EFL Championship 2022-23 - Key transfers, promotion chances and predicted finish

The new Championship season begins on Friday night when Huddersfield Town welcome relegated Burnley, now under the leadership of Vincent Kompany, in the second tier curtain-raiser.

It will have been exactly two months to the day since the last campaign finished, with the Terriers also involved on that occasion. They of course lost out to Nottingham Forest in the EFL's blue riband event, the Championship play-off final.

Since then, plenty of changes have occurred, not only in that particular corner of West Yorkshire, but across the second tier as a whole. The new term will see plenty of new faces and six new sides. The coming season is starting earlier than ever due to the mid-season hiatus taking place in November and December due to the World Cup.

So, with all that being said, Mirror Football runs the rule over all 24 clubs - offering up our prediction on where they will finish.

Birmingham City

It's been a turbulent summer at St Andrew's with takeover talk dominating the agenda. Manager Lee Bowyer steered them to safety last season but that wasn't enough to spare him from the chop.

John Eustace, the former QPR assistant, was named as his replacement but has largely been restricted to loan signings as he awaits confirmation of new owners. Former Barcelona forward Maxi Lopez is part of a consortium hoping to get a deal done. Even if that is the case, a tough season looks in store.

Last season: 20th

Key signing: Dion Sanderson returning from Wolves on a season-long loan looks a good bit of business.

Promotion odds: 33-1

Our prediction: 23rd (relegation)

Blackburn Rovers

Rovers faded from a strong position at the turn of the year, eventually finishing six points shy of the play-offs.

Long-serving boss Tony Mowbray ended his association with the club and Jon Dahl Tommason was a surprise replacement. It's his first taste of managing in English football, after a brief spell here in his playing days with Newcastle.

Key to any success is whether Ben Brereton Diaz can replicate his spellbinding form from last term, when he scored more than a third of the team's goals.

Last season: 8th

Key signing: Callum Brittain arriving from Barnsley gives the side a fresh option at full-back or wing-back.

Promotion odds: 9-1

Our prediction: 14th

Blackpool

The Tangerines posted a respectable 16th-placed finish in their first year back after promotion, but were rocked by Neil Critchley's decision to quit and become Aston Villa number two.

A familiar face in Michael Appleton is back at the helm. So far he's only brought in loan signings but he will be hoping to coax more out of Liverpool defender Rhys Williams after his disappointing stint at Swansea last term.

Last season: 16th

Key signing: Rhys Williams will be looking to seize his chance after a horror loan spell at Swansea last year

Promotion odds: 28-1

Our prediction: 19th

Bristol City

The Robins have flirted with relegation worries for the past two seasons. Nigel Pearson was grateful for Andi Weimann's contribution when the Austrian notched a hugely impressive 22 goals that kept them out of the reaches of the bottom three.

If City were to lose him for a sizeable fee it would be a hammer blow. They've added a handful of new signings in the close season but of those, only Kal Naismith has experience of the Championship.

Last season: 17th

Key signing: Kal Naismith played a big role in helping Luton to the play-offs last season and represents a superb addition, especially on a free.

Promotion odds: 20-1

Our prediction: 20th

Burnley

The Clarets are embarking on a new era, not just outside the Premier League for the first time since 2016 but with a new man at the helm.

Vincent Kompany raised a few eyebrows when he was announced as Sean Dyche's permanent successor. The Belgian will no doubt be under big pressure thanks to his reputation as a leader of men on the field for Manchester City. The question is whether he can do the same in the dugout.

He's had to carry out an extensive revamp following relegation and as well as the new additions, they should still possess enough quality within the ranks to be in with a shout of an immediate return.

Last season: 18th in Premier League (relegated)

Key signing: Scott Twine was voted League One player of the season last term after 20 goals and 13 assists for MK Dons. Has that sprinkling of magic that the Clarets need.

Promotion odds: 11-4

Our prediction: 2nd (promotion)

Cardiff City

It's been a summer of revolution rather than evolution at Cardiff. Steve Morrson begins his first full campaign in charge with a completely revamped squad. After a rumour-filled summer linking Wales superstar Gareth Bale with a possible move to the club, he eventually opted to join American side LAFC.

Nevertheless, the number of new arrivals at the Cardiff City Stadium is well into double figures. The only downside is that integrating so many players may take a while.

Last season: 18th

Key signing: Romaine Sawyers looks a fine piece of business, signed on a free after leaving West Brom.

Promotion odds: 12-1

Our prediction: 16th

Do you agree with our predictions? Let us know in the comments

Coventry City

The Sky Blues continued their recent trend of season-on-season improvement by posting a top-half finish.

They were promotion contenders in the early part of the campaign but eventually fell away as the season wore on. Mark Robins can do little wrong as far as Coventry fans are concerned and they should have more than enough to avoid being dragged into the lower reaches.

Last season: 12th

Key signing: Callum Doyle's development will be interesting. The Man City defender has signed for the season on loan after helping Sunderland win promotion last term.

Promotion odds: 7-1

Our prediction: 15th

Huddersfield Town

The Terriers came within one game of a Premier League return, something hardly any of their fans would have anticipated at the start of last season.

Despite a hugely promising season, the summer has seen manager Carlos Corberan move on as well as key duo Harry Toffolo and Lewis O'Brien. Danny Schofield has made the step up to become head coach and it will be intriguing to see how they fare this term.

The recruitment model is clearly targeting a certain market so seeing how it pans out will be fascinating.

Last season: 3rd

Key signing: Jack Rudoni excelled in a Wimbledon side that suffered relegation last term. How he adapts to the Championship will be interesting.

Promotion odds: 14-1

Our prediction: 11th

Hull City

Arguably the most unpredictable side in the Championship given their summer revamp and recent takeover. There is a different feel among the Tigers' fanbase thanks to the positivity exuded by new owner Acun Ilicali.

Unsurprisingly, given the nationality of the man at the helm, Turkey has been the port of call for a flurry of summer arrivals. They very much possess an element of the unknown.

Last season: 19th

Key signing: Jean Michael Seri. An outstanding coup after leaving Fulham, the Ivory Coast international will make the Tigers tick in midfield.

Promotion odds: 14-1

Our prediction: 7th

Luton Town

The Hatters enjoyed a stunning campaign last time around, reaching the Championship play-offs and winning plenty of plaudits along the way.

The fact it was all done on what was one of the smallest budgets in the division speaks volumes. Nathan Jones' side have improved year-on-year but it looks a tall order to repeat or better last season's showing.

Despite that, don't expect to see them anywhere near a drop battle.

Last season: 6th

Key signing: Luke Freeman will be looking to put three seasons of frustration behind him having played just 34 league games in that time. On his day, still a difference-maker at this level.

Promotion odds: 8-1

Our prediction: 12th

Middlesbrough

Chris Wilder's appointment mid-season almost paid off for Boro, who fell just short of the play-offs. The serial promotion-winner won't accept a similar scenario this time around.

He will be looking for big contributions once more from the likes of Matt Crooks and Isaiah Jones but will also still be looking to add quality up front having lost loan pair Flo Balogun and Aaron Connolly.

Last season: 7th

Key signing: The arrival of Zack Steffen on loan from Manchester City is a potential game-changer. He's regularly featured for Pep Guardiola's side and won't have agreed to come to Boro unless it was for a title charge.

Promotion odds: 2-1

Our prediction: 5th (play-offs)

Millwall

It's perhaps gone under the radar but Millwall have posted four top-half finishes in their five seasons since being promoted back to the Championship in 2017.

Canny recruitment and their fine form in front of their own supporters means they are always on the coattails of the play-offs. The key now is to go that next step and approaching his third full season in the job, Gary Rowett will be confident he has the tools to do so.

Last season: 9th

Key signing: Jamie Shackleton arrives on a season-long loan from Leeds and looks an intriguing addition to the Lions' engine room.

Promotion odds: 15-2

Our prediction: 9th

Norwich City

As sure as night follows day, Norwich City winning promotion from the Championship looks a foregone conclusion.

Abit has changed since they last graced this division: they have a different manager and no longer have talisman Emi Buendia. But there still looks to be too much quality in their ranks to deny them automatic promotion.

Last season: 20th in Premier League (relegated)

Key signing: Isaac Hayden will be looking for a fresh start after arriving on loan from Newcastle - he's not played since December owing to injury.

Promotion odds: 5-4

Our prediction: 1st (champions)

Preston North End

Ryan Lowe's appointment mid-season saw them finish just outside the top half last time around.