They are queueing up to challenge Newcastle United and their new found elite status. Two of the self-styled Super Six, Chelsea and Spurs, have reacted to missing out on Europe's millions by appointing new managers charged with restoring their dignity and standing.
The Pensioners, praying for sustainable success after wild chaos, will go into a new season under the direction of Mauricio Pochettino while Spurs have boldly settled on Celtic's treble-winning Ange Postecoglou. Two bosses who love to play on the front foot and will therefore, hope their employers, quickly win over disgruntled fans just as Eddie Howe did on Tyneside.
Throw in Unai Emery, the Spaniard who turned his gaze away from Newcastle and their new ambitious owners only to rock up at Aston Villa and pilot them from oblivion to the European Conference League and the challenge to Howe's soaring reputation is obvious.
READ MORE: Incoming Newcastle signing shows Ashworth's plan for summer window and beyond
All four managers will attempt to shrewdly manipulate the transfer market which is about to reopen next Wednesday and so stamp their authority and style upon a fascinating Premier League come August. Signings are awaited with heightening anticipation in Newcastle, London, and Birmingham.
Maybe the capital's new two are P's in a pod when it comes to philosophy but their career paths have taken a very different course. Pochettino has steered Tottenham to the dizzy heights of PL runners-up and a Champions League final and won silverware at PSG whereas Postecoglou's success has been in Australia, Japan and Scotland which is hardly PL intensity.
While launching an attack on Howe's standing Poch must first clear up a mess of Chelsea's own making and Postecoglou has to confront both Daniel Levy and Harry Kane over transfers.
United and Villa have already taken significant early steps toward establishing two historic clubs back at the pinnacle of English football after a lifetime of indifference of course but Chelsea and Spurs have no intention of giving up their best seats at a laden table to accommodate them.
It is a challenge Newcastle fully realise lies ahead. Having forced their way against all odds into the PL's top four they are viewed by outsiders as the most vulnerable rather than Man City, Arsenal, or Man U. All four managers are relatively new in their current positions - Pochettino and Postecoglou literally so while last season was Howe's first full campaign at Newcastle and likewise next term will be Emery's first beginning-to-end employment at Villa.
It all goes to highlight how quickly things have changed at our place of worship on the hill. We accept the rise and rise of a new Newcastle but it is staggering to realise it was only 18 months ago that Geordies said good riddance to the Terrible Twins and hello to hope.
Mike Ashley sold up and packed his replica shirts into a Sports Direct van heading south on October 7, 2021. Thirteen days later his lieutenant Steve Bruce shuffled off over the same Tyne Bridge. Since then things have moved at a lightning pace.
When Bruce was United's team picker we often saw Jacob Murphy and Matt Ritchie playing full-back. Two wingers asked more often than not to run towards their own goal rather than that of the opposition with dire consequences. Joelinton was a non scoring centre-forward who found the weight of expectation that came with the No.9 shirt unbearable.
Allan Saint-Maximin was the go-to man, the only attacking hope, while Jamaal Lascelles was an automatic pick as captain at centre defence and Martin Dubravka one of the blue chip players in goal. All three are still here but not one of them is an automatic starter having been frozen out of the central picture.
BACK IN THE BIG TIME: ORDER YOUR NUFC END-OF-SEASON SPECIAL HERE
The very last Newcastle team Bruce selected was for a 3-2 home defeat by Spurs just after the takeover. It read: Darlow; Manquillo, Lascelles, Clark, Ritchie; Hayden, Longstaff, Willock; Saint-Maximin, Wilson, Joelinton. Bruce was 'celebrating' his 1,000th game as a manager and he brought on Jonjo Shelvey as a sub on the hour mark. Eighteen minutes later Shelvey disappeared again after two yellow cards turned into a red.
Some of those who were a shadow under Bruce - Big Joe, Miggy Almiron, Sean Longstaff, Fabian Schar, Jacob Murphy, and Joe Willock after his initial on-loan spree - have blossomed into PL pedigree.
Callum Wilson, always quality, was stifled in a back foot team where he was often United's lone ranger but has just completed his best ever top flight season with 18 goals that have catapulted him into Gareth Southgate's England squad.
It has been a makeover like no other both on the field, in the dressing-room, and on the training ground. Players are super fit whereas they had complained of not training enough while there is an unbreakable bond right across every aspect from Eddie Howe to junior player. Times they are a'changing!
