Why City, United, Chelsea will distance themselves from chasing pack

A manager and chairman with a shared philosophy of trying out young English talent before acquiring expensive imports. A fluid yet well-drilled tactical setup full of pressing, contained recklessness, and midfield virtuosity. Off-field changes funded by careful backroom planning rather than Arabic petrodollars.

Last season, Tottenham Hotspur could do no wrong.

And it was the same for much of this summer, until Danny Rose opened his mouth.

"I am not saying buy 10 players," the left-back said earlier this week, per The Sun's Dave Kidd, reflecting on Spurs' inactivity this summer. "I'd love to see two or three - and not players you have to Google and say, 'Who's that?' I mean well-known players."

Rose also expressed an admiration for the depth at the disposal of Chelsea manager Antonio Conte and his Manchester City counterpart Pep Guardiola. Add to the pair a club rumoured to be interested in Rose, Manchester United, and you have the highest-spending contingent in the Premier League, and the trio that is most likely to put a distance between themselves and the rest of the division.

Those more at risk than Tottenham of falling away from the Champions League places are Arsenal - already denied a top-four finish in the previous term for the first time since 1996 - and Liverpool.

(Photo courtesy: Action Images)

The Gunners' prominent issue isn't new. Aaron Ramsey and Granit Xhaka had some promising showings together in the final matches of the 2016-17 conquest, but the latter was susceptible again in Friday's season-opening 4-3 defeat of Leicester City: being beaten to a header by goal-scorer Shinji Okazaki, and then squandering possession in the lead-up to Jamie Vardy's first finish. Beyond them are the yet-to-convince Mohamed Elneny, and a man who is simultaneously anonymous and calamitous in Francis Coquelin. The injury records of Santi Cazorla - when fit, Arsenal's model of consistency - and Jack Wilshere do nothing to allay the concerns over the heart of the lineup.

Related: Arsenal fightback stuns Leicester in relentless 7-goal season opener

Then there's the central defensive area, a section that's risen in importance since Arsene Wenger followed the trend with a back-three. Placing Nacho Monreal in the middle of that trio against Leicester was peculiar, making for an uncomfortable-looking backline that saw Wenger deeming shape of greater importance to personnel. A back-four of Hector Bellerin, Rob Holding, Shkodran Mustafi, and Sead Kolasinac from the start would've likely fared much better.

Like a warring couple at a plush restaurant, Liverpool's problems are very public and embarrassing. The statement from Southampton condemning the Reds' alleged tapping-up of defender Virgil van Dijk left the Merseyside outfit red-faced, despite it being an unfortunate result of Liverpool conducting its business in the same vein as most of its Premier League rivals. Its biggest repercussion will be clear within the first few weeks of this season, however, when the composed Joel Matip - victim of a few niggling fitness complaints in his inaugural English term - tries to stave off attacking threats with either Dejan Lovren or Ragnar Klavan. His colleagues are simply not up to league-winning standard, or even of top-three level.

With or without Philippe Coutinho, that defensive dearth has gone unaddressed.

Aside from the red-clad pair from north London and Merseyside, the Manchester clubs highly regarded by Spurs' left-flank terroriser Rose have strengthened areas of need. City spent big on the full-back positions - slots the club hierarchy hadn't laid down money for since the 2012 nab of Maicon - and United picked up Romelu Lukaku and Nemanja Matic, players of significant Premier League know-how and who satisfy previously weak positions.

That leaves Chelsea and Tottenham. Antonio Conte's lot just west of the capital's centre has made some interesting acquisitions. Tiemoue Bakayoko is undeniably a talent, but his inclination to try and contribute to every phase of play he possibly can would've made his steadier ex-Monaco teammate Fabinho a better option. Antonio Rudiger is of great quality, but one that still has to squeeze a few raw errors out of his game before he becomes one of the leading European defensive talents. Spanish forward Alvaro Morata is blessed with great technical ability, although the job of filling the worn, probably steel-toed boots of Diego Costa has been underestimated. Morata's less aesthetic compatriot has 52 goals in 89 Premier League appearances, and had the valuable knack of netting in close matches.

There remains the bulk-load of a title winner, though; and one that collected top English silverware with relative ease. Cesar Azpilicueta and Marcos Alonso were quietly excellent last season, and there's not yet any indication that Eden Hazard will put his feet up just as he did during the previous title defence under Jose Mourinho.

So does that mean Spurs are susceptible to not only to falling behind the title race under the Manchester foes and Chelsea, but to potentially dropping under the precious Champions League places? The lack of summer activity obviously means Moussa Sissoko and Vincent Janssen are still on the periphery of the squad, and there's little cover for when the likes of Harry Kane, Dele Alli, and others aren't match fit.

But the silence might be broken by Tottenham soon. Kyle Walker's replacement could be German youth international Jeremy Toljan, and Friday's transfer news included an account that a swoop for Celta Vigo midfielder Pape Cheikh Diop is drawing nearer.

That frantic tapping you hear is Rose resorting to Google again.