Triple update provided in new report on Manchester City’s 115 Premier League charges | OneFootball

A new report has delivered a trio of updates surrounding Manchester City’s 115 charges issued by the Premier League, and their impact on certain aspects of the club.

City were first formally charged and referred to an independent commission back in February 2023 following a four-year investigation, with it being alleged by the top-flight that they had breached financial rules between 2009 and 2018.

In direct response, and in a stance maintained today with the independent hearing now ongoing, Manchester City strongly deny all charges and have also said that their case is supported by a “comprehensive body of irrefutable evidence”.

The Premier League further claimed that Manchester City breached rules requiring the club to provide “accurate financial information that gives a true and fair view of the club’s financial position”, further accusing the club of not co-operating.

The independent hearing into the matter started lasted month and is expected to run for a total of around 12 weeks, with a decision date now mooted in a new report highlighting the ongoing feeling within the Etihad Stadium around the matter.

According to a new report from The Athletic this week, a verdict on Manchester City’s 115 charges case involving the Premier League is expected ‘before the end of the year’. It is stressed that is has also ‘not been much of a factor at all’ in changes at the club in recent days.

Offering insight into how the charges have affected new signings and contractual negotiations with players, The Athletic reports that there have been no clauses inserted into new signings’ deals related to, for example, any potential relegation as, or as a result of, their punishment.

It is further revealed that in most cases, the charges are not even brought up during negotiations, unless it is by an agent, at which points it is stressed by the club that ‘there is nothing to worry about’ and to get on with the job.

But how could the charges possibly impact Pep Guardiola’s own future at the club?

The Athletic points towards ‘sources who know Guardiola’, who believe if City were to be found guilty and severely punished, it would make it more likely he would sign a new deal partly out of defiance and not leaving a club he has come to love in a difficult spot.

For now, Manchester City will continue to allow Pep Guardiola the necessary time and space to make a decision, and should he decide to end his stay at the club naturally upon the expiry of his contract, they will likely have a successor lined up.

In recent days and weeks, the subject of Sporting CP boss Ruben Amorim has been raised on multiple occasions, largely thanks to the Portuguese side’s Director of Football, Hugo Viana succeeding Txiki Begiristain at the Etihad from the end of the ongoing season.

Whilst the Portuguese pair have a strong professional and personal relationship, Manchester City also have similar admiration for the achievements of Xabi Alonso at Bayer Leverkusen, and would be keen to understand whether the Spaniard would be interested in the job, too.