Portsmouth manager Harry Redknapp is convinced football is heading for a recession - from which only the established fat cats will be immune.
Pompey have already felt the chilly draught of financial crisis as owner Sacha Gaydamak shut the cheque-book after spending more than £60million to buy star players in the last two years.
They still added two more this summer in £11million England striker Peter Crouch and £5million French defender Younes Kaboul.
To pay for them, though, midfielders Sulley Muntari and Pedro Mendes had to be sold.
Redknapp takes his still pointless and goalless team to Everton on Saturday knowing he can boost a suddenly depleted squad with only a couple of foreign loan signings or free transfers before Monday night's deadline.
He said: "It's like everybody. I think David Moyes (Everton's manager) is just looking, as we are, for loans.
"There's a shortage of money out there in the world at the moment it seems.
"Although Sunderland have signed a few players most clubs have not really been spending like they used to and I think they will be spending less and less.
"I can see it getting tighter. Wages have gone up, expenses are higher. Lots of people involved in businesses are struggling.
"And clubs are selling players who, not long ago, you wouldn't expect them to sell.
"They are players you thought they wanted to keep so that they could push on and push on - and build.
"Suddenly it has gone the opposite way and one or two other clubs have come in and taken the opportunity to strengthen.
"For me, as I keep saying, it will be the toughest Premier League ever. Look at the other sides.
"Sunderland are a possible top 10 team this season. Stoke have just come up but they will be strong. They showed that in beating Villa.
"But certain clubs will still spend, certain owners have mega money.
"Our owner has been fantastic and given us great backing but he knows he's got to balance the books.
"If you buy people you've got to sell others to pay for them - that's how it should be, really.
"At Pompey I suppose that, in the long term we've also got to finance a new training ground and, in time, a new stadium as well.
"We only hold 20,000 people now. We've got to be sensible but we pay good wages here and and if I can get a couple more loans in before the deadline I will."
With Niko Kranjcar ruled out long term after an ankle operation, Redknapp may again have to patch up his side at Goodison Park, although striker Jermain Defoe is getting over a virus that put him out of training on Thursday.
The manager said: "It would be nice to get a point, nice to get three points but it's a long season and even Tottenham will probably still have no points after going to Chelsea on Sunday - and they won't go down either."
Redknapp admits he might still let his heart rule his head over playing with two strikers away from home.
He said: "Crouch and Defoe will get goals, no worry, but there will be some games we will have to play 4-5-1 away which worked well for us last season.
"But how can I buy two international strikers and then drop Defoe in the first game at Chelsea? You can imagine what would be said."
Redknapp warns Pompey's first adventure into Europe will be tough after being drawn in the UEFA Cup against Vitoria Guimaraes, who finished third in Portugal last season.
He said: "That's a tough league so they can't be bad."
Pompey, who were seeded in the draw, will have the disadvantage of playing the second leg away from home - two weeks after the initial meeting at Fratton Park on September 18.
