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."
The Gunners still have some of the top names in the game in Thierry Henry, Patrick Vieira, Robert Pires and Dennis Bergkamp. But they failed to persuade Harry Kewell to move to Highbury and the Australian star instead went from Leeds to Liverpool.
That could turn out to be the buy of the summer with Gerard Houllier at last finding an attacker to team up with Michael Owen. First Houllier has to find the best place for him -- right, left or central midfield or even as a co-striker.
"As long as I'm on the field I don't really care," the Australian said. "At the end of the day it's up to the manager where he wants to play me. It's something I'm comfortable with."
The bad news for Liverpool, which also has to be satisfied with UEFA Cup soccer after losing out to Chelsea for the fourth Champions Cup spot, is that influential German midfielder Dietmar Hamann will miss the start the season because of a second operation to cure a shinbone problem.
Newcastle, which quietly finished third last season under veteran Bobby Robson, should be another title candidate.
Former England striker Alan Shearer remains one of the top strikers in the Premier League at age 33 and his partnership with the speedy but temperamental Craig Bellamy should terrorize defenses.
Portuguese international Hugo Viana is emerging as one of the stars of the Premier League and Jonathan Woodgate should prove himself an England regular at centerback.
Blackburn and Everton could be surprise top four contenders. Rovers manager Graeme Souness has been busy in the transfer market. At Everton, David Moyes will rely on the players who performed well for 11 months last season but slipped up at the end to lose a place in Europe.
Everton's Wayne Rooney, the find of last season at age 16, may miss the start of the season with an ankle ligament injury he suffered a preseason friendly with Glasgow Rangers at Ibrox.
FA Cup runner-up Southampton was one of the surprise teams of last season under Gordon Strachan and will do well to repeat last year's eighth-place finish.
White Hart hope
Glenn Hoddle will be under pressure at Tottenham to bring a trophy to a success starved club although he has strengthened the squad by hiring strikers Helder Postiga from FC Porto, Frederic Kanoute from relegated West Ham and Bobby Zamora from Brighton.
If Spurs aren't in the top eight by midseason, however, Hoddle's position could be in jeopardy.
Former England manger Kevin Keegan got Man City to mid-table last season and hopes to repeat the feat as the side moves into the new City of Manchester stadium.
Leeds United has problems.
The Elland Road club has sold many of its best players over the past 12 months -- Woodgate, Kewell, Rio Ferdinand, Lee Bowyer, Robbie Keane, Robbie Fowler and Oliver Dacourt -- and Mark Viduka reportedly wants a transfer.
Peter Reid, who took over from Terry Venables, has to stop the exodus and at the same time produce results to keep the fans from bellowing for his dismissal.
Of the three promoted clubs, Portsmouth and Wolves have the financial backing to buy their way to safety while Leicester will be a strong favorite to go back down.
The Foxes were relegated two seasons ago and, despite going into administration because of debts, have secured financial stability again as well as gaining promotion as runner-up to Harry Redknapp's Portsmouth.
Pompey is back in the top flight for just the second time since 1959. The south coast team had one season among the big clubs in 1987-88 but was relegated again.
Owned by Serbian-born but California-based millionaire Milan Mandaric, the club won the division-one championship and, with the experienced Redknapp in charge, should stay in the Premier League for at least one more season.
Wolves, under Dave Jones, gained promotion through the playoffs and have the millions of tax exile Jack Hayward to spend. The club hired former Manchester United veterans Paul Ince and Denis Irwin last season and, in Scottish international Kenny Miller, has a striker who could make a major impact in the new season.
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