JRS1

The new season sees some minor changes to the squad. It's all about keeping the squad small enough to allow the academy players to progress. Outgoing Players The biggest loss this year is Thomas Partey (£55M to Real Madrid). He's a big loss as he's consistently got 7+ average ratings, but I'm really pushing Patino and Rice as my main DMs, and I found our results began to stutter when Partey was used as one of my eights. Other sizeable outgoings are Tyreece John-Jules (£6M to Birmingham) and Omari Hutchinson (£15M to Young Boys). Both decent players at Championship level, but wasn't convinced of their ceiling. Academy Players/Returning from Loan In terms of Partey's replacement, I have promoted Marcelo Flores into the first team. He's a similar profile to my starting eights Odegaard and Smith Rowe, and can also play across the front three. He's had impressive loans at West Brom and Norwich in the Championship, so feel he can step up. Brooke Norton-Cuffy returns from a loan at Swansea where he won 1st and 2nd place in Championship Goal of the Season. I'm not yet convinced he has an immediate place in the squad, and may benefit from another loan. Emmanuel Nwankwo is an immense prospect, who would likely slot into the first team should one of my centre-backs leave. He had a decent loan at Luton in the Championship for the second half of that season but they were playing him as a RWB, which he clearly isn't suitable for. I'd like to get him a loan playing at centre-back, but as it's not his natural position, clubs seem reluctant to take him. Jake Walker, a £1M signing from Fulham in January, is one who will likely go on loan this year. He's a more classic winger than I'd typically use, but he's clearly a future star. Wolves are interested, but not convinced he'd get regular game time. Paul Parcell, an academy product, goes on loan to Championship side Barnsley for the season. He's another future star, and a towering 6"4. Incoming Signings Jordan Sim was the big-money signing - £28M from Aston Villa. He's naturally a left winger, but I think he's better suited in centre midfield. I have him on a Roaming Playmaker schedule, while also trying to improve his weaker foot. Juan Andrés Torres joins for a slightly cheaper £525k. He will also be deployed in centre midfield, once I train him there.

Three seasons into my save, and we’ve just lifted the Premier League for the first time.