Manchester City were quick out of the blocks in the transfer market to bring in Ferran Torres and Nathan Ake, but it has been Chelsea laying down the marker when it comes to strengthening their squad this summer.
Having already agreed to sign Hakim Ziyech from Ajax, Chelsea announced the capture of Timo Werner before the 2019/20 season had ended - beating a number of clubs, including Liverpool, to his signature.
If reports are to be believed, they will add Bayer Leverkusen's talented attacking midfielder Kai Havertz to their squad, to go with the likes of Tammy Abraham, Christian Pulisic, Callum Hudson-Odoi, Mason Mount, Mateo Kovacic, Olivier Giroud and Ross Barkley.
It's a forward line that will be on par with City and Liverpool, showing that the rest of the traditional 'big six' are not content with fighting for third and fourth.
But Chelsea appear to be making the same mistake City have done over recent years by focussing their investment on forwards and not defenders.
Yes, City have spent millions on defensive options, but arguably this has been more reactive spending than developing long-term options to strengthen the back line.
Chelsea will apparently add Ben Chilwell to their defence to compete with the competent, but ageing, Marcos Alonso. PSG veteran Thiago Silva is also linked with a move to Stamford Bridge, but that is another short-term solution.
Their centre-back options bear a similarity to City's, with plenty of players who would be adequate partners alongside a more experienced head - just not natural leaders.
Frank Lampard's men might score more goals and win more games this season, however they will find themselves with the same defensive issues next summer. Only then, they will have no choice but to spend money on defenders, with selling clubs adjusting their prices accordingly.
City know that although a strong attack can cover for a weaker defence for a while, it only takes one or two injuries to unravel the whole team.
So while Chelsea must be taken seriously as title contenders next season, City will see weaknesses at Stamford Bridge to exploit - just as their own failure to invest in defence cost them last season.
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