Leeds United are the clear favorites to win the Championship title this season and finally secure their return to the Premier League.

Confidence in Leeds winning the title this term is sky high after the club confirmed they are retaining manager Marcelo Bielsa for another season.

Bielsa masterminded Leeds’ promotion push last term but the club missed out on the automatic spots to Norwich and Sheffield United.

It has now been 15 years since the Elland Road club played top-flight football in England but sportsbooks are pricing them as the favourites to go up this time.

Bookies Betway have priced Leeds as the 5/1 (+500) frontrunners to win the league on the day the 2019-20 Championship fixtures were announced.

That is in huge contrast to last season, when Leeds were 14/1 (+1400) to earn promotion in Bielsa’s first campaign in charge.

Fulham and Cardiff the Frontrunners

Fulham are second favourites to earn an immediate return to the Premier League after a disastrous campaign last term.

The Cottages are 8/1 (+800) with BetHard to bounce back with a title win, with manager Scott Parker tasked with offloading some of the squad’s more expensive players.

Fulham start life in the Championship away to Barnsley on Saturday, August 3. The Tykes are the 2/1 (+200) second favourites with 10Bet to be relegated, behind Charlton at 5/2 (+250).

Cardiff are also seeking a return to the Premier League after suffering relegation last term.

Neil Warnock’s men have seen their price with Paddy Power come in from 11/1 (+1100) to 10/1 (+1000) since the fixtures were released on Thursday.

Cardiff start off away at Wigan and finish the season at home to Hull.

Differing Fortunes For Playoff Flops

West Brom and Derby missed out on promotion through the playoffs last season — and there are differing fortunes predicted for the two clubs heading into the new campaign.

The Baggies are 10/1 (+1000) to earn promotion, with new boss Slaven Bilic now in charge.

But Derby — who could lose their manager Frank Lampard to Chelsea — are not being backed for success this term. Bookmakers 888 have the Rams down at 18/1 (+1800) to win the Championship.