Features
The Premier League, Ligue 1 and LaLiga New Boys: Every Promoted Club's Survival Chances - Ranked and Rated
by James Umeh
15 Aug 2026
Newly promoted teams are often the forgotten men in the build-up to a new season, and sometimes, you can understand why. There is usually a pretty big gap in quality between them and the established top-flight sides, meaning they are immediately among the favourites for relegation. One way to try and avoid that fate, though, is to spend big and build a squad that can compete at the highest level. We’ve seen Premier League sides like Nottingham Forest, Burnley and Sunderland take that route over the years.
Of course, spending big is no guarantee of survival, as Burnley can testify, but it does improve your chances. And that spending is going to be important in this piece because there is a massive difference between what the newly promoted teams in the EPL, Ligue 1 and LaLiga have spent.
As of mid-August, the three new EPL sides have splashed a combined £290.6M, and I suspect that number is going to up by another £35m before the window closes. Ligue 1’s newcomers, meanwhile, have spent a rather measly £1.5M between them (yes, just £1,500,000), while LaLiga’s figure stands at £30.3M. So, naturally, the expectations are higher for the EPL boys. But let’s break it down, and share some bet predictions, shall we?
Premier League: Coventry, Ipswich Town and Hull City
Surviving in the Premier League is no easy task. Seven of the last nine promoted sides have gone straight back down, with all three newcomers suffering relegation in both 2023/24 and 2024/25. But last season offered a reminder that it can be done. Leeds United survived while Sunderland went as far as securing Europa League football. So, with that in mind, let’s take a look at this season’s new trio.
Coventry: Can Frank Lampard Engineer A Survival?
Frank Lampard’s Coventry City are being tipped to put up the biggest fight in the survival battle, and it’s easy to see why. After collecting an impressive 95 points to finish top of the Championship last season, Lampard has been properly backed by the club. The Sky Blues have broken their transfer record four times this summer already.
Aurèle Amenda arrived for £17m, followed by Loum Tchaouna for £20m. Then came Carl Rushworth, who spent last season on loan from Brighton, with his move made permanent for £22m. Finally, midfielder Caleb Yirenkyi arrived from Nordsjælland for £23.1m to become the club’s new record signing.
Back in the Premier League for the first time in 25 years, Coventry clearly have the strongest survival case of the three newcomers. The desire to become a Premier League mainstay again, the continuity Lampard provides in the dugout and, most importantly, the financial backing all work in their favour. It won’t be easy, though, and perhaps the smart money could still be on them going down. But if I had to pick my bet of the day, it would be Coventry to finish as the best-performing promoted team and we have the best odds for that on BetKing.
Survival Chance: 7/10
Ipswich Town: Back After A Year, Will They Feel Kieran McKenna’s Departure?
When Ipswich were relegated just last year, I honestly thought that would be the last we’d see of them in the Premier League for a while. Somehow, they’ve bounced back, largely thanks to Kieran McKenna. It was his third promotion in just four seasons, having already taken the Tractor Boys from League One to the Championship in 2023 and to the Premier League in 2024. But then came the shocker. McKenna stepped down this past June, choosing to take a break from football management. Baba talk say their wahala too much, make e take care of him mental health.
That’s a massive blow for Ipswich, who have been completely moulded in his image. They’ve replaced him with Gary O’Neil, an experienced Premier League manager, but there are still understandable doubts about their survival chances.
One thing you can’t accuse Ipswich of, however, is lacking ambition in the transfer market. As of mid-August, they’ve spent £143.6M on transfers, more than both Manchester United and Liverpool. Emersonn arrived from Toulouse for a club-record £24m, while Julio Enciso, Daizen Maeda and Abdul Fatawu are among the other additions. Chairman Mark Ashton has certainly done his part. Now, it’s O’Neil’s turn to deliver survival. Sadly, I’m not convinced they will. McKenna’s departure feels like too big a blow to overcome.
Survival Chance: 5/10
Hull City: A Worrying Frugal Approach In The Window
Since being relegated from the Premier League in 2017, the Tigers have spent most of the last nine years stuck in Championship mediocrity. Things actually got so bad in 2020 that they dropped into League One, although they bounced straight back to the Championship the following season. Now, one man deserves plenty of credit for getting them back to the Premier League: Head Coach Sergej Jakirović. His arrival breathed new life into the Hull City ranks, sparking a revival that saw them finish 6th and eventually secure promotion through the playoffs.
Now, I’ll be honest, I don’t exactly fancy their chances of surviving the drop. They’ve signed seven players this summer, with an eighth, Lucas Gourna-Douath from RB Salzburg, arriving for £3.4m, but they’ve been pretty frugal overall, relying heavily on free transfers and spending just £36m in total. Paddy McNair, Jack Butland and Matt Targett are among the few players on their team with serious top-flight experience, and they’ll need plenty more movement in the market if they are to stay up.
That’s not exactly the formula for survival; those are the moves of a wannabe yo-yo club. As highly as I rate Jakirović, he simply hasn’t been backed enough to keep Hull up, so I’d be looking to bet against them whenever possible, starting on opening weekend when they take on Manchester United.
Survival Chance: 3/10
LaLiga: Racing Santander, Deportivo La Coruña and Malaga CF
Old names are making their return to the top flight, but Deportivo La Coruña look like the only newly promoted side capable of putting up much of a fight in what should be a tricky relegation battle in Spain.
Racing Santander: A Leaky Defense The Online Betting Folks Can Capitalize One
Segunda champions Racing Santander are back in LaLiga after a 15-year absence, but looking at their business in the transfer market, they could be heading straight back down. Their biggest signing so far is Julen Agirrezabala, the 25-year-old goalkeeper who joined from Bilbao for £3.85m. It’s a pretty important addition, though. Racing may have won the Segunda last season while scoring a league-high 90 goals, but they also conceded 61 times, the most by a promoted team in the last three years, and lost 10 of their 42 games. If you’re conceding 61 goals in the Segunda, it’s pretty obvious you’re going to have problems in LaLiga.
Unfortunately, they simply haven’t done enough in the market to convince me otherwise. I’m not only tipping them for relegation, but one of my betting tips for them is they’ll concede Over 1.5 Goals in plenty of away games, as well as when they face the big boys like Real Madrid, Barcelona, Atleti and Real Betis.
Survival Chance: 2/10
Deportivo La Coruña: The Betting Favourite To Avoid Relegation
Absent from LaLiga since 2018, Deportivo La Coruña are finally back where they believe they belong. Once part of Spain’s “big four” alongside Barcelona, Valencia and Real Madrid, Dépor were genuine title contenders for over a decade, finishing in the top three nine times between 1993 and 2004 and finishing as LaLiga winners for the first time in 1999/2000. They even came painfully close to getting to the Champions League final back in 2004, but they sadly lost to José Mourinho’s Porto in the semi-finals.
But after that golden era, Deportivo’s decline was swift. They went from title contenders to mid-table before eventually dropping out of the top flight altogether, even falling into Spain’s regional third tier in 2020. Four years later, they returned to the second tier, and after finishing 15th in 2024-25, they took a massive step forward last season, securing automatic promotion back to LaLiga.
Deportivo clearly aren’t back just to make up the numbers. They’ve shown ambition in the market, signing Mallorca goalkeeper Leo Román and experienced striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang. With Aubameyang scoring 44 league goals across the last three seasons, they have a proven goalscorer who could help them establish themselves among Spain’s top flight once again.
Survival Chance: 5/10
Malaga CF: A Lack of Transfer Activities Is A Problem
Málaga are back in LaLiga after being relegated in 2018 and even spending a season in the third tier in 2023-24. A strong finish to last season, with four wins and a draw from their final five games, earned them a spot in the playoffs, where they eventually secured promotion at Almeria’s expense. Unfortunately, though, they haven’t exactly shown much ambition in the transfer window. The club have largely relied on loans and free transfers, with their entire £300k spend coming from the loan fee for winger Juan Cruz.
I expect them to put up a fight in plenty of games, but their pre-season form doesn’t exactly inspire confidence. They conceded at least two goals in all five of their friendly games, and if that defensive weakness carries into the league, Málaga could be heading straight back to the Segunda.
Survival Chance: 3/10
Click Here to Bet on LaLiga Games
Ligue 1: Troyes and Le Mans
Both newcomers have spent just £1.5M between them which is an indicator for our online betting community on what’s to come. Interestingly, they’ve both gone down the same route: trust the youngsters and build for the future. But is that enough to survive Ligue 1?
Troyes: Faith In Youth Could Come At A Cost
Back in the top flight after three years away, Troyes are taking a bold approach by putting their faith in youth. Twelve academy graduates have recently been promoted to the first team, but they still need reinforcements after Mathys Detourbet and Sankhoun Diawara left. Experience is also limited, with just four players over 30: captain Adrien Monfray (35), goalkeepers Zacharie Boucher (34), Hillel Konaté (31) and 33-year-old forward Renaud Ripart, the only player left from the 2022-23 Ligue 1 squad.
The one to watch is Patrick Beach. The Australian goalkeeper joined from Melbourne City in late July on a five-year deal. Known for his distribution, Beach impressed at the World Cup after taking the gloves from former Mathew Ryan. It's an interesting approach, but one I doubt will work.
Survival Chance: 1/10
Le Mans: £0 Spent Is A Bold Risk
Le Mans had a brief run in the top flight in the 2010s before financial problems sent them tumbling down the divisions. After working their way back to Ligue 2, Les Mucistes were taken over last August by Brazilian investment group OutField, whose wider network includes tennis star Novak Djokovic, Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois and former F1 drivers Felipe Massa and Kevin Magnussen. Talk about star power.
Now back in the top flight after 16 years, though, Le Mans aren’t exactly splashing the cash. They’re taking a more measured route, focusing on youth development, reopening their academy and investing in potential rather than established stars. In fact, of the seven teams covered here, they’re the only side yet to spend a penny. The plan is simple: build sustainably and create a foundation for long-term survival. As someone who believes strongly in youth development, I love the approach and hope it works. The realist in me, however, just can’t see them staying up.
Survival Chance: 1/10
Click Here to Bet on Ligue 1 Games
Enjoy more ways to win early with 1UP, 2UP, HTUP, Early Goals and Super Boosted Odds across selected matches every week with our Early Wins markets. As always, gamble responsibly and within your means.
Newly promoted teams are often the forgotten men in the build-up to a new season, and sometimes, you can understand why. There is usually a pretty big gap in quality between them and the established top-flight sides, meaning they are immediately among the favourites for relegation. One way to try and avoid that fate, though, is to spend big and build a squad that can compete at the highest level. We’ve seen Premier League sides like Nottingham Forest, Burnley and Sunderland take that route over the years.
Of course, spending big is no guarantee of survival, as Burnley can testify, but it does improve your chances. And that spending is going to be important in this piece because there is a massive difference between what the newly promoted teams in the EPL, Ligue 1 and LaLiga have spent.
As of mid-August, the three new EPL sides have splashed a combined £290.6M, and I suspect that number is going to up by another £35m before the window closes. Ligue 1’s newcomers, meanwhile, have spent a rather measly £1.5M between them (yes, just £1,500,000), while LaLiga’s figure stands at £30.3M. So, naturally, the expectations are higher for the EPL boys. But let’s break it down, and share some bet predictions, shall we?
Premier League: Coventry, Ipswich Town and Hull City
Surviving in the Premier League is no easy task. Seven of the last nine promoted sides have gone straight back down, with all three newcomers suffering relegation in both 2023/24 and 2024/25. But last season offered a reminder that it can be done. Leeds United survived while Sunderland went as far as securing Europa League football. So, with that in mind, let’s take a look at this season’s new trio.
Coventry: Can Frank Lampard Engineer A Survival?
Frank Lampard’s Coventry City are being tipped to put up the biggest fight in the survival battle, and it’s easy to see why. After collecting an impressive 95 points to finish top of the Championship last season, Lampard has been properly backed by the club. The Sky Blues have broken their transfer record four times this summer already.
Aurèle Amenda arrived for £17m, followed by Loum Tchaouna for £20m. Then came Carl Rushworth, who spent last season on loan from Brighton, with his move made permanent for £22m. Finally, midfielder Caleb Yirenkyi arrived from Nordsjælland for £23.1m to become the club’s new record signing.
Back in the Premier League for the first time in 25 years, Coventry clearly have the strongest survival case of the three newcomers. The desire to become a Premier League mainstay again, the continuity Lampard provides in the dugout and, most importantly, the financial backing all work in their favour. It won’t be easy, though, and perhaps the smart money could still be on them going down. But if I had to pick my bet of the day, it would be Coventry to finish as the best-performing promoted team and we have the best odds for that on BetKing.
Survival Chance: 7/10
Ipswich Town: Back After A Year, Will They Feel Kieran McKenna’s Departure?
When Ipswich were relegated just last year, I honestly thought that would be the last we’d see of them in the Premier League for a while. Somehow, they’ve bounced back, largely thanks to Kieran McKenna. It was his third promotion in just four seasons, having already taken the Tractor Boys from League One to the Championship in 2023 and to the Premier League in 2024. But then came the shocker. McKenna stepped down this past June, choosing to take a break from football management. Baba talk say their wahala too much, make e take care of him mental health.
That’s a massive blow for Ipswich, who have been completely moulded in his image. They’ve replaced him with Gary O’Neil, an experienced Premier League manager, but there are still understandable doubts about their survival chances.
One thing you can’t accuse Ipswich of, however, is lacking ambition in the transfer market. As of mid-August, they’ve spent £143.6M on transfers, more than both Manchester United and Liverpool. Emersonn arrived from Toulouse for a club-record £24m, while Julio Enciso, Daizen Maeda and Abdul Fatawu are among the other additions. Chairman Mark Ashton has certainly done his part. Now, it’s O’Neil’s turn to deliver survival. Sadly, I’m not convinced they will. McKenna’s departure feels like too big a blow to overcome.
Survival Chance: 5/10
Hull City: A Worrying Frugal Approach In The Window
Since being relegated from the Premier League in 2017, the Tigers have spent most of the last nine years stuck in Championship mediocrity. Things actually got so bad in 2020 that they dropped into League One, although they bounced straight back to the Championship the following season. Now, one man deserves plenty of credit for getting them back to the Premier League: Head Coach Sergej Jakirović. His arrival breathed new life into the Hull City ranks, sparking a revival that saw them finish 6th and eventually secure promotion through the playoffs.
Now, I’ll be honest, I don’t exactly fancy their chances of surviving the drop. They’ve signed seven players this summer, with an eighth, Lucas Gourna-Douath from RB Salzburg, arriving for £3.4m, but they’ve been pretty frugal overall, relying heavily on free transfers and spending just £36m in total. Paddy McNair, Jack Butland and Matt Targett are among the few players on their team with serious top-flight experience, and they’ll need plenty more movement in the market if they are to stay up.
That’s not exactly the formula for survival; those are the moves of a wannabe yo-yo club. As highly as I rate Jakirović, he simply hasn’t been backed enough to keep Hull up, so I’d be looking to bet against them whenever possible, starting on opening weekend when they take on Manchester United.
Survival Chance: 3/10
LaLiga: Racing Santander, Deportivo La Coruña and Malaga CF
Old names are making their return to the top flight, but Deportivo La Coruña look like the only newly promoted side capable of putting up much of a fight in what should be a tricky relegation battle in Spain.
Racing Santander: A Leaky Defense The Online Betting Folks Can Capitalize One
Segunda champions Racing Santander are back in LaLiga after a 15-year absence, but looking at their business in the transfer market, they could be heading straight back down. Their biggest signing so far is Julen Agirrezabala, the 25-year-old goalkeeper who joined from Bilbao for £3.85m. It’s a pretty important addition, though. Racing may have won the Segunda last season while scoring a league-high 90 goals, but they also conceded 61 times, the most by a promoted team in the last three years, and lost 10 of their 42 games. If you’re conceding 61 goals in the Segunda, it’s pretty obvious you’re going to have problems in LaLiga.
Unfortunately, they simply haven’t done enough in the market to convince me otherwise. I’m not only tipping them for relegation, but one of my betting tips for them is they’ll concede Over 1.5 Goals in plenty of away games, as well as when they face the big boys like Real Madrid, Barcelona, Atleti and Real Betis.
Survival Chance: 2/10
Deportivo La Coruña: The Betting Favourite To Avoid Relegation
Absent from LaLiga since 2018, Deportivo La Coruña are finally back where they believe they belong. Once part of Spain’s “big four” alongside Barcelona, Valencia and Real Madrid, Dépor were genuine title contenders for over a decade, finishing in the top three nine times between 1993 and 2004 and finishing as LaLiga winners for the first time in 1999/2000. They even came painfully close to getting to the Champions League final back in 2004, but they sadly lost to José Mourinho’s Porto in the semi-finals.
But after that golden era, Deportivo’s decline was swift. They went from title contenders to mid-table before eventually dropping out of the top flight altogether, even falling into Spain’s regional third tier in 2020. Four years later, they returned to the second tier, and after finishing 15th in 2024-25, they took a massive step forward last season, securing automatic promotion back to LaLiga.
Deportivo clearly aren’t back just to make up the numbers. They’ve shown ambition in the market, signing Mallorca goalkeeper Leo Román and experienced striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang. With Aubameyang scoring 44 league goals across the last three seasons, they have a proven goalscorer who could help them establish themselves among Spain’s top flight once again.
Survival Chance: 5/10
Malaga CF: A Lack of Transfer Activities Is A Problem
Málaga are back in LaLiga after being relegated in 2018 and even spending a season in the third tier in 2023-24. A strong finish to last season, with four wins and a draw from their final five games, earned them a spot in the playoffs, where they eventually secured promotion at Almeria’s expense. Unfortunately, though, they haven’t exactly shown much ambition in the transfer window. The club have largely relied on loans and free transfers, with their entire £300k spend coming from the loan fee for winger Juan Cruz.
I expect them to put up a fight in plenty of games, but their pre-season form doesn’t exactly inspire confidence. They conceded at least two goals in all five of their friendly games, and if that defensive weakness carries into the league, Málaga could be heading straight back to the Segunda.
Survival Chance: 3/10
Click Here to Bet on LaLiga Games
Ligue 1: Troyes and Le Mans
Both newcomers have spent just £1.5M between them which is an indicator for our online betting community on what’s to come. Interestingly, they’ve both gone down the same route: trust the youngsters and build for the future. But is that enough to survive Ligue 1?
Troyes: Faith In Youth Could Come At A Cost
Back in the top flight after three years away, Troyes are taking a bold approach by putting their faith in youth. Twelve academy graduates have recently been promoted to the first team, but they still need reinforcements after Mathys Detourbet and Sankhoun Diawara left. Experience is also limited, with just four players over 30: captain Adrien Monfray (35), goalkeepers Zacharie Boucher (34), Hillel Konaté (31) and 33-year-old forward Renaud Ripart, the only player left from the 2022-23 Ligue 1 squad.
The one to watch is Patrick Beach. The Australian goalkeeper joined from Melbourne City in late July on a five-year deal. Known for his distribution, Beach impressed at the World Cup after taking the gloves from former Mathew Ryan. It's an interesting approach, but one I doubt will work.
Survival Chance: 1/10
Le Mans: £0 Spent Is A Bold Risk
Le Mans had a brief run in the top flight in the 2010s before financial problems sent them tumbling down the divisions. After working their way back to Ligue 2, Les Mucistes were taken over last August by Brazilian investment group OutField, whose wider network includes tennis star Novak Djokovic, Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois and former F1 drivers Felipe Massa and Kevin Magnussen. Talk about star power.
Now back in the top flight after 16 years, though, Le Mans aren’t exactly splashing the cash. They’re taking a more measured route, focusing on youth development, reopening their academy and investing in potential rather than established stars. In fact, of the seven teams covered here, they’re the only side yet to spend a penny. The plan is simple: build sustainably and create a foundation for long-term survival. As someone who believes strongly in youth development, I love the approach and hope it works. The realist in me, however, just can’t see them staying up.
Survival Chance: 1/10
Click Here to Bet on Ligue 1 Games
Enjoy more ways to win early with 1UP, 2UP, HTUP, Early Goals and Super Boosted Odds across selected matches every week with our Early Wins markets. As always, gamble responsibly and within your means.