The big spenders gear up for major challenges

The English Premier League season starts in just under a month's time and all 20 clubs have been busy adding to their squads in time for the kickoff.

But who is in? Who is out? And who is on the way?

We review the business done so far before the start of the season.

Big spenders

Germany's youngster Emre Can joins Liverpool from Bayer Leverkusen.

Will Liverpool become this season's Tottenham?

Last summer, Tottenham sold player of the year Gareth Bale for more than £80m to Real Madrid. Spurs signed a host of players to compensate, but some, like forward Erik Lamela (signed for £25.7m from Roma) and Roberto Soldado (£26m from Valencia), proved to be expensive flops and the club finished outside the top four.

This season it is Liverpool who have plenty of money with which to rebuild after player of the year Luis Suarez was eventually sold to Barcelona for £75m.

Like Spurs, the Anfield club have already made big moves during the transfer window with the signing of Southampton pair Adam Lallana and Rickie Lambert for a combined total of £29m.

They also sealed a £10m deal for Germany under-21 midfielder Emre Can and completed the transfer of Serbia winger Lazar Markovic for £20m from Benfica.

That brought spending by manager Brendan Rodgers to £59m. That figure might have been £79m had Southampton accepted a £20m bid for Croatia defender Dejan Lovren. He said he wants to leave St Mary's, so it is worth keeping tabs on that situation.

Can Manchester United attract star names?

Liverpool are not the only ones who have been busy. At Old Trafford, Manchester United have also been acting quickly following the appointment of Louis van Gaal as manager.

They have already spent a total of £56m to recruit Athletic Bilbao's Spanish midfielder Ander Herrera and England and Southampton fullback Luke Shaw. And United have an enviable revenue stream - strengthened by their new £750m kit deal - so there could be more big signings on the way. Juventus and Chile midfielder Arturo Vidal, Arsenal defender Thomas Vermaelen and Borussia Dortmund midfielder Marco Reus are all linked to moves.

Will Arsenal be the team to catch?

It appears that manager Arsene Wenger is dipping his hands into his war chest and pulling out a wad of notes for a major spending spree.

One player who has already signed is forward Alexis Sanchez, who impressed for Chile in Brazil and cost the Gunners about £35m from Barcelona.

Wenger's French contingent could also increase in number. The club are set to sign fullback Mathieu Debuchy from Newcastle to replace Bacary Sagna, while QPR striker Loic Remy, who impressed on loan at the Magpies, and Real Sociedad forward Antoine Griezmann, have been strongly linked to moves to Arsenal.

In contrast to last season's big influx, Tottenham are yet to spend a penny this summer.

Mourinho's Chelsea continue to strengthen

Jose Mourinho considers former striker Didier Drogba one of the best players at his disposal during his first spell with the Blues.

So perhaps it came as no surprise that the Portuguese coach brought in Atletico Madrid striker Diego Costa - a player renowned for his strength and power.

He might have struggled for Spain at the World Cup, but Costa did score 35 goals in helping Atletico to the La Liga title last season. Costa's arrival should result in Demba Ba completing a move to Besiktas in Turkey.

The Blues also recruited another Spain star - with plenty of Premier League pedigree - in former Arsenal captain Cesc Fabregas, a £30m buy from Barcelona.

Ashley Cole left the club to join Roma and he has been replaced by Atletico Madrid left back Luis Felipe.

Despite the big outlay, it is worth remembering that Chelsea sold Brazil defender David Luiz for £40m to Paris St-Germain.

And champions Manchester City?

Compared with previous years, Manchester City have been relatively frugal so far this year.

They have recruited Fernando for £12m from Porto, while manager Manuel Pellegrini also signed goalkeeper Willy Caballero from his former club, Malaga, for £4.4m.

City's squad was also strengthened with the arrival of right back Bacary Sagna from Arsenal on a free loan, and the champions are set to make their first major signing of the window - France defender Eliaquim Mangala for about £32m - following advanced talks with Porto.

However, perhaps City's biggest transfer business will be keeping hold of influential midfielder Yaya Toure. The Ivorian was reportedly very upset by a perceived lack of respect shown to him by City's owners this English summer and could be angling for an exit.

Meanwhile, Nike have unveiled the new ball that will be used for the new Premier League season.

All 20 clubs have been using the Nike Ordem 2 ball during pre-season training ahead of the start of the new campaign on August 16.

Nike say the new ball features "high-contrast graphics for enhanced visibility, perfect sphericity allows ball to fly faster, further and more accurately and has cross-linked, nitrogen-expanded foam casing for exceptional shape retention".

Different coloured variations of the ball will be used in La Liga and Serie A in the forthcoming season.