Aston Villa's 2024-25 end-of-season awards dinner was in full swing when Damian Vidagany took to the stage.
The director of football operations had a message for Arsenal, Manchester City, Manchester United, Liverpool, Chelsea and Tottenham.
"There is no big six anymore," he declared to loud cheers 12 months ago - and such a sentiment will have plenty of support on Tyneside.
Just as Aston Villa disrupted the established order to qualify for the Champions League in 2024 and 2026, so too did Newcastle United in 2023 and 2025.
Yet the league's highest-earning clubs have hardly withered in the face of the challenge from outside the six, and Spurs' pursuit of midfielder Sandro Tonali is a reminder of that.
Just weeks after Roberto de Zerbi's side narrowly avoided relegation on the final day of the season, they are trying to lure one of Newcastle's best players to North London.
Newcastle hardly had a stellar season themselves - finishing a disappointing 12th place - but the difference is Spurs have greater revenues to fall back on as they try to bounce back come August.
Their most recent financial accounts showed they had generated £230m more in income than Newcastle in 2024-25. As a result, they could offer far superior wages to Tonali and make a meaty bid of about £80m for the Italy midfielder, yet stay within the game's financial rules.