The English Premier League gets underway this weekend, and the biggest waves have been made by Manchester City, a team that is stockpiling talent like no other.While the transfer market has been relatively quiet by English standards, City has poured nearly $120m into their team this summer, and they show no signs of shutting off the faucet.

Intriguingly, some of the biggest names — David Villa, Sami Khedira, and yes, Thierry Henry — have gone elsewhere, perhaps hampered by new Premier League rules on homegrown players.

Jamie Trecker presents ten big names, like Manchester United's Javier 'Chicharito' Hernandez (pictured), to keep an eye on this Premier League season, and one potentially blockbuster deal around the curve.

This winger was key part of Spain’s World Cup qualifying run, but ended up being only a bit player on the World Cup championship squad in South Africa. Don't let that undervalue his potential: he’s clearly an impressive talent, scoring eight goals and racking up nine assists in last season’s tenure with Valencia, helping to lead his former club back to the Champions League this season. At only 24, he’s got a lot of room to grow, and his potential is such that City were willing to pay an estimated $37.5m for him. Can he adapt to the rougher, more physical style of play in England? That’s an open question and the usual test for any Premiership newcomer, but no one doubts this kid’s nose for goal.

This is arguably as big a signing for Mexico as for Manchester United. The 22-year old former Chivas player was a breakout smash at the World Cup, proving Sir Alex’s foresight in locking the young forward up last April. At the Cup, he was invaluable, scoring the critical goal to beat France, and then providing the only consolation in Mexico’s loss to Argentina. He’s been impressive in training, scoring just 18 minutes after taking the field against the MLS All-Stars, firing one past his new employers in a friendly against Chivas, then impressing against an Irish league team this past week. Big things are expected from Hernandez, and if he is able to develop into a world-class talent, he can only help a Mexican national side that is growing in strength.

An experienced, powerful, versatile defensive midfielder, Yaya Toure was part of Barcelona’s European Cup winning side in 2008-09 as well as Cote D’Ivoire’s disappointing eleven at this summer’s World Cup. At 27 he’s at the peak of his career, and will join his older brother Kolo as the holding midfielder at Manchester City in a deal that has been valued at a whopping $43.5m. Known for his technique as well as for his willingness to make the crunching tackle, Yaya Toure is expected to be an immediate starter at the Eastlands.

One of the stars of the 2010 World Cup, this tough defender displayed uncanny poise out wide, helping lead Germany to a bronze medal. At only 21, he’s got a lot of prime years ahead of him, and at only $16m, he looks like a relative bargain for City. Calm, with a great sense of positioning and field vision, Boateng showed that he can link up play out of the back both with the national team and his former club Hamburg. He’s also expected to be an immediate starter at the Eastlands, and may perhaps turn out to be the most intriguing signing off the summer transfer season.

One would have thought another forward was the last thing the all-attacking, all-the-time Arsenal needed, especially when you consider they don’t have a goalkeeper. Nonetheless, Arsene Wenger had been openly covetous of the 26-year old Bordeaux striker for years, so when he was available on a free transfer, the Londoners snapped him up. In seven years, he registered 79 goals for the 2008-09 Ligue One champs, but really made his reputation with a standout performance during Bordeaux’s Champions League run last season, scoring Bordeaux’s two goals in their 3-2 two-leg quarterfinals loss to rivals Lyon. He is expected to start immediately and has already shown signs of forming a partnership with Andrei Arshavin in preseason.

The 29-year old Serb was one of the few bright spots for his national team at this summer’s World Cup, scoring the winning goal against Germany to give his side the only points they collected. Liverpool, who nicked him on a free transfer against interest from Real Madrid, must feel that they finally have a legit partner up top for Fernando Torres after Dirk Kuyt and Ryan Babel’s bad fades. That said, he’s not looked too sharp in preseason, and the question for Jovanovic is whether he can speed up his game. He joins from Belgium’s Standard Liege, a proud club for whom he scored an astonishing 52 goals in 114 appearances, but no one confuses the Jupiler with the Premiership. Still, he brings European experience and big-game play, and he won’t be shoved off the ball.

The Brazilian midfielder was impressive with Benfica last season, leading the club to its first title in five seasons, establishing himself along the way as an emerging world talent. Now is the time for him to blossom: he was part of Brazil’s bronze medal winning side in Beijing, where he turned in impressive, smart performances. This summer he was on the disappointing Brazil side that crashed out in the quarters, coming on as a late sub in the group stage games, but finally getting a start against Chile; there he picked up a card that kept him out of the critical quarterfinal against Holland, which Brazil lost 2-1. At 23, he’s just entering his prime.

A well-travelled and aging forward, the 29-year old Zigic is a major acquisition for a Birmingham City team that needs firepower. At $9m, Zigic is a big buy for such a small team, and while he brings experience, it’s not clear he’s ready for the rough and tumble English game. With Valencia, he was used sparsely — understandable when you consider David Villa was his competition — but he proved his worth at Racing Santander where he collected goals in limited play. One thing is sure: at 6’8” he’s among the tallest target men in the game, and will be used that way at St. Andrews.

This young 19-year old, left-footed full back is an intriguing buy out of Real Madrid’s youth system. At $2.4m he was relatively cheap and gives Owen Coyle some badly needed cover. He’s not expected to be an immediate starter, but he’s got the skills, sense and positioning that were worthy enough to be offered a similar deal by Portuguese giants Benfica. One to keep an eye on as the season progresses.

A brilliant left back with Lazio in Serie A, the 24-year old Serbian signed for a reported $24m after turning down interest from Real Madrid. A key part of Lazio’s squad, he now will provide direct competition for Wayne Bridge at the Eastlands. He played twice for his nation in its  dismal run in South Africa, but impressed with his tenacity and positioning. Another very solid defender and a great pickup for City.

The 24-year central defender was a critical off-season pickup for the Gunners, who desperately need cover in the back alongside Thomas Vermaelen. A $15m purchase from Ligue One’s Lorient, Koscielny is eligible to play for both France and Poland, and has not chosen a national side yet. No one questions his marking ability, but his fitness and bulk have been a concern. That said, he has looked solid in Arsenal’s preseason matches and is expected to be an immediate first-team starter.

If this one comes to pass, it will be a truly blockbuster transfer: one of the most storied clubs in the world passing into the hands of a world superpower. Kenny Huang is the head of the bid through his Hong Kong-based investment vehicle, QSL, but the China Investment Corporation — a state-owned sovereign wealth fund — is the backer. CIC doesn’t seem to be too pleased to have been revealed as the money behind the bid (by the London Times) but given the PL’s popularity in Asia, it makes sense. This isn’t the first time sovereign wealth has been poured into English football of course (see: Manchester City), but if this deal comes to pass, it could be a big turning point for the league, opening up the enormous Chinese market once and for all.