Sheffield Wednesday manager Carlos Carvalhal has backed Aston Villa to put in a stronger showing next season.
The Midlands outfit, who were relegated from the Premier League last term, spent heavily during the summer and winter windows in order to earn instant promotion.
The likes of Jonathan Kodjia, Ross McCormack and Scott Hogan were all big-money buys, with the trio purchased for a combined estimate fee of £39million.
However, Villa failed to deliver on the field of play and they had to settle for a bottom half finish, with manager Steve Bruce replacing Roberto Di Matteo in the Villa Park dugout in October.
Championship boss Carvalhal has predicted a number of clubs to perform better next season, including four Midlands sides.
“It will be more difficult,” said Carvalhal, as quoted by the Birmingham Mail. “There were teams like Huddersfield, Leeds and Fulham who challenged for promotion last season who people didn’t expect.
“There were some teams who we expected to be involved in the play-offs like Norwich, Derby and Aston Villa who will be more strong next season.
“I believe there are other teams like Wolves, Birmingham and maybe Cardiff who will have big expectations.”
Carvalhal’s side, who finished the Championship campaign in the top-six, suffered play-off heartache for the second season running when they were knocked out of the semi-final stages by Huddersfield.
David Wagner’s men surprised many by beating Reading in the play-off final in May to join Newcastle and Brighton in the Premier League next term.
Nonetheless, Bruce will be under huge pressure to guide Villa to the Premier League next season, with the possibility that the club could go on a spending spree once again this summer.
Villa could potentially be in a promotion battle with the likes of Sunderland, Derby, Middlesbrough, Hull, Leeds and Wednesday next term.