The 2026-27 Premier League campaign is shaping up to be one of the most unpredictable seasons in recent memory.
Pep Guardiola's departure from Manchester City has added to a summer of major change, with nine managerial changes across the Premier League potentially disrupting the traditional hierarchy.
Tottenham Hotspur and Coventry City are among the teams most likely to enter the surprise-package conversation this season.
Striver.Football looks at five clubs that could exceed expectations during the 2026-27 Premier League season.
Tottenham Hotspur
The Twist: From relegation trouble to European contention.
Why They Will Surprise: Spurs endured a nightmarish 2025-26 campaign, finishing down in 17th place and narrowly escaping a historic relegation battle for the second season in a row.
Under newly appointed manager Roberto De Zerbi, Tottenham have triggered an astonishing £250 million+ revamp.
Backed by blockbuster arrivals including Sandro Tonali (£92.5m), Mateus Fernandes (£85m), and an agreed £85m deal for City's Savinho, Spurs have no European fixtures to clog their calendar.
De Zerbi's style could give Tottenham a strong platform to return to European contention. Their ambition will be to prove they belong in the upper echelons of English football this season.
Chelsea
The Twist: Clicking instantly into title or top-three contenders.
Why They Will Surprise: After limping to a 10th-place finish last term, Chelsea's trajectory changed overnight with the appointment of Xabi Alonso.
Like Tottenham, Chelsea can focus entirely on domestic competitions without the added demands of European football.
Alonso's meticulous tactical approach and press-resistant setup give the Blues a massive advantage to catch the traditional top two off-guard during early-season domestic fixtures.
After struggling for stability for much of the Todd Boehly era, As manager, Alonso has the opportunity to establish a clearer football identity and bring greater long-term stability to the club.
Coventry City
The Twist: From relegation candidates to a team capable of securing survival well ahead of schedule.
Why They Will Surprise: Back in the top flight for the first time in 25 years after winning the Championship, Frank Lampard’s Sky Blues will be keen not to simply make up the numbers.
Backed by new stadium ownership, Coventry have remarkably invested over £100 million in summer acquisitions, including Championship Golden Glove winner Carl Rushworth on a permanent transfer.
With promotion momentum and significant investment behind them, Coventry have the resources to challenge expectations and secure survival.
Read More: Premier League Squads Ranked by Age for 2026-27: Does Youth Really Lead to Success?
Read More: Premier League 2026-27 Survival Guide: What Coventry, Ipswich and Hull Need to Stay Up
Sunderland
The Twist: Proving their historic 7th-place European qualification last season was far from a fluke.
Why They Will Surprise: Sunderland shocked English football by finishing 7th in their very first season back in the Premier League.
While some prediction models expect Sunderland to regress towards mid-table and others have even tipped them for relegation, their defensive continuity and structured low block could once again make them difficult opponents.
Having managed to keep hold of Granit Xhaka who turned down a move to Chelsea to reunite with Alonso, they can prove to be an established Premier League side even while balancing the demands of European football this season.
Nottingham Forest
The Twist: Transforming from relegation survivors (16th place) into a top-half European threat.
Why They Will Surprise: Forest narrowly avoided relegation last season, but the appointment of Oliver Glasner could give them a clearer tactical identity and raise expectations for the new campaign.
Glasner holds a proven track record of implementing disciplined, explosive transition football that maximizes under-the-radar squads.
Glasner's transition-based approach could make Forest particularly dangerous against stronger opponents who dominate possession.
Having finished in the European places in the 2024-2025 season, a season without continental commitments might allow them to fully readjust and push for another fairytale season.
What Makes a Premier League Surprise Package?
European Absence Can Become a Domestic Advantage: Teams without midweek European commitments may have more time for training, recovery and preparation during a demanding league season.
System Overhauls Require Instant Chemistry: High-spending revamps work best when paired with definitive tactical managers (De Zerbi, Alonso, Glasner) who enforce clear positional rules from Day 1.
