Exclusive: Don Goodman names two EFL Championship sides that could surprise people next season | OneFootball

Don Goodman says both Watford and Hull City could surprise the Championship next season - for opposite reasons

Both Watford and Hull City have been poised to surprise the Championship next season - for opposite reasons.

Watford seem to have taken a deliberate switch to youth under new head coach Paulo Pezzolano - making nine summer signings so far this summer, seven of them aged 24 or younger.

Nestory Irankunda, the reported €4m capture from Bayern Munich, will be expected to offer explosive pace along the Hornets' forward line. Fellow youngsters Othmane Maamma and Luca Kjerrumgaard are also attackers, while Ireland U21 centre-half James Abankwah returns on loan from sister club Udinese.

But while Watford's outlook is certainly positive, Hull City find themselves under a transfer embargo until 2026 after late payments on previous deals, preventing the Tigers from paying fees for new signings.

Last season Hull finished 21st - surviving on goal difference after recording the division's worst attack with just 44 goals.

Watford could exceed expectations under Paulo Pezzolano

Speaking exclusively to FLW, Sky Sports Pundit Don Goodman is interested to see how the Hornets do next season, and thinks they could do better than expected.

"Interestingly, I’m curious to see how Watford do this season, they’ve signed a lot of good, young, promising players - particularly in the forward areas that could - if they live up to the billing cause an awful lot of problems for Championship defences," Goodman told FLW.

Pezzolano inherits senior leaders such as Moussa Sissoko and Imran Louza who can help guide the new players through the 46-game grind. It's worth noting that the vast majority of their incomings (6) have either been a free transfer or loan.

"So they are one that may do better than a lot of people would expect," he added.

Goodman also explained how the tern 'surprise' doesn't always relate to something positive, "Surprise comes in different forms, it’s good surprise as in they do well - better than expected - or bad surprise - like Luton last season, in that they do worse than expected so."

Hull City could find themselves in trouble

Owner Acun Ilicali has insisted Hull City don't have conflicts with any other club, but The Athletic reported they have future commitments of almost £22m in outstanding transfer payments.

This is one reason why Goodman thinks the Tigers could struggle next season, "A club that may do worse than what people would expect given the ownership and the ambition of the ownership and the state that they’re in is Hull City probably," Goodman said.

"I do think they’ve got a worse squad at the moment - and there’s a long way to go in the transfer window - but it seems like they’re in financial trouble. So Hull City may have a worse season than most people would expect. We will see."

Reports suggested Hull owed Aston Villa almost £1m for Louie Barry's loan, alongside smaller debts to clubs both in and outside of England. While such sums are obviously routine at this level, the "cash-flow issue" hints at deeper issues.

The Tigers saw a permanent move for Barry collapse earlier this summer - a deal that would have earned Villa a reported £3.5m.

Ultimately, Watford's hopes must be compared against what will be a fiercely competitive league next season.

The likes of Birmingham City and Wrexham have both been signing quality talent - with Blues expected to sign former Derby County favourite Eiran Cashin on loan - and that's without taking into account the three relegated teams from the Premier League.

For Hull fans, the coming campaign will most likely demand even more patience than last season. But with Jakirovic their fifth boss in three seasons, Ilicali is seemingly the one without it.