Sixteen out of twenty Premier League managers believe Manchester City will break into the top-flight's top four this season, according to a Barclays-sponsored League Manager's Association poll.

Should Mark Hughes' side split the traditional Manchester United, Chelsea, Arsenal and Liverpool power structure, they would become the first side to do so since Everton pipped Rafa Benitez's side to fourth spot in the 2004-05 campaign.

The Citizens spent over £150million of Abu Dhabi-based oil rich owner Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan's money during the summer to assemble an almost entirely new first-team in an attempt to secure a UEFA Champions League spot.

And despite a run of five consecutive draws, Hughes' side remain just a point outside the top four places, with Tottenham currently leading the race to break up the traditional hierarchy, with Liverpool the most likely fall guys.

Elsewhere in the poll, Emmanual Adebayor was deemed to have been the best summer signing, Fernando Torres was tipped to be the Premier League's top scorer, and Jack Rodwell was declared the most exciting English prospect.

It wasn't revealed which four managers had been less than enthusiastic about City's top four credentials, although ExtraFootie has a good idea of their possible identities. Perhaps they include Mark Hughes' 'noisy neighbour'...