Antonio Conte to leave Chelsea, Zlatan Ibrahimovic to bag winners medal, and more bold Premier League predictions

Sport360 staff 11:03 10/08/2017
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  • Can he repeat? Antonio Conte.

    With a new Premier League season upon us, it’s time to make predictions – not the typical ones where half the Sport360 office picks Manchester City as champions, but the bold, unexpected calls.

    Which striker will deliver against all odds? And which manager will bid adieu?

    Our team of football experts have their say…

    James Piercy | @piercy360

    VINCENT JANSSEN TO COME GOOD

    It’s easy to consider a footballer’s price-tag and then get angry when they don’t match the zeros with goals. Janssen arrived at Spurs last season from AZ for £17m and finished with a poor goal return of two in 24 league games.

    However, just as easy as it is to think, ‘what a waste of money’, is to ignore he’s 23 and this will be just his third season of top-flight football. He will once again have to play second-fiddle to Harry Kane but with a season of settling in to the velocity of English football – always a marked difference from the slow build-up of the Eredivisie – he should be considerably better.

    There’s a reason Mauricio Pochettino hasn’t spent and it’s not just down to Daniel Levy’s prudence, he knows in Janssen and Son – another player who took a bit of time to find his feet – he has some solid goalscoring deputies waiting in the wings. Watch the Dutchman reach double figures this term.

    Alam Khan | @alamkhan08

    ANTONIO CONTE TO QUIT CHELSEA

    It’s been a summer of frustration for the Italian with his squad arguably weaker than last season and there is every chance of a dramatic exit if the Blues struggle fail to fire at the start of the season.

    As passionate as he was on the sidelines in driving Chelsea to the title, there was also a notable volatile nature and that could rear its head if things go wrong. He has not been shy to vent his feelings and bust-ups at Stamford Bridge are nothing new in recent years with eight different permanent managers in the past decade.

    He might have signed an extended contract, but that will mean nothing if failure is on the agenda and, with their rivals strengthening, it could be curtains for Conte.

    Brendon Netto | @BrendonNetto

    ZLATAN TO BAG A WINNERS MEDAL

    Zlatan Ibrahimovic arrived on English shores announcing his intention to conquer the Premier League like he has every top flight he’s competed in.

    Despite winning the Europa League and League Cup with United last season, he fell woefully short of adding another league medal to his collection. Following a serious knee injury, he was released by the club.

    But I can’t see him letting that lie, it would gnaw away at his ego. Updates of his rehabilitation keep propping up on social media while Jose Mourinho has spoken optimistically of the Swede returning to the fold. With Anthony Martial being deployed as a winger, United only have two genuine senior strikers.

    Ibrahimovic could offer good cover in that department come mid-season, particularly during the business end of the campaign. United to win the title and Zlatan to fulfill his prophecy.

    Matt Monaghan | @mattmonaghan

    CLEMENT TO BE NEXT ENGLAND BOSS

    The cycle is well known by now: England will head to World Cup 2018 amid rising expectations, before an early exit leads to a public execution. In many ways, the race to succeed Gareth Southgate begins this weekend.

    Out of the shallow pool of native candidates, watch Paul Clement emerge. A schooling across Europe under Carlo Ancelotti already makes the erudite Englishman an obvious target.

    His candidacy gains strength when you consider how emphatically he helped save Swansea after his mid-season arrival, fixing a porous defence and getting the likes of Fernando Llorente firing. If summer additions Tammy Abraham and Roque Mesa live up to their reputations, persuasive success awaits.

    Alex Rea | @AlexReaSport

    BATSHUAYI TO SCORE MORE GOALS THAN MORATA

    If Michy Batshuayi can be as prolific in front of goal this season as he is with tweets then he’d end up the league’s top scorer.

    As it is, he’s battling to force his way into Chelsea’s first team but the Belgian’s narrative has changed drastically over pre-season as he extended the strong form he displayed towards the end of last term in the summer friendlies. Alvaro Morata faces a transitional season in England and as either a back-up or in a pair, Batshuayi could capitalise.

    Matt Jones | @mattjones360

    HUGHES TO TAKE LEAGUE BY STORM

    ​Will Hughes has been a consistent performer in the second tier, but has finally made the move to the big time with Watford.

    He’s an interesting anomaly. While others – Wayne Routledge, Seth Johnson, John Bostock and Tom Huddlestone and countless more – all failed to shine when making the step up at a very young age, the diminutive schemer consistently chose to stay at Derby and hone his craft (albeit injury also prevented a move) when the likes of Liverpool and United came calling.

    Now 22, he’s finally made the move at a more developed stage, looking to make his mark at elite level having outgrown the Championship. The Hornets might not be as glamourous as Liverpool or United but at a club expected to be fighting a relegation battle, the white-haired Hughes can shine and be that special spark all teams battling the drop need in order to get out.

    Chris Bailey | @chrisjebailey

    MAWSON TO MAKE THE WORLD CUP

    Alfie Mawson will be a centre-back everyone is talking about by the season’s end – and will make England’s World Cup squad. The 23-year-old made the jump from League One Barnsley to filling Ashley Williams’ boots at Swansea remarkably well last summer, impressing not just with his composure and reading of the game but also his leadership.

    He has received interest from Tottenham already and as England’s defence is hardly of Ferdinand and Terry vintage, the stars seem to be aligning for Mawson.

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