Bodø/Glimt

Bodø/Glimt had yet another very impressive season last year but ultimately failed to make it three titles in a row as they could not quite keep up with the relentless pace that Molde set at the top of the table and finished as runners-up at the end. Kjetil Knutsen is somehow still in charge of Bodø, despite being linked with various clubs and wildly overachieving with this small club near in the last few years, and he will look to inspire another strong run and try to wrestle back the title in what should be another big tussle at the top with Molde. The squad looks refreshed after a busy window in which quite a lot of reserve players, and some regulars, have moved onto new adventures. Ola Solbakken and Alfons Sampsted are the two most important departures of the off-season while Marius Hoibraten and Lars Jørgen-Salvesen moved on as well. But the fact that Hugo Vetlesen stayed put at least until the summer, amidst strong Bundesliga interest, is a testament of the progress that Bodø have made. Keeping him, Ulrik Saltnes and Patrick Berg fit gives Knutsen by far the best midfield trio in the league. They also brought back old favourite Frederik Bjørkan after he failed to make the cut at Hertha and Feyenoord, while keeper Nikita Khikin made a swift comeback, just six weeks after moving to Bristol City. The forward line looks as potent as long as Amahl Pellegrino and Joe Mvuka are fit and firing down the wings while new signing Faris Moumbanga brings something different in the number nine role. Thus, Bodø look primed for another title run and have the quality to sustain it. The main concern for them is whether they still have the motivation and hunger to chase points week in, week out, given that the nucleus of the squad have been around for a while now and some mental fatigue may be accumulating.