Players in: Marcus Allback (Heerenveen, £2m); Stefan Postma (De Graafschap, £1.5m); Michael Boulding (Grimsby, free); Ulises de la Cruz (Hibernian, undisclosed).

Players out: George Boateng (Middlesbrough, £5m); Peter Schmeichel (Manchester City, free); Paul Merson (Portsmouth, free).

Last season: Eighth

This season's odds: 200-1

Player to watch:

Our verdict - 13th
Graham Taylor consolidated Villa's position when he took over from John Gregory in february but he will do well to match last season's eighth place. Allback marks a shrewd £2m investment, but Villa may be destined to end in the wrong half of the table.