Manchester City’s potential sanctions could impact the club’s transfer business with the charges against the club having ‘sparked concern’ among transfer targets.
The Premier League released a statement on Monday confirming that City had been charged with more than 100 alleged breaches of financial regulations, following a four-year investigation into the club’s dealings between 2009 and 2018.
If found guilty, the Premier League champions could face a number of sanctions which could reportedly include points deductions or the stripping of past titles. There is also the threat of expulsion from the Premier League, with several top-flight rivals having called for severe punishment if City are found guilty.
The Times are reporting that the uncertain situation at the Etihad has ‘sparked concern’ among a left a number of potential transfer targets.
City want to sign a midfielder this summer and are competing to sign Borussia Dortmund’s Jude Bellingham, while the club also retain an interest in West Ham captain Declan Rice. Pep Guardiola is also keen to strengthen at left-back with Chelsea’s Ben Chilwell said to be a target.
City could also face the prospect of losing Guardiola is found guilty of breaching financial rules. The Spaniard said that he would leave if the club had lied to him about FFP regulations, following a UEFA investigation in 2020.
UEFA banned City from European football for two seasons and fined the club €30m, though the ban was overturned and fine reduced to €10m after an appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
The decision of the court came with some of the alleged breaches viewed as either ‘not established’ or ‘time-barred’, though there is no time bar for the Premier League charges.
