In the Mixer: 7 experts pick out a team or player to watch for next season!

In The Mixer is FST’s weekly column where we catch up with our team of football betting experts and get their opinion on the hot topic of the week.

With domestic campaigns across Europe drawing to a close last weekend, we cast our eye towards next season for our weekly In the Mixer feature as we task our experts to give us something to watch out for next season.

This may be an exciting youngster bursting onto the scene, a new team heading into the division, or a manager looking to lead the charge.

Warren Ashurst

If Sunderland are going to survive in the Premier League, some of their young stars will have to take the step up, and Eliezer Mayenda could be key.

The former Sochaux forward has caught the eye in the Championship and some of his displays have shown he can perform at a higher level.

Mayenda has already played for the Spain Under 21s and his finish in the play-off final win over Sheffield United shows his ability in and around the penalty area.

Rob Eddy

With Frank Lampard at the helm, Coventry City look an attractive price to challenge for the Championship title at around 12/1, given the impact he has made at the CBS Arena.

With the Sky Blues arguably facing a relegation battle last season, having won just four of their first 14 games, Lampard turned things around magnificently, picking up 52 points from his 29 games to end up fifth.

Things may have gone differently in the play-offs as well, but the Championship looks a little more open next season and with a full preseason and one or two shrewd additions, Lampard can get Coventry challenging from the off.

Liam Flin

Paris Saint-Germain have long been the dominant force in the French capital, but next season they will be joined in Ligue 1 by city rivals Paris FC.

With their second-placed finish in Ligue 2 this season, Paris FC will end a 46-year absence from the top division next season and they are worth keeping an eye on.

The current squad is pretty modest with Jean-Phillipe Krasso and Maxime Lopez among their most notable players but, owned by the Arnault family’s Agache Sport, they are expected to invest €100 million into their team this summer.

Gareth Freeman

Valencia have endured a few tough years but they may be able to get back to challenging at the top of La Liga with Carlos Corberán in charge from the start.

Los Che were relegation contenders in the first half of the season as they won just two of their opening 18 games. Following Corberan’s arrival, the Mestalla club managed to pull clear and even looked capable of making a late charge towards the European spots before their form tailed off. It is still early days – but one of Spain’s sleeping giants may have just woken up.

Jamie Griffith

Assuming Cesc Fabregas stays on as manager and they keep hold of at least some of their key men, Como could battle their way into the European spots next term.

Their first Serie A season in 21 years was a resounding success as they finished tenth and their eight-game unbeaten run to end the campaign was only ended by Champions League finalists Inter.

Even if the likes of Nico Paz leave, new players will be drawn to Fabregas’ exciting style and they could very well improve on their encouraging top-flight return.

Tom Hill

Claudio Echeverri finally made his Manchester City debut in last week’s FA Cup final, and he should be given a bigger role next season.

The 19-year-old should have less competition for places with Kevin De Bruyne on his way out, while Jack Grealish could also be leaving the Etihad Stadium.

Echeverri has elite dribbling skills and can play in various roles, so he offers something different in the final third, and with City looking to bounce back next season, he could be given the platform to showcase his skills 18 months after he joined the Citizens.

Enda McElhinney

Wilfried Gnonto was a raw teenager when he signed for Leeds in the autumn of 2022 and the Whites ended that season being relegated to the Championship.

They are back amongst the elite after two seasons in the second tier and the tricky Italian wide man hit a personal best nine Championship goals with six assists despite more than half of his appearances coming off the bench.

He picked up Leeds’ Young Player of the Year gong and should be much more impactful in his second crack at the Premier League as he continues to mature.

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