Birmingham manager Harry Redknapp thinks Middlesbrough will win the Championship title but backs Aston Villa to be in the race.
Harry Redknapp says it hurts him to say so, but the Birmingham City manager believes that Aston Villa will be in the race for the Championship title this season.
Redknapp has been giving his predictions ahead of the 2017/18 campaign starting on Friday (August 4) and while the 70-year-old thinks the Villans are strong, they are not his favourites to be overall winners.
Birmingham City manager Harry Redknapp.
“I would say the favourites would be Middlesbrough, I think they are going to be very strong,” the Blues boss told the Birmingham Mail.
“It hurts me to say it but I think Villa are going to be very strong. Sheffield Wednesday, Fulham, Derby – it’s full of good teams.
“You look at Middlesbrough at the moment, they have gone out and brought three strikers over the last couple of weeks.
“They spent £15m on one, £12m on one, £7m on one – that’s without the strikers they have already got from last year, who they probably spent I don’t know what on.
“Aston Villa have got three strikers who cost. [Ross] McCormack, [Jonathan] Kodjia and the kid from Brentford [Scott Hogan] – you put their total value together and they are probably nearer £40m.
“That’s how difficult it is. There are lots of teams going to have a go getting out of league because the rewards are so fantastic – £200m to be in the Premier League next year.”
Redknapp himself has added three new additions to the Birmingham squad so far this summer in the shape of Chekh Ndoye, Marc Roberts and David Stockdale.
He did not speculate on where he thinks his own team will finish in the English second tier, but clearly believes their great rivals will be a tough prospect over the next 12 months.
Redknapp’s men begin their season with an away trip to Ipswich Town at 3pm on Saturday (August 5), while Villa play relegated Hull City at home in the evening kickoff (5.30pm) on the same day.
Aston Villa manager Steve Bruce looks.
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