Hits and misses of the new campaign

Van Nistelrooy seems certain to repay his massive fee

By BBC Sport Online's Andrew Warshaw

Some will be instant successes, others will take a season or two to adjust.

There will be others who will quickly plummet out of their depth.

As with the start of every Premiership season, the spotlight is about to fall on a clutch of stars hoping to justify massive price tags and high-profile free transfers.

From Ruud van Nistelrooy to Sol Campbell, from Frank Lampard to Gareth Southgate, the money men have been hard at work in the summer.

Players whose names have been synonymous with one club suddenly find themselves starting all over again.

But where will the chemistry work and where will it all blow up in flames?

Few doubt that van Nistelrooy will set the pulse racing at Old Trafford.

Some are not convinced by Frank Lampard's move

The £19m Dutch striker showed enough in last Sunday's Charity Shield to convince the sceptics that he will not need much space in the box to take defences apart.

Alex Ferguson rarely spends needlessly and Juan Veron looks certain to be just as successful for the champions.

If the Argentine is not the best midfield player in the world, he is certainly among the top four or five.

United's back line may be the weak link but if Veron does his job, his defenders will spend much of their time spectating.

Just like United, Arsenal are hoping for championship performances from a string of new players.

Sol Campbell's first season in a red shirt, for all the adverse publicity that accompanied his move from Tottenham, looks certain to prove a wise investment on a Bosman free.

But what of Francis Jeffers at £10m, Giovanni van Bronkhorst at £8.5 and £6m goalkeeper Richard Wright?

In van Bronkhorst, Arsene Wenger believes he finally has a player to fill Petit's boots.

As for Jeffers, no-one can doubt his natural ability. On his day, the former Everton forward is one of the deadliest in the business.

But how will he cope with the pressure, with so many other strikers hungry for the shirt. And what happens if his injury jinx strikes again?

Of all the big-money summer moves, that of Jeffers could prove either the shrewdest or the riskiest.

Questions too have to be asked about Wright.

Petit's pedigree

All top clubs need a decent back-up goalkeeper but Wright is more than decent.

He is, after all, an England international. Starting his Arsenal career as David Seaman's deputy is hardly the best exposure for furthering his England claims.

Petit has the pedigree to do as well at Chelsea as he did at Arsenal and winger Boudewijn Zenden will excite the crowds.

Don't be surprised, however, if the over-eager Frank Lampard loses his way at the Bridge now that he has left his beloved West Ham.

Rory Delap, Southampton's record signing, should blossom on the south coast, as should Charlton's Jason Euell.

And Gareth Southgate's partnership with Ugo Ehiogu could turn Middlesbrough into one of the meanest units.

But Newcastle may have to wait a while for Laurent Robert to strike it rich after moving from Paris to Tyneside for £10 while Blackburn's Corrado Grabbi, untried in the Premiership, seems over-priced at £7m.

Poyet could be one of the best bargains

As for the most watertight Bosman frees, Teddy Sheringham's move to Spurs, injury permitting, must be a candidate.

Likewise Peter Schmeichel, out of retirement with Villa who have also prized Hassan Kachloul away from Southampton for no fee.

Fabrizio Ravanelli's move to Derby, however, appears far more of a gamble.

Biggest bargains of them all? How about Tottenham's Gustavo Poyet for £1.5 or the ex-Manchester United youngsters Jonathan Greening and Mark Wilson for a combined £3.5m at Middlesbrough?

Everyone will have their own view. That, after all, is the beauty of football.