Defending Malaysia Super League (MSL) champions Johor Darul Ta'zim (JDT) say they won't be heavy spenders for the 2017 season, as the club aims to emphasise more on youth development.
So far, midfielder Nazmi Faiz has been snapped up from Selangor, while Syahrul Azwari and Haziq Nadzli were signed from Sarawak and PDRM FA respectively.
JDT chief Mario Gomez confirmed that the three-time MSL champions were refining their squad for 2017, with one or two foreigners joining the ranks.
That could mean that last season's lethal combination of Jorge Pereyra Diaz and Juan Martin Lucero may no longer be leading the line for the Southern Tigers next year.
Diaz finished the 2016 season with the Golden Boot after racking up 18 goals, while Lucero finished just behind him, scoring 16 times.
"We might sell our foreign stars, including some local players, to give way to our younger players. We are currently looking at two talented young players from Argentina that I believe will do well," said Gomez via the Southern Tigers Facebook page.
"The club will also be changing tactics for next year, and we will not be playing with the same style. There will be a lot of changes that we will do as demanded by His Highness (TMJ), and the coaching staff and I have begun preparation for that."
JDT, who also clinched the FA Cup and Charity Shield in 2016, will prepare for the new season with friendlies against Thailand sides Buriram United and Chonburi FC.
Johor are also looking to make the 2017 Asian Champions League for the first time.
They are drawn against Bangkok United of Thailand in a preliminary round encounter on Jan. 31.
If they succeed, another playoff round beckons before they make it into the tournament proper.
In 2015, JDT lost 3-0 to Bangkok Glass in the second round play-off, before crashing out in the same stage to Muangthong United on penalties in 2016.
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Meanwhile, Australian-born Brendan Gan, who was once linked to JDT, has put many clubs on high alert after announcing his departure from Kelantan.
The 28-year-old midfielder, who played for Sydney FC in the A-League before moving to Malaysia, joined the Red Warriors in 2014.
"My greatest honour was to walk out to captain your team, and I will cherish that forever. Good luck to the club, and may you have great success in the future," the midfielder posted on his Instagram page.
Gan is undergoing rehabilitation from an ACL injury suffered in September, which rules him out for 10 months. He was hurt while playing for Malaysia in a friendly against Indonesia, ruling him out of the ongoing AFF Suzuki Cup.