Prior to Friday's season-opening kickoff, Premier League clubs have once again flexed their financial muscles in the competition for the best talent in the world.

Five of the biggest signings of the summer who hope to have an impact are examined by AFP Sport.

Manchester City's Erling Haaland

After beating out competition from across Europe for Haaland, City has addressed their need for a central striker and acquired one of the most highly desired players in the world to do so.

The Norwegian's reported buyout clause from Borussia Dortmund was a massive £51 million ($63 million), but the reported signing-on fee, agent fees, and wages over the course of a five-year contract are reportedly going to cost City £190 million.

Due to his missed opportunity during City's Community Shield loss to Liverpool on Saturday, Haaland may have had a disastrous debut.

But Pep Guardiola warned his side’s challengers for the title that “the goals will come”.

Despite being brought in as the final piece to help Guardiola's team win the Champions League, Haaland scored 86 goals in 89 games for Dortmund, and his addition makes the champions favorites to win the league for the fifth time in six years.

Darwin Nunez (Liverpool)

In contrast to Haaland, Nunez had the perfect start to his Liverpool career by scoring and winning a penalty against City in the Community Shield.

The Reds have banked on the Uruguayan to evolve their attacking options after the departure of Sadio Mane to Bayern Munich.

Nunez cost Benfica an initial 75 million euros ($77 million), but that fee could rise to 100 million euros depending on his success at Anfield.

Luis Diaz is expected to take the place of Mane on the left of Liverpool’s front three, with Nunez phasing out Roberto Firmino.

His aerial presence offers Jurgen Klopp’s men a different focal point in attack, but it could take some time for the Reds to adjust.

Lisandro Martinez (Man Utd)

Much of the debate over United’s only big money signing has centered on how his diminutive 5ft 9in (1.8m) presence will cope with the rigours of the Premier League.

The Argentine is well-known to new United manager Erik ten Hag, who signed Martinez for Ajax.

A £57 million transfer fee suggests Ten Hag sees Martinez as a regular starter at Old Trafford, but it remains to be seen in what position.

Martinez played at centre-back, left-back and centre midfield during his time with the Dutch champions.

Ten Hag used him most commonly at the heart of his defence, which would put United captain Harry Maguire’s position under threat, with French World Cup winner Raphael Varane also competing to start at centre-back.

Raheem Sterling (Chelsea)

A key player in City’s first two Premier League title triumphs under Pep Guardiola, Sterling found himself slowly edged out at the Etihad by the arrival of Jack Grealish and the emergence of Phil Foden.

Still a vital part of England manager Gareth Southgate’s plans in a World Cup year, Sterling has moved south to become the face of Chelsea’s new era.

The 27-year-old was the Blues’ first signing since Todd Boehly’s consortium bought the club from Roman Abramovich.

Chelsea badly need a goalscorer if they are to compete with City and Liverpool for the title, and Sterling is the most likely member of Thomas Tuchel’s squad to get 20 goals.

He hit that mark three seasons in a row between 2017 and 2020, and he will have the guaranteed minutes he did not get under Guardiola in the past two years to reach that tally once more.

Gabriel Jesus (Arsenal)

As the Brazilian hopes to relaunch his career at the Emirates ahead of the World Cup, Jesus was another victim of the wealth of attacking talent at City.

Despite winning seven major trophies at the Etihad, Jesus never became the successor to Sergio Aguero, whom City hoped to buy six years ago.

Arsenal badly needed a striker after the departures of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Alexandre Lacazette.

Jesus already has the Gunners fans excited after scoring seven times in pre-season, including in the thrashing of Chelsea and Sevilla.