Swansea Premier League season 17-18 preview: Martin Keown's guide

The Premier League season is now just hours away, and it is time to look ahead to how the 20 teams will all get on.

Sportsmail has recruited columnist Martin Keown to run through reasons to be cheerful and fearful, as well as the key player and major signings.

Here is the lowdown on Swansea...


 

WHO'S IN CHARGE? 

Paul Clement - After coaching at Chelsea, Paris Saint-Germain, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich and an indifferent spell in charge of Derby, Clement finally got his chance to manage in the top flight. He took it with aplomb, saving Swansea from the drop. 

REASONS TO BE CHEERFUL 

In Alfie Mawson, Swansea have a goalscoring centre back who should help shore up a defence that conceded 70 times last season. Swansea won just one of the eight games when Mawson did not start. Up front, the signing of highly-rated Chelsea striker Tammy Abraham should get the fans excited. 

REASONS TO BE FEARFUL 

Swansea's superior calibre of player in the likes of Fernando Llorente and Gylfi Sigurdsson played a big part in their survival. It is vital they are still wearing Swansea shirts when the window closes if the club are to avoid another relegation battle but it is looking increasingly likely that Sigurdsson will join Everton. 

On-loan Tammy Abraham was too hot to handle at Bristol City in the Championship last season

On-loan Tammy Abraham was too hot to handle at Bristol City in the Championship last season

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KEY PLAYER 

Tammy Abraham - The striker was too hot to handle at Bristol City in the Championship and could explode on to the scene in the Premier League. He has excellent pace and power and will look forward to embarrassing top-flight defenders. 

MAJOR INS 

Roque Mesa (Las Palmas) £11m, Erwin Mulder (Heerenveen) free, Tammy Abraham (Chelsea) loan 

MAJOR OUTS 

Jack Cork (Burnley) £8m, Bafetimbi Gomis (Galatasaray) £2.5m, Borja Baston (Malaga) loan

LAST SEASON POSITION: 15TH 

WHERE WILL THEY FINISH THIS SEASON? 

Must hold on to key players if they are to stay up.

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