The 2026-27 Championship season is expected to feature several well-resourced promotion contenders, particularly the clubs relegated from the Premier League, alongside ambitious sides seeking to build on strong previous campaigns. West Ham, Wolves, Burnley and Southampton are all under scrutiny after contrasting summers, while Middlesbrough, Millwall and Wrexham aim to challenge them.

– West Ham retain Jarrod Bowen and have raised significant transfer funds, though their recruitment has been limited.
– Wolves replaced Rob Edwards with César Peixoto but strengthened with Kieran Trippier and returning forward Raúl Jiménez.
– Burnley have appointed Nicky Hayen after key departures, while Southampton face lingering hostility over the spying scandal and pressure on Tonda Eckert.
– Middlesbrough have invested after their Wembley defeat, Millwall have signed Belgian midfielder Mathis Servais for £5m, and Wrexham made Anthony Patterson their record signing.
– Birmingham, Bristol City and other hopefuls face the challenge of turning promising recent form into a sustained push for the top six.