The Leeds United prediction that highlights need for key action and new main rivals for Whites

Jesse Marsch's newly-inherited side avoided relegation by the skin of their teeth last term, only ensuring their top-flight status on the final day of the campaign through a 2-1 win at Brentford.

Burnley were instead relegated after blowing their lines and dropping into the bottom three through a 2-1 reverse at home to Newcastle United as the Whites completed a 'great escape'.

Leeds have since been very busy this summer in seven eight new players including first team additions Brenden Aaronson, Tyler Adams, Rasmus Kristensen, Marc Roca and Luis Sinisterra but with former star men Raphinha and Kalvin Phillips heading through the exit door.

The Whites are still hoping to sign another striker and left back option and the bookies believe Leeds are heading for another relegation battle as Leeds are fourth favourites to go down.

Last season's Championship runners-up Bournemouth are the firm favourites for relegation and no bigger than 8-15.

There is then not much in the market between play-offs winners Nottingham Forest and Championship champions Fulham, Forest fractionally shorter in the market for the drop at 13-10, followed by Fulham at 6-4.

But Leeds are then next at around the 9-4 mark in what the bookies believe could be a ten-horse race to stay up.

Ten teams are single figure odds to go down and Southampton have continually slipped down the predicted pecking order with the oddsmakers now having them finishing 16th, one position above Leeds.

The Saints are just 3-1 for the drop, followed by Brentford at 16-5 and then Everton at 7-2.

Wolves are a short price for a side who finished tenth last season at 11-2, comments which also apply to Crystal Palace at 7s and definitely Brighton at 9s after ending last season in ninth.

Thereafter, there is a big gap in the betting market to Leicester City at 16s and Aston Villa at 20s in a market which suggests that Forest, Fulham, Bournemouth, Southampton and Brentford will be new key relegation rivals for the Whites.

At the top end of the division, a Manchester City squad now featuring Phillips are expected to successfully defend their Premier League crown as Pep Guardiola's side are odds in across the board and no bigger than 8-11 to win the league.

In what is seen as a definite two-horse race, Liverpool are next 11-4.

Tottenham Hotspur are next but still as big as 14s, followed by Chelsea at 18s and then Manchester United and Arsenal who are both 40s.

Newcastle United are expected to take another big step forward as the Magpies are next in the betting market at 150s, followed by Leicester and West Ham who are both 250s.

For what it's worth, Leeds are 750-1 to win the division, 100-1 to finish in the top four and 28s to be in the top six.

The Whites are 11-2 to finish in the top half and ultimately fairly strong odds on at 4-11 to stay up, despite being fourth favourites for the drop.

Whites boss Jesse Marsch, though, is second favourite in the market for the next manager to leave their post at 6-1, ahead of Everton boss Frank Lampard who is favourite across the board at 4s.

Southampton's Ralph Hasenhuttl is third in the betting at 7s, followed by Leicester boss Brenden Rodgers at 15=2 and Fulham's Marco Silva at 10s.

Bournemouth's Scott Parker is next at 10s.

Unsurprisingly, City new boy Erling Haaland is favourite in the Golden Boot market at 11-4, followed by Liverpool's Mo Salah at 5s and Tottenham's Harry Kane at 6s.

There is then a gap to Arsenal's new signing Gabriel Jesus at 12s, Liverpool new arrival Darwin Nunez at 14s and Tottenham's Son-Heung Min at 18s.

Manchester United's Cristiano Ronaldo is then 20s, followed by Chelsea new boy Raheem Sterling at 33s and then Leicester marksman Jamie Vardy at 40s.

Patrick Bamford heads the Leeds presence in the market but the Whites no 9 is well down the pecking order at 100-1, joint 21stin that market, but the forward is joint 56th on the exchanges at 169-1.

United’s new winger signing Sinisterra is 150s, followed by young striker Joe Gelhardt at 200s.

Rodrigo is then 250s, the same price as Jack Harrison and Dan James.

That market in particular is somewhat indicative of the need for an additional option upfront.

Indeed, everywhere you look, every betting market tells you just how hard the bookies think it will be but Leeds are expected to have enough to survive, just.