Tottenham Hotspur manager Harry Redknapp believes Manchester City could not only break into the Big Four next season, but even lift the Premier League title.
Mark Hughes' Blues ended 2008/09 in 10th place in the Premier League, failing to qualify for Europe.
But the cash-rich Eastlands outfit have already splashed out £12 million on Aston Villa midfielder Gareth Barry, and are being linked with the likes of Carlos Tevez, Samuel Eto'o, Edin Dzeko and Xabi Alonso.
And Redknapp believes they will soon be a force to be reckoned with under Hughes, saying any club with the right manager and copious amounts of money will inevitably succeed.
“City, with massive financial backing, are able to sign who they want. Carlos Tevez could be next for them,” he said in The Sun.
“I’ve no doubt they will be right up there next season if they continue to sign this type of quality players.
“It wouldn’t surprise me if they won the title as they seem to have more money than everybody else.
“If any club, whatever size, finds a rich backer, they will be up there in a short amount of time, providing they have a good manager.”