August 16th 2024.
The Ukrainian defender, who joined last summer for just £1.5million, was named in the 2023-24 Premier League Team of the Season, a remarkable achievement for a 21-year-old in his first season in England.
Solanke may have chipped in with 18 goals in 34 Premier League games last term, but it’s Zabarnyi who is the real star on the South Coast. And, with Zabarnyi still at the club, Bournemouth won’t miss Solanke too much. In fact, they may even improve.
The Cherries have recruited well this summer, bringing in the likes of Manchester United prospect Hannibal Mejbri, Real Madrid castoff Reinier, and the return of Callum Wilson from Newcastle.
With manager Luis Enrique now in his second season at the helm, Bournemouth could surprise a few and push for a top 10 spot. Wilson, who scored 23 goals in 37 Premier League games in 2022-23 for the Cherries, will be hoping to rediscover his form after a difficult spell at Newcastle, and with the creativity of Mejbri and Reinier behind him, he could be the key to Bournemouth's success this season.
So, while Tottenham fans may mock Bournemouth for losing Solanke, don't be surprised if the Cherries have the last laugh come the end of the season. Jack Sear
As the Premier League season kicks off, the Metro sports desk has put together a list of bold predictions for the campaign ahead. Can Manchester City maintain their dominance over Arsenal for a third consecutive year? Will Liverpool be able to compete without their beloved manager, Jurgen Klopp? And what about Manchester United's decision to stick with Erik ten Hag as their coach?
The race for European spots is expected to be even more intense this season, with teams like West Ham United making smart investments in the transfer market. However, there are also concerns that some clubs may struggle due to a lack of activity during the summer window.
Get ready for some fiery predictions from Metro as we dive into the new season.
First up, we have our prediction for the first manager to be sacked - Thomas Frank of Brentford. After two successful seasons in the Premier League, the Bees had a disappointing finish last year due to injuries and the suspension of their star striker, Ivan Toney. With Toney's contract expiring soon and new signing Igor Thiago already facing a major injury setback, it's shaping up to be a tough season for Brentford.
Speaking of Brentford, we predict that they will face a tough battle this season. Despite the impressive loan spell of their new signing, Fabio Carvalho at Hull City, we believe that the club's lack of activity in addressing their squad's weaknesses will lead to a slide down the table. This may leave them with no choice but to make a drastic change in the dugout in order to avoid relegation.
Now, onto our predictions for the top of the table. We believe that Manchester City will once again be crowned champions, but their grip on the title may not be as strong this time around. With the recent controversy surrounding the team and questions about Guardiola's future, it could be a challenging season for them. On the other hand, Arsenal, who narrowly missed out on the title last year, could finally end their drought this season. They have proven their ability to capitalize on any slip-ups and we believe they have what it takes to go all the way.
Meanwhile, Liverpool may struggle to maintain their top four spot under new manager, Arne Slot, with no major additions to their aging squad. And as for Manchester United, although they have backed their coach, concerns over their performances away from home and the improvement of their rivals may result in another difficult battle for a top four spot.
Moving on to a team that we believe will exceed expectations this season, we have West Ham United. With some shrewd signings and a manager, Julen Lopetegui, who has a proven track record of success, we predict that they will have a season similar to Aston Villa's in 2023-24. Lopetegui has a chance to prove himself in the Premier League after a disappointing stint with Wolves, and we wouldn't be surprised if they make a statement by defeating their fellow claret-and-blue rivals in their first game of the season.
Last but not least, we have a prediction for AFC Bournemouth. While many have mocked them for losing their top scorer, Dominic Solanke, to Tottenham, we believe that they have a young star in their squad who will step up - Illia Zabarnyi. The 21-year-old center-back was named in the Premier League Team of the Season last year and we expect him to continue to shine. With some smart signings and the return of Callum Wilson, we predict that Bournemouth could even push for a top 10 spot this season.
So, there you have it - our bold predictions for the 2024-25 Premier League season. Let the games begin!
In fact, Zabarnyi has been so impressive that Chelsea, the club who released him at 16, have a buy-back clause. The 22-year-old is good enough to play for a top-four club, let alone a side pushing for a top-half finish.
Bournemouth have brought in some shrewd signings this summer, including the experienced Nabil Fekir and the highly-rated youngster Moises Caicedo. And under the guidance of Eddie Howe, who has returned to the club, they could surprise a few teams this season.
With Zabarnyi marshaling the defense and the likes of Fekir and Caicedo providing creativity and energy in midfield, Bournemouth could exceed expectations and push for a top 10 finish. And as for Tottenham, well, they may be left regretting letting Solanke go so easily. John Smith
The Premier League is finally back after a long break, and Metro's sports desk is here with some bold predictions for the upcoming season. As football fans, we can't help but wonder - will Manchester City be able to hold off Arsenal for a third consecutive season? Can Liverpool still be a top contender without Jurgen Klopp at the helm? And what about Manchester United's decision to stick with manager Erik ten Hag?
There are also some exciting developments in store for the race for European spots, with teams like West Ham United making smart moves in the transfer market. However, other clubs who have failed to make significant changes during the summer may pay the price for standing still.
But enough with the preamble - let's get to the good stuff. Metro is about to drop some fiery hot takes and predictions, so buckle up and get ready for some football talk!
First on our list of predictions is that Thomas Frank of Brentford will be the first manager to be sacked this season, as his team is predicted to go down to the lower division. After two impressive seasons in the Premier League, last year saw Brentford struggle with injuries and the loss of star striker Ivan Toney due to a gambling ban. While Toney has returned, his future at the club is still uncertain and their new signing Igor Thiago has already picked up a major injury. With a lackluster transfer window, it's not looking good for Brentford.
But let's move on to some more positive predictions. We believe that Manchester City will once again be the title winners, but their dominance may be challenged by Arsenal, who are looking to end their title drought. City's off-field issues and aging players may give Arsenal the opportunity to pounce and take the top spot. Meanwhile, Liverpool may struggle to maintain their top four position under new manager Arne Slot, and Manchester United may have a tough battle for a Champions League spot with the improvement of other teams in the league.
Another team to keep an eye on is West Ham United, who have made some savvy transfers and have a manager in Julen Lopetegui with a proven track record of success. We predict that West Ham will have a similar season to Aston Villa, who surprised everyone with a fourth-place finish in the previous season. In fact, Lopetegui's first game in charge will be against Villa, and we wouldn't be surprised if he starts his tenure with a statement victory.
And finally, we have a prediction that may surprise some of you - Bournemouth will do just fine without Dominic Solanke, and may even push for a top 10 finish. While Tottenham fans were quick to mock Bournemouth for signing their "best player," those who have watched the team closely know that their true star is center-back Illia Zabarnyi. With some smart signings and the return of Eddie Howe as manager, Bournemouth could exceed expectations and prove that they don't need Solanke to succeed.
So there you have it - our bold predictions for the 2024-25 Premier League season. Who knows, we may be completely off the mark, but that's the fun of it all, isn't it? Let's sit back, relax, and enjoy the beautiful game as it unfolds before us.
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