Aberdeen
Last season: 8th
Prediction: 4th
Better things are expected and should arrive at Pittodrie after the appointment of Derek McInnes. Willo Flood and Barry Robson will offer crucial experience of Scotland's top division, with pressure on Calvin Zola to supply goals.
Ins: Willo Flood (Dundee United), Michael Hector (Reading) loan, Barry Robson (Sheffield Utd), Lawrence Shankland (Queen's Park), Nicky Weaver (Sheffield Wednesday), Gregg Wylde (Bolton), Calvin Zola (Burton)
Outs: Jordon Brown (Peterhead), Rory Fallon (St Johnstone), Mitch Megginson (Dumbarton), Gavin Rae (Dundee), Rob Milsom (Rotherham), Gary Naysmith, Stephen Hughes, Isaac Osbourne, Dan Twardzik
Celtic
Last season: 1st
Prediction: 1st
Neil Lennon's men will again win the league with plenty to spare. More interesting in the early weeks of the campaign will be whether Celtic can earn a money-spinning return to the Champions League's group stage.
Ins: Amido Balde (Vitória Guimarães) £1.2m, Virgil van Dijk (Groningen) £2.6m, Derk Boerrigter Ajax £2m, Steven Mouyokolo (Wolves)
Outs: Victor Wanyama (Southampton) £12.5m, Gary Hooper (Norwich) £4.5m, Rami Gershon (Waasland-Beveren), Miku (Getafe), Daryl Murphy (Ipswich), Thomas Rogne (Wigan), James Keatings, Lassad, Paddy McCourt
Dundee United
Last season: 6th
Prediction: 6th
Jackie McNamara struggled in his early weeks in charge at Tannadice after succeeding Peter Houston. Yet United have recruited well from Scotland's lower leagues and still look a top six side.
Ins: Calum Butcher (Hayes & Yeading Utd), Nadir Çiftç (Breda), Aidan Connolly (Queen's Park), Chris Erskine (Partick Thistle), David Goodwillie (Blackburn Rovers) loan, Brian Graham (Raith Rovers), Kudus Oyenuga (Hayes & Yeading Utd), Paul Paton (Partick Thistle), Andrew Robertson (Queen's Park)
Outs: Johnny Russell (Derby County) undisc fee, Steve Banks (St Johnstone), Jon Daly (Rangers), Barry Douglas (Lech Poznan), Willo Flood (Aberdeen), Brian McLean (Ross County)
Marcus Törnstrand (Ostersund), Richie Ryan, Rory Boulding, Robert Thomson
Hearts
Last season: 10th
Prediction: 12th
A 15-point penalty and signing embargo, owing to administration, renders it a huge task for the young Tynecastle squad to avoid relegation.
Ins: Danny Wilson (Liverpool)
Outs: Arvydas Novikovas (Erzgebirge Aue) £100,000, Darren Barr (Kilmarnock), Danny Grainger (St Mirren), Fraser Mullen (Hibernian), Gordon Smith (Raith Rovers), John Sutton (Motherwell), Denis Prychynenko, Michael Ngoo, Mehdi Taouil, Andy Webster, Marius Zaliukas, Andrew Driver
Hibernian
Last season: 7th
Prediction: 9th
Hibs are still reeling from a 7-0 home defeat to Malmo in the Europa League's second qualifying round. Pat Fenlon has made decent signings but the Hibs defence remains weak and Leigh Griffiths' absence will be keenly felt in attack.
Ins: James Collins (Swindon) £200,000, Ryan McGivern (Manchester City), Fraser Mullen (Hearts), Owain Tudur Jones (Inverness CT), Rowan Vine (St Johnstone)
Outs: Callum Booth (Raith Rovers) loan, Jorge Claros (Motagua), Gary Deegan (Northampton), Matt Done (Rochdale), Eoin Doyle (Chesterfield), Paul Grant (Berwick Rangers) loan, Leigh Griffiths (Wolves), Martin Scott (Livingston), David Wotherspoon (St Johnstone), Pa Kujabi, Shefki Kuqi, Alan Maybury
Inverness CT
Last season: 4th
Prediction: 7th
Terry Butcher has excelled in picking up previously unknown players from England's lower leagues. He has adopted the same policy this summer but Andrew Shinnie and Owain Tudur Jones are significant losses.
Ins: Torbjorn Agdestein (Brighton), Curtis Allen (Coleraine), Dean Brill (Luton) loan, Adam Evans (Burnley), Joe Gorman (Crewe), Ben Greenhalgh (Concord Rangers), Harry Hooman (Cheltenham), Carl Tremarco (Macclesfield), James Vincent (Kidderminster Harriers), Marley Watkins (Hereford Utd), Danny Williams (Kendal Town)
Outs: Jordon Gibbons (QPR), Gavin Morrison (Brora Rangers), Antonio Reguero (Kilmarnock), Philip Roberts (Falkirk), Andrew Shinnie (Birmingham), Shane Sutherland (Elgin City), Charlie Taylor (Leeds Utd), Owain Tudur Jones (Hibernian), Simon King, Chris Hogg
Kilmarnock
Last season: 9th
Prediction: 10th
Allan Johnston has replaced Kenny Shiels at Rugby Park, amid supporter discord towards the chairman, Michael Johnston. Killie must improve on last season's dismal home form this time around and goals from Kris Boyd should have them do that but Johnston still faces a tough job.
Ins: Darren Barr (Hearts), Conor Brennan (Leicester), Antonio Reguero (Inverness CT), Craig Samson (St Mirren)
Outs: Cammy Bell (Rangers), James Dayton (Oldham), Kyle Letheren (Dundee), Cillian Sheridan (Apoel Nicosia), Ryan O'Leary, Garry Hay, Anssi Jaakola, Momo Sissoko
Motherwell
Last season: 2nd
Prediction: 2nd
Stuart McCall's work at Fir Park has arguably been under-appreciated. Motherwell have lost Michael Higdon but have made arguably the most impressive close season signings in the division and will finish prominently again.
Ins: Henrik Anier (Viking Stavanger) loan, Fraser Kerr (Birmingham), Paul Lawson (Ross County), Stephen McManus (Middlesbrough), Gunnar Nielsen (Silkeborg), John Sutton (Hearts), Iain Vigurs (Ross County)
Outs: Henrik Ojamaa (Legia Warsaw) undisclosed fee, Michael Higdon (Nijmegen), Kallum Higginbotham (Huddersfield), Chris Humphrey (Preston), Nicky Law (Rangers), Darren Randolph (Birmingham), Steven Saunders (Ross County), Omar Daley, Tom Hateley, Steve Hetherington
Partick Thistle
Last season: First Division champions
Prediction: 11th
Hearts' predicament offers Thistle both hope and some time to bed back into the top flight. Alan Archibald's men will be in the league's lower reaches but their solitary aim is survival.
Ins: John Baird (Dundee), Gary Fraser (Bolton) loan, Paul Gallacher (Ross County), Mark Kerr (Dundee), Ross Meechan (Unattached), Henoc Mukendi (Liverpool) loan, Gabriel (Vallecano B), Isaac Osbourne (Aberdeen), Simon Colina (Barcelona)
Outs: Steven Craig (Wycombe), Andy Dowie (Queen of the South), Chris Erskine (Dundee United), Mark McGuigan (Albion Rovers) loan, Paul Paton (Dundee United), Ryan Scully (Dunfermline) loan
Ross County
Last season: 5th
Prediction: 5th
One of few clubs in Scotland who have looked to increase their playing staff. Iain Vigurs and Paul Lawson will be missed by Derek Adams but County excelled in the SPL last season and look well capable of doing so again.
Ins: Graham Carey (St Mirren), Melvin de Leeuw (Cambuur), Ben Gordon (Yeovil), Marc Kloc (Utrecht), Kevin Luckassen (Alkmaar), Darren Maatsen (Excelsior), Brian McLean (Dundee United), Steven Saunders (Motherwell)
Outs: Mark Fotheringham (Notts County), Paul Gallacher (Partick Thistle), André Hainault (Aalen), Paul Lawson (Motherwell), Martin Scott (Livingston), Iain Vigurs (Motherwell), Evangelos Ikonomou, Steffen Wohlfarth, Sam Morrow
St Johnstone
Last season: 3rd
Prediction: 3rd
Have started the season brilliantly by seeing off Rosenborg and winning a first leg in Minsk at the Europa League's qualifying stage. Tommy Wright has provided a seamless managerial transition after Steve Lomas left to take over at Millwall.
Ins: Steve Banks (Dundee United), Scott Brown (Bradford City) loan, Brian Easton (Dundee), Dylan Easton (Berwick Rangers), Gwion Edwards (Swansea) loan, Rory Fallon (Aberdeen), Gary McDonald (Morecambe), David Wotherspoon (Hibernian)
Outs: Mehdi Abeid (Newcastle), Liam Craig (Hibernian), Michael Doughty (QPR), Gregory Tade (CFR Cluj), Jonny Tuffey (Linfield), Rowan Vine (Hibernian), David McCracken
St Mirren
Last season: 11th
Prediction: 8th
The League Cup holders briefly flirted with relegation last season but can be wonderful to watch when on their game. This time around, they look strong enough to secure safety with a bit to spare.
Ins: David Cornell (Swansea) loan, Kealan Dillon (Hull City), Christopher Dilo (Blackburn), Danny Grainger (Hearts), Gary Harkins (Dundee),
Outs: Grant Adam (Cowdenbeath), Graham Carey (Ross County), Paul Dummett (Newcastle), Esmaël Gonçalves (Apoel Nicosia), Lewis Guy (Carlisle), Dougie Imrie (Greenock Morton), Conor Newton (Newcastle ), Sam Parkin (Exeter City), Sander Puri (York City), Craig Samson (Kilmarnock), Chris Smith (Stenhousemuir)
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