TAKE your position, strap yourself in and hold on to your hat — the transfer window is officially open.
And with Saudi-owned Newcastle ready to splash their petrodollars and cause an almighty stir, it promises to be a hell of a ride.
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A “conservative” £1.1billion was splashed last summer across the Premier League amid the pandemic.
It was the lowest gross spend since 2015, and all signs point to that figure being smashed out of the park between now and 11pm on September 1.
Overseas deals may have to officially wait until July 1 but the fun and games are about to begin.
Newcastle splurged the most across Europe in January — and all eyes will again be on the world’s richest club.
The big boys already have enough on their plate as they try to break Manchester City’s stranglehold on the title.
But while City boss Pep Guardiola and Liverpool chief Jurgen Klopp will hardly be losing sleep over Eddie Howe and his Mags, the rest will be watching on nervously.
Newcastle’s Saudi paymasters are in it to win it and have the firepower to blow everyone out of the water.
The talk on the Toon is about a gradual process — but having set their stall out in January to the tune of £92m, expect more fireworks.
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Despite a failure to win any of their first 14 games last term, Newcastle finished just nine points behind sixth-placed Manchester United.
And if they get their recruitment right, gatecrashing Europe cannot be ruled out.
That they were in for Benfica marksman Darwin Nunez shows just how much the Toon mean business.
Signings of that ilk may have to wait a season or two, with the Uruguayan star closing on a move to Liverpool.
After their Quadruple hopes blew up, the Reds had to react once City made the statement signing to end all statement signings by landing Erling Haaland from Borussia Dortmund for £51.4m.
The Norwegian striker makes City overwhelming favourites to make it three titles on the bounce.
Sadio Mane is set to join Bayern Munich and Mo Salah’s Anfield future is up in the air, meaning uncertain times on the red half of Merseyside.
However, Nunez’s arrival could be a game-changer, ensuring Klopp’s side go toe-to-toe with the City juggernaut once again.
The question is whether anyone can challenge the country’s two best sides.
WHAT ABOUT THE LONDONERS?
Chelsea are weaker having lost Antonio Rudiger to Real Madrid and go into uncharted waters without Roman Abramovich bankrolling them.
New owner Todd Boehly has pledged funds but it is London rivals Spurs who look best placed to make headway.
Antonio Conte is fully on board — for now — thanks to Daniel Levy vowing to loosen the purse strings.
Ivan Perisic is a solid start but Conte is in a rush and will demand plenty more.
After Arsenal threw away a top-four spot last season, this is a huge campaign for boss Mikel Arteta.
Most fans still “trust the process” but the heat is on the Spaniard to deliver Champions League football, with Man City striker Gabriel Jesus his top target to fire them back into the elite.
And is this the summer when Man Utd FINALLY get their act together?
New manager Erik ten Hag has a monster job on his hands to arrest the Red Devils’ decline, and even with Cristiano Ronaldo sticking around, nobody will be fancying them for a title tilt this time around.
With Newcastle set to make waves and Aston Villa already doing so, West Ham cannot afford to stand still if they are to avoid dropping back after finishes of sixth and seventh.
Everton and Leeds will both spend to ensure they do not flirt with relegation again, while promoted Nottingham Forest have handed boss Steve Cooper a transfer kitty of almost £100m.
And all that before we get to the quirk of this winter’s World Cup.
With Qatar on the horizon, players on the periphery will surely not be happy to sit it out until January.
Gareth Bale is on the lookout for a new club before leading Wales in the Gulf and fellow freebie Jesse Lingard has a point to prove as his England hopes dwindle.
The summer roller-coaster is just getting started, so get ready for the carnage to unfold.
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