Burnley
Blackburn Rovers
Coventry City
Derby County
Leeds United
Luton Town
Middlesbrough
Millwall
Norwich City
Portsmouth
Sheffield Wednesday
Sheffield United
QPR
All three relegated clubs will all be aiming for promotion from the Championship in 2025/26, and several players are arguably too good for the division.
There is still over a month until the transfer window slams shut, and each team coming down from the Premier League will want to hold onto their prized assets.
Ipswich Town have slapped a £40 million asking price on Omari Hutchinson amid interest from Brentford, although the 21-year-old wants to be playing in England’s top flight in 2025/26.
Leicester City powerhouse Wilfred Ndidi is also wanted by several clubs, and if the Foxes do somehow hold onto him, he will be one of the best midfielders in the Championship next season.
Southampton also have multiple quality talents in their engine room, with one star being tipped to pocket the Saints an eight-figure sum in the future.
- READ MORE: Middlesbrough will ‘keep pushing’ for Rob Edwards’ ‘dream signing’, but it’s ‘not going to be easy’
Shea Charles tipped to become a ‘£60m player’ by EFL expert
After suffering a disappointing relegation, Southampton are gearing up for an automatic promotion challenge under Will Still.
The Saints have signed right-back Joshua Quarshie and striker Damion Downs so far this summer, while offloading multiple players on big wages, including Kyle Walker-Peters, Kamaldeen Sulemana, Paul Onuachu and Samuel Amo-Ameyaw.
Currently, after pocketing some cash from the above sales, Southampton are under no pressure to sell Mateus Fernandes, someone who has fielded Premier League interest.
They’re also desperate to keep hold of Northern Irish midfielder Shea Charles, who EFL expert Ali Maxwell has tipped to become a £50m – £60m player in the near future.
“Shea Charles is my pick, I think he’ll be the standout central midfielder in the Championship this season,” Maxwell said on the Not The Top 20 podcast.
“I’m actually so bullish on Shea Charles, that without wanting to over exaggerate, I would say he’s maybe one or two seasons away from being considered a 50 to 60 million pound player.”
Charles was outstanding on loan at Sheffield Wednesday last term, and EFL Analysis revealed in June that Charles is likely to stay at Southampton.
Charles’ stock can skyrocket under Will Still
Talk of Charles becoming of £60 million player is, of course, a very bold statement. But at the age of 21, the world is his oyster, and the Northern Ireland international can achieve anything he wants.
The all-action midfielder will feel a sense of redemption after being loaned out to Sheffield Wednesday instead of being used in the Premier League.
However, a full season of Championship football was hugely beneficial to his development, as he produced one goal and five assists in 43 league matches.
Now, with Southampton plotting their promotion bid, the youngster will hope to play a huge part under Still, someone who has gained a track record of developing young talent.