This could be the year there's room at the top of the English Premier League standings for a new face.
The Big Four may have to move over.
That warning comes from the lips of no less an expert than Sir Alex Ferguson, the man seeking his fourth Premier League title in succession with Manchester United.
"I think ourselves, Liverpool, Chelsea and Arsenal are looking at what's happening at Manchester City with great interest and whether it can work in terms of the money they've spent," Ferguson said. "... there's a lot of interest in their situation, particularly as none of us have really gone into the market in a big way.
"We've sold players. In fact, Liverpool sold (Xabi) Alonso, we've sold (Cristiano) Ronaldo, Arsenal sold (Emmanuel) Adebayor ... the 'Big Four' have actually been really quiet. So we're all interested in how it's going to pan out at (Manchester) City."
And maybe Everton and Aston Villa and Tottenham.
The annual also-rans are wetting their lips at the thought of defending champion United without Ronaldo. They are excited the triumvirate of Chelsea, Liverpool and Arsenal have done little to strengthen themselves. In fact, some suggest Arsenal may be worse off than it was at the end of last season.
The question is whether teams nipping at their heels have improved themselves enough to mount a challenge.
No team can escape the loss of a player of Ronaldo's calbre without feeling the pinch. That loss has levelled the playing field. United still has Wayne Rooney. They will look for much more from Dimitar Berbatov and hope newcomer Michael Owen returns to form.
Liverpool has scoring with Fernando Torres and Steven Garrard. They must survive the sale of Alonso. Alberto Aquilani's acquistion from Italy was much heralded but Aquilani has as many questions surrounding him as he does answers.
Arsenal looks in danger of dropping from the Top Four. The Gunners sold Adebayor and Kolo Toure without making significant additions to their club. They are now under threat from Barcelona as the Spanish giant threatens to poach Cesc Fabregas.
Chelsea looks the best. Carlo Ancelotti has come from AC Milan to take over as coach. Chelsea's success may be determined by how well his team adjusts to his formations.
The Blues have a commitment from John Terry to remain at Stamford Bridge and a strike force of Frank Lampard and Didier Drogba. They are the threat to United's crown.
In fact, the top four face significant threats from an Everton squad that performs well despite a tight budget, an Aston Villa team that made big noise last year and a Tottenham team that might struggle at the back but have added gangly Peter Crouch to Jermain Defoe and Luka Modric up front.
Which brings us to Manchester City, the elephant in the room.
All the other teams have noticed City, wonder about City and are waiting to see what City does.
The big spender has added Carlos Teves, Adebayor, Toure, Roque Santa Cruz and Gareth Barry from Aston Villa. Add Robinho to the mix and City will not have a problem scoring goals.
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This season promises to be a welcomed reprieve from the usual four-team race.
Arsenal
Last season: 4th
This season: 5th
Addition: Thomas Vermaelen
Key losses: Emmanuel Adebayor, Kolo Toure
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Aston Villa
Last season: 6th
This season: 8th
Additions: Stewart Downing
Key losses: Gareth Barry, Martin Laursen
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Birmingham City
Last season: promoted from Championship
This season: relegation zone
Additions: Joe Hart, Christian Benitez
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Blackburn Rovers
Last season: 15th
This season: 10-15th
Additions: Franco Di Santo, Gael Givet, Nikola Kalinic
Key loss: Roque Santa Cruz
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Bolton Wanderers
Last season: 13th
This season: 10-15
Additions: Zat Knight, Sam Ricketts, Sean Davis, Paul Robinson
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Burnley
Last season: promoted from Championship
This season: relegation zone
Additions: Steven Fletcher, Richard Eckersley, David Edgar
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Chelsea
Last year: 3rd
This year: 1st
Additions: Yuri Zhirkov, Daniel Sturridge
Key loss: Ben Sahar
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Everton
Last season: 5th
This season: 6th
Additions: Jo
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Fulham
Last season: 7th
This season: 9th
Additions: Stephen Kelly, Bjorn Helge Riise
Key loss: Collins John
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Hull City
Last season: 17th
This season: relegation zone
Additions: Steven Mouyokolo, Seyi Olofinjana, Jozy Altidore
Key loss: Sam Ricketts
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Liverpool
Last season: 2nd
This season: 3rd
Additions: Glen Johnston, Alberto Aquilani
Key loss: Xabi Alonso, Jermain Pennant, Alvaro Arbeloa
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Manchester United
Last season: 1st
This season: 2nd
Additions: Michael Owen, Antonio Valencia
Key loss: Cristiano Ronaldo, Carlos Tevez
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Portsmouth
Last season: 14th
This season: relegation zone
Addition: Aaron Mokoena
Key losses: Glen Johnson, Peter Crouch
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Stoke City
Last season: 12th
This season: 10-15th
Addition: Dean Whitehead
Key loss: Seyi Olofinjana
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Sunderland
Last season: 16th
This year: 10-15th
Additions: Darren Bent, Fraizer Campbell
Key loss: Dean Whitehead
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Tottenham
Last season: 8th
This season: 7th
Addition: Peter Crouch
Key loss: Didier Zokora
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West Ham United
Last season: 9th
This season: 10th
Addition: Luis Jimenez
Key loss: Diego Tristan
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Wigan Athletic
Last season: 11th
This season: 10-15th
Additions: Jason Scotland, Scott Sinclair
Key loss: Antonio Valencia
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Wolverhampton Wanderers
Last season: promoted from Championship
This season: relegation zone
Additions: Kevin Doyle, Andrew Surman, Nenad Milijas
Key loss: Darren Potter
