Look for a wide-open title race in the English Premier League thanks to the arrival of Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich.
Instead of the usual duel at the top between defending champion Manchester United and perennial championship rival Arsenal, at least three more teams -- Newcastle, Liverpool and the Russian's Chelsea -- should be in contention by the time the campaign reaches a climax in early May.
The reason is Abramovich. He took a controlling interest in the Blues from Ken Bates a month ago, stirred up a becalmed domestic transfer market by using some of his huge fortune to bring seven players to Stamford Bridge in west London.
The centerpiece of his summer buys is Argentine midfielder Juan Sebastian Veron. Man United agreed yesterday to sell Veron to Chelsea for ?15 million (US$23 million).
A day earlier Chelsea bought West Ham midfielder Joe Cole for ?6.6 million (US$10.5 million), bringing Chelsea's spending over the summer to ?60 million (US$96 million).
He has also purchased Irish forward Damien Duff, Cameroon midfielder Geremi, Glen Johnson, Wayne Bridge and Italian goalkeeper Marco Ambrosio.
With Chelsea in the Champions Cup first round after edging Liverpool for fourth place in the Premier League, Claudio Ranieri's team should be confident when the season begins Aug. 16.
Contrast that with Manchester United.
The Reds have sold England captain David Beckham to Real Madrid and failed to buy Brazilian star Ronaldinho, who went to Barcelona instead.
Reds manager Alex Ferguson has hired American goalkeeper Tim Howard, Cameroon midfielder Eric Djemba Djemba and Sunderland's French forward David Bellion at a combined cost of less than ?10 million (US$16.1 million).
That means he has the cash to make a spectacular signing before the Aug. 31 transfer deadline.
Despite the departure of Beckham, United still has standout players such as Ruud Van Nistelrooy, Paul Scholes and Ryan Giggs to challenge strongly for the Champions Cup, Ferguson's biggest target despite eight league titles in 11 seasons.
Life without Beckham
Van Nistelrooy, who has scored 80 goals in two seasons at Old Trafford, says the team will have no problems adjusting to life without Beckham.
"Last year, when David had his rib injury and then was left out a few times, we still got the results," the Dutch striker said. "We readjusted to play another way and that is what we will do this season."
Arsenal also made few moves in the transfer market largely because manager Arsene Wenger has little cash to spend. The club is committed to spending some ?400 million (US$644 million) on a new stadium and Wenger, with little more than ?10 million (US$16.1 million) in the transfer account is forced to rely on his young reserve players.
"I have enough good players," the Frenchman said defiantly. "I don't know where I can fit another player in if I buy one."
The Gunners' England international defender, Ashley Cole, believes that the transfer shakeup at Chelsea is likely to put more pressure on Arsenal and Man U.
"Chelsea are chucking money around and Liverpool are buying some players so we know it's going to be harder than last season," Cole said. "I think Chelsea could change the balance at the top. I hope so, it will be better for everyone. Liverpool, Chelsea and Newcastle have bought players and they are going to be up there."
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