There will be a familiar feel at title favorites Chelsea and Manchester United when the Premier League seasons begins this weekend.
After ending Man United's three-year grip on the trophy in May, Chelsea has made one addition to an aging squad and offloaded several players ahead of Saturday's opener against West Bromwich Albion.
United's squad strengthening has only amounted to signing a trio of youngsters, who may not start on Monday against Newcastle.
Such lack of investment could backfire if Manchester City's big spending - almost $500 million in two years - finally turns the underachievers into a force.
While Man City's outlay this offseason has reached 85 million pounds ($130 million) with more than two weeks left before the transfer window closes, billionaire Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich has only spent 5 million pounds signing Yossi Benayoun from Liverpool.
The Israel captain has replaced 28-year-old midfielder Joe Cole, who went in the opposite direction on a free transfer and is two years younger than Benayoun.
Michael Ballack, Juliano Belletti and Ricardo Carvalho, all in their 30s, have also left. But manager Carlo Ancelotti still has a far-from-youthful squad, with a heavy reliance on captain John Terry, Frank Lampard, Didier Drogba, Nicolas Anelka and Peter Cech.
But the players bring experience, not tired legs, to the team, according to Ancelotti.
"The players will be better this season because they have one year more experience, like me," Ancelotti said. "I'm not older. I'm more experienced. I am a better manager now. I had more doubt last year, when I started.
"I think we start this season in a different situation because I have more knowledge about players and club and atmosphere in England and the teams."
Ancelotti's first season in charge ended with Chelsea denying a record-breaking 19th league title for Manchester United, whose manager Alex Ferguson concedes that it is going to be tougher than ever to regain the trophy.
"Things definitely changed last season - it was a different league altogether compared to what we'd seen before," Ferguson said. "The top four found it difficult and dropped points in games they wouldn't have expected to. That's an indication of the improvement made by other teams, and I think there'll be a bit of a dogfight for the top four places this season.
"We all have to be aware of the threats from the likes of (Aston) Villa, Everton, Tottenham and Manchester City."
While Villa, Everton and Tottenham have been as prudent with the number of offseason recruits as Chelsea and United, City's spending is unrivaled.
The headline signings of the offseason have both joined City for 24 million pounds: Spain winger David Silva and midfielder Yaya Toure - brother of City captain Kolo.
City's campaign begins Saturday at Tottenham, which edged the team to fourth place in May for the last Champions League spot.
But just breaking into the top four won't be enough for striker Carlos Tevez. Producing City's first league championship success since 1968 is the priority.
"We know we must fight for the title," Tevez said. "We have strengthened and we are stronger. There is no great difference between all the top teams now."
The eye-catching fixture on the opening weekend is Arsenal's trip to Liverpool, which went from runners-up in 2009 to seventh place in May and still doesn't have the finances to sign more world-class players like Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres.
One of the biggest successes for new manager Roy Hodgson was simply persuading the pair not to push for transfers.
Arsenal is chasing its first league title since 2004, with manager Arsene Wenger under pressure to produce the club's first trophy since the 2005 FA Cup.
"The most important thing is that we have that belief," Wenger said. "We finished third last season, so we have two stairs to climb and I am confident that we can do it."
In the rest of the opening round of matches, Aston Villa attempts to overcome the recent resignation of manager Martin O'Neill when it plays West Ham on Saturday. Also Saturday, Everton is at Blackburn, Fulham travels to Bolton, Sunderland faces Birmingham, newcomer Blackpool makes the short trip to Wigan and Wolverhampton plays Stoke.
