manager with top level pedigree and experience of winning the Championship with 99 points in 2017-18 at Wolves. West Ham have also still retained a competitive core and can lean on the prolific output of England international Jarrod Bowen.

Weaknesses? Off-field issues with an ongoing ownership tug of war could unsettle the club and may yet still impact West Ham's business in the transfer market before the window closes. Losing high quality players such as Fernandes and Summerville will inevitably lower the overall level of the squad and the Hammers must plug those gaps effectively.

Difference-maker? Perhaps the most obvious difference-maker in the entire division is of course Bowen. With 131 goal contributions in 228 games for West Ham since the start of the 2021-22 season, he is not only their best player, but probably the best player in the Championship.

Jobi's prediction: 1st

Mike Taylor, BBC Radio WM

Head coach: Cesar Peixoto

Last season: 20th in Premier League

Key ins: Raul Jimenez (free), Kieran Trippier (free), Rafiki Said (Standard Liege)

Key outs: Joao Gomes (Aston Villa), Tolu Arokodare (Ajax, loan), Matt Doherty (released)

Expectations? By the sound of Molineux last Friday, when over 21,000 were there for the Carabao Cup tie, fans have let bygones be bygones and start the new season with high hopes of an immediate Premier League return. All but the youngest Wolves fans have spent enough time in the Championship to know that the high hopes of mid-August can become brittle by September, but it is not difficult to make a case for Wolves achieving automatic promotion. As long ago as February, new executive chairman Nathan Shi was telling fans of an "18-month objective to ensure Wolves is a Premier League club by the 2027-28 season". Last Friday you could sense, for the first time in a long time, optimism in the stands that they really could.

Strengths? There are several players proven to have Premier League quality – Raul Jimenez and Kieran Trippier foremost among them – or with a fine past record in the Championship like Adam Armstrong, whose signing last January was taken as the first major move towards building a serious second-tier side. Last season was awful but some of the players who held their heads up and had been expected to move do not appear – for now – to be clamouring to leave. The positive choices of Jimenez to return and Andre to stay, when both could surely have found opportunities at higher levels in England or overseas, suggest that a core spirit of unity can exist, a powerful emotion in a demanding Championship programme.

Weaknesses? There are obvious questions. What if the exodus has not been cancelled, just delayed? If any of the seniors who appeared unwanted in May but now might be important components of the Championship challenge do go, can the club do better than last summer's flawed recruitment? Is there enough defensive strength apart from Ladislav Krejci, whose pre-season was limited after the World Cup? Will either of the club's two international goalkeepers end up staying, and if not can another senior keeper be found? The answers to these questions may not become clear until 2 September.

Difference-maker? This time last year, Mateus Mane's abilities were well-known only to those who nurtured him at Rochdale or closely studied the form of Wolves' youth teams. But several months before his departure, Vitor Pereira had identified Mane as a future star, and under Rob Edwards the teenage forward was given the first opportunities to demonstrate that ability. Arguably there were too many opportunities for his age and his season faded out, but he had already shown enough to be the focus of fans' hopes for the future. Through pre-season he has appeared fresh, motivated and refreshingly well-grounded, as if appreciating that a strong Championship season could gold-plate his potential for a major future.

Jobi's prediction: 3rd

Ian Mitchelmore, BBC Wales

Manager: Phil Parkinson

Last season: 7th

Key ins: Danny Imray (Crystal Palace), Ben Whiteman (Preston), Anthony Patterson (Sunderland)

Key outs: Paul Mullin (Rotherham), Jay Rodriguez (released), Andy Cannon (Fleetwood, free)

Expectations? There is no doubt that Wrexham want to be pushing for promotion, particularly having gone so close to securing a play-off spot last season. A top eight finish will likely be viewed as a success given the restructuring of the play-offs, although the Red Dragons will want to push for top six.

Strengths? The squad possesses some real individual talent, including Josh Windass and Callum Doyle, while Kieffer Moore's variety of talents up front make him a real danger in the Championship. Wrexham are also very clinical. Phil Parkinson's side outperformed their expected goals (XG) by 12.21 last season, more than any other second tier side. Maintain that ruthless nature in front of goal and the Red Dragons will have another strong campaign.

Weaknesses? They gave up plenty of chances and efforts on their goal last season. It took time for Parkinson to find a settled back three in 2025-26, and injuries at wing-back certainly didn't help the team's balance. The hope, and probably even expectation, is that Wrexham will improve defensively having had a year to acclimatise to the division.

Difference-maker? Danny Imray, who was the club's first signing of the summer, has the profile to slot in seamlessly on the right flank. The injury record of last season's first-choice wing-backs Liberato Cacace and Issa Kabore was poor, but Imray has chalked up 76 appearances during loan spells across the past two seasons combined.

Jobi's prediction: 9th