Championship / 1-24 Predictions
- Dan's Football Tips
- Aug 4
- 8 min read
The Championship is back and it's just as tight as ever who will go up and down... however I've had a go at predicting what the table might look like by the end of May - here goes...
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1. Ipswich Town (Championship Winners)
Keeping Kieran McKenna at the helm is the biggest win of Ipswich’s summer. Last year’s ambitious recruitment laid the foundation, and now they look like one of the most balanced squads in the division. The attacking arsenal of Jack Clarke, Jaden Philogene, Omari Hutchinson, Conor Chaplin, and 2023/24 Championship top scorer Sammie Szmodics is frightening for any defence. Add the league’s best attacking full-back in Leif Davis, and they’ve got creativity from everywhere. The arrival of Ashley Young is a shrewd move too—his experience is the perfect replacement for the leadership lost with Sam Morsy and Massimo Luongo departing. It’s hard to look past Ipswich as favourites. Oh, and add Chuba Akpom into the mix for good measure!
2. Southampton
It’s the midfield that impresses me most about the Saints. Shea Charles is primed for a breakout season alongside the rock-solid Flynn Downes—a pairing that could boss games in this league. Adam Armstrong is the perfect striker for a top-two side, and that’s where I think Southampton will finish. New boss Will Still brings high-intensity football and a fearless approach, and he’s one of the most intriguing managers to watch this season. If he gets them firing early, Saints fans could be in for a very enjoyable year. 3. Coventry City
Haji Wright, Ellis Simms, Ephron Mason-Clark, Brandon Thomas-Asante, and Norman Bassette—this Coventry attack is stacked, and Frank Lampard will have no shortage of options. I love the signing of Kaine Kesler-Hayden, Preston’s Player of the Year last term, and keeping Jack Rudoni, probably their most complete player, only strengthens them further. The squad’s been together long enough to gel properly, and I think they’ll play some of the most attractive football in the Championship.
4. Millwall
The bookmakers might have them pegged for mid-table, but I think Alex Neil’s Millwall are primed for a big season. Mihailo Ivanović could well be the best striker in the division, and pairing him with record signing Josh Coburn is a statement. Alfie Doughty arriving from Luton adds creativity and width, while signing Massimo Luongo in midfield and keeping Japhet Tanganga at the back bring quality and experience. There’s a clear game plan here, and I think they’ll shock a lot of people.
5. Leicester City
A looming points deduction makes predicting Leicester tricky, but even without it, this could be a challenging season. Appointing Martí Cifuentes on July 15 leaves little time for pre-season work, and recruitment has been sluggish. The midfield of Harry Winks and Oliver Skipp is tidy, and players like Ricardo Pereira, Wout Faes, and James Justin provide even more experience - but with several departures expected and no clear replacements, there’s a staleness about the squad. Transfer uncertainty, including Josh Brownhill’s hesitation to sign, could make the early months difficult.
6. Birmingham City
The signing of Tommy Doyle from Wolves might be the best business in the Championship this summer. Adding Kyogo Furuhashi, who knows where the goal is despite a rough spell in France, alongside Jay Stansfield gives them real threat. They could use one or two more defenders, but the feel-good factor under star owner Tom Brady and the momentum from last season could propel them into the play-offs.
7. Norwich City
Plenty of transfer action at Carrow Road, and keeping Josh Sargent (for now) is huge. They’ve spent big on Mathias Kvistgaarden and Papa Amadou Diallo - both exciting but unproven. Losing Borja Sainz hurts, but his form dipped badly last season, so cashing in and reinvesting might be wise. New boss Liam Manning isn’t flashy, but he delivers results, and this squad has the depth to push for the top six. 8. Sheffield United
Gus Hamer and Louie Barry are comfortably the standout talents here, which, compared to the depth and quality of last season’s squad, is a concern. The recruitment strategy has clearly shifted, and it played a part in Chris Wilder walking away. So far, no arrivals scream “guaranteed quality,” and that’s risky in such a competitive division. There’s a nagging feeling that Ruben Selles could find himself under pressure quickly if the Blades aren’t in the promotion picture by autumn. This could be a season full of tension at Bramall Lane.
9. Charlton Athletic
This might raise eyebrows, but Nathan Jones is the kind of manager who can drag a squad into play-off contention through sheer will. There’s been plenty of recruitment, with Charlie Kelman the standout after impressing on loan at Leyton Orient. If he kicks on, Charlton could have a genuine goal threat to build around. Jones’s intensity can rub some up the wrong way, but if the players buy in, they’ll be in the mix. Also like the signings of Rob Apter and Joe Rankin-Costello, both can bring something different to this Charlton side.
10. Derby County
John Eustace is assembling the most “John Eustace” squad imaginable—packed with experience, familiar faces from his past clubs, and plenty of attacking options. While Andy Weimann and Danny Batth are trusted lieutenants from his Blackburn spell, neither have been immune to injuries (Batth’s last campaign being a rare exception). Owen Beck looks a strong pick at left-back, but the real intrigue is Patrick Agyemang, the £5.8m American striker. He’ll start the season injured, but his ceiling could be enormous for the Rams. 11. Blackburn Rovers
Losing Tyrhys Dolan to Espanyol and Callum Brittain to Middlesbrough for around £3m is a blow - Brittain might be the best right-back in the division. Still, with a spine of Dom Hyam, Lewis Travis, Sondre Tronstad, Todd Cantwell, and Yuki Ohashi, there’s stability. This could be a big year for Cantwell to make his mark at the club, while winger Augustus Kargbo brings pace and electricity that could light up Ewood Park if he settles into the season quickly.
12. Bristol City
New boss Gerhard Struber arrives with an eclectic CV and plenty of clubs on his record - but whether he’s here by season’s end is another matter. Swapping Nahki Wells for Emil Riis won’t set pulses racing, but there’s creativity in Jason Knight, Scott Twine, and Anis Mehmeti. There’s enough talent for a push upward, but this could just as easily go south if Struber can’t find consistency. 13. Middlesbrough
I don’t see Rob Edwards lasting until Christmas. Callum Brittain is a superb signing, but an injury-prone defence - with Darragh Lenihan the prime example - remains a headache. The lack of a reliable goalkeeper and missing out on Chuba Akpom means more attacking signings are essential. There’s money to spend, especially if Hayden Hackney moves on, but right now, this feels like a team in transition rather than a promotion contender. 14. Stoke City
Divin Mubama on loan from Manchester City is one of the most intriguing deals in the division - Pep Guardiola rates him highly, and his early cameos suggest he’ll be a handful. Ashley Phillips returning from Spurs on loan adds defensive depth, but losing Wouter Berger in midfield and the likely exit of Viktor Johansson are major concerns. On the romantic side, Steven N’Zonzi training with the club is a nostalgic touch - if Shaqiri and Bojan followed, this prediction might shoot up!
15. West Bromwich Albion
This is a squad that looks… fine. Ryan Mason is likeable and has a positive reputation, but he’s still unproven as a full-time manager. Tom Fellows is the standout talent - keeping him could be the difference between a safe mid-table finish/play off push and a relegation scrap. Interest in Torbjørn Heggem from other clubs is another potential blow. Lose both, and they’re in trouble; keep them, and this prediction might be six places too low.
16. Portsmouth
John Mousinho fully deserves the praise after the job he’s done. Losing Freddie Potts back to West Ham is a blow - he looks destined to break into their first team this season. The free signing of John Swift from West Brom feels underwhelming; his influence at this level isn’t what it once was. This is a side where the manager is arguably stronger than the squad, which often makes it tough to overachieve. A 15th-place finish would probably be an acceptable outcome in their second year back in the Championship. 17. Swansea City
With Luka Modrić and co. now part of the boardroom, it’s certainly an exciting era for Swansea. Zeidane Inoussa has arrived for big money, and Ethan Galbraith joins after impressing with Leyton Orient. The financial backing is there, but they’re still miles from being a top-six outfit. New boss Alan Sheehan takes the reins full-time - a move that rarely pays off when assistants make the step up. 18. Wrexham
The strategy this summer has been to pack the squad with experienced Championship players. Ryan Hardie and Josh Windass bring some quality, while Kieffer Moore has arrived for around £2m - he’ll put in a shift, but whether he’s still a top striker at this level is debatable. Lewis O’Brien is the standout addition, but does he turn a League One-level squad into a play-off chaser? Probably not. Phil Parkinson may find life tougher after Wrexham’s rapid rise and I could see a change here at some point... A fascinating year ahead for the Hollywood ownership. 19. Queens Park Rangers
QPR could be quietly watching Ebere Eze’s situation closely thanks to a sell-on clause that might transform their budget. Kwame Poku arriving from Peterborough is a strong move - he’s a genuine creative spark. Ilias Chair stays (for now), and with Rumarn Burrell and Karamoko Dembélé also in the attacking ranks, they’d make a dazzling 5-a-side team. New manager Julien Stéphan has a great reputation, so this prediction could be one I regret by May. 20. Hull City
Still navigating EFL charges while somehow pulling off decent recruitment. Oli McBurnie is set to join John Lundstram, with Semi Ajayi and Akin Famewo shoring up the defence. Expect them to be active until the deadline, but right now they look just strong enough to avoid another scrap at the very bottom. 21. Preston North End
This squad feels like it’s slowly drifting from comfortable mid-table to genuine relegation concern. The lack of firepower is glaring - if Daniel Jebbison is the main man up top, alarm bells ring. Thierry Small could be an interesting signing, but Paul Heckingbottom needs much more if Preston are to steer clear of danger. 22. Watford
Another year, another round of chaos at Watford. Beyond Imran Louza and Giorgi Chakvetadze, there’s not much to get excited about. Mattie Pollock is dependable, but Tom Dele-Bashiru looks set to leave. New man Hector Kyprianou is good but untested at this level. It’s hard to see Paulo Pezzolano surviving the season. 23. Oxford United
Gary Rowett worked wonders to keep them up last year, but that survival bounce rarely lasts. Oxford are efficient from set pieces - Will Vaulks has a long throw to rival Rory Delap’s, and Michał Helik is a monster in the air - but open play creativity is limited. They’ll need more than throw-ins to stay up. 24. Sheffield Wednesday
It’s bleak. Chansiri continues to drag the club down, with Barry Bannan signing a new deal but looking like the last man standing. A takeover is desperately needed. Too many departures to list, Danny Röhl gone, and no signs of stability. Sadly, I can only see a bottom-of-the-table finish for the Owls.
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