New-look Man City begin quest to join the EPL's elite

LONDON: If newly-rich Manchester City wanted to rile Manchester United during the close-season they certainly went about it the right way - and not just by spending more than 100 million pounds ($165 million) on new players.

The arrivals of Carlos Tevez from United, Emmanuel Adebayor and Kolo Toure from Arsenal, Roque Santa Cruz from Blackburn and Gareth Barry from Aston Villa should certainly see City improve in the new Premier League season starting this weekend.

However, it is not the signings themselves that have got under the skin of Manchester United boss Alex Ferguson, who is plotting a title defence without world player of the year Cristiano Ronaldo, sold to Real Madrid, as well as Tevez.