Ipswich Town considers striker Parrott for Premier League challenge

After a season that saw the Magpies finish 13th despite spending hundreds of millions last summer, you could fairly argue Newcastle need improvement all over the pitch. Anthony Gordon's move to Barcelona has left a gaping hole in the forward line that must be addressed but in terms of pure urgency, the goalkeeping department has been crying out for a refresh for some time. It was high on the agenda last summer when Trafford was again the primary target – though Newcastle dallied on a deal to sign him from Burnley, allowing Manchester City to swoop in at the 11th hour and gazump them.

Last season was the first time since his arrival in the Premier League that Erling Haaland suddenly seemed a little more… human. Manchester City's talismanic striker still managed to win the Golden Boot – of course he did – but he also went through a dry spell between mid-December and mid-April that saw him score just three times in the league. Of the the 14 games during that period, City failed to win half, a run of results that ultimately would cost them the title.

You could make the case that Liverpool need strengthening in almost all areas across the pitch. For a side who spent almost £500m last summer, that's hardly a ringing endorsement of the rebuild initiated by sporting director Richard Hughes. A new centre back will be sought to replace the suddenly-departed Ibrahima Konate, in addition to Jeremy Jacquet who arrives from Rennes this summer.

There's no point sugar-coating it: Hull City are up against it next season. The Tigers were promoted through the playoffs as a statistical anomaly, one of the worst-performing sides to have ever made it to the top flight according to a number of metrics. A 10-year-old club record transfer fee of just £13m will need certainly need to be broken – several times.

Ipswich may be in the best position of the three newly-promoted clubs to make a real fist of it on their return to the top flight. A 19th-placed finish in 2024-25 did not disgrace the Tractor Boys, nor harm manager Kieran McKenna's stock much. Ipswich lost 27 points from winning positions during their relegation campaign, largely as a result of not being able to put opposition teams away when they had the opportunities.