Manchester City could be about to face a period of transition as the hearing into their alleged financial breaches continues, while key figures at the club consider their futures
They may be the dominant force in English football at present, but Manchester City’s long-term prospects look increasingly uncertain.
While City have claimed a victory of sorts over the Premier League after challenging the league’s associated party transaction (APT) rules, the 115 charges over alleged breaches of financial rules are still hanging over the club. The hearing is underway, although an outcome may not arrive until the spring.
If City, who deny all the charges against them, are found guilty, the potential punishments are severe and could even alter the landscape of English football.
Meanwhile, there are question marks over the futures of key members of staff and players, including head coach Pep Guardiola and star striker Erling Haaland. Here’s how a nightmare next 12 months for the Premier League champions could look…
Begiristain leaving
City transfer fixer Txiki Begiristain is set to leave the club at the end of the season, potentially throwing the club’s recruitment strategy up in the air. Begiristain was widely credited for luring compatriot Guardiola to City. Guardiola once remarked: “If Txiki worked for Chelsea, I would probably have called Chelsea.
“When nobody else would take a risk on me, when maybe three per cent of the people at Barca believed in me, he was the one who insisted on my appointment to the first-team. None of this would have been possible without him.”
While the club have time to find a replacement – and they may already have someone in mind – Begiristain will be a hard act to follow.
Guardiola quits
The impending departure of Begiristain raises further questions about the future of Guardiola, who has spent more time at City than his spells in charge of Barcelona and Bayern Munich put together.
It would be natural for the Catalan to be pondering a fresh challenge or even a break. But the departure of a close confidant like Begiristain, plus a negative outcome to the hearing into alleged financial breaches, could hasten his departure.
He could even quit at the end of this season, when his current contract expires. In the summer, Guardiola said he wanted to wait until the season was underway to “look at how everything is going and how connected we are” before making a decision on his future.
GET INVOLVED! Is Man City’s era of domination coming to an end? Tell us in the comments section.
Haaland sold
Haaland’s dad Alf-Inge may not be flavour of the month at the Bernabeu after his spat with supporters last year, but 24-year-old son Erling continues to be linked with Real Madrid, where he could form a fearsome partnership with Kylian Mbappe.
Question marks over Guardiola’s future and, again, the potential ramifications of the 115 charges case, could unsettle the Norwegian to the point of edging him out of the club, who he joined back in 2022 from Borussia Dortmund.
Rodri’s City career over
City’s hopes of retaining the title have been rocked by the long-term injury to Rodri, who is every bit as important to the club as Haaland – perhaps even more so.
With the Spanish midfielder set to miss the rest of the season, it’s conceivable he has played his final game for the club. Again, he could move on in the wake of a negative outcome to the alleged charges case or may just want a change of scene after five years at the Etihad. The 28-year-old is contracted with City until 2027.
115 charges decision
The outcome of the case could hold the key to everything. Found innocent and the club will continue on its merry way, probably collecting more titles.
But worst-case scenario doesn’t bare thinking about for City fans. A deduction of up to 100 points has been mooted, while being booted out of the Premier League and European competition is also possible.
The latter would devastate the club with their plethora of stars – presumably not keen on midway trips to EFL outposts – likely to head for the exit door. It’s impossible to imagine Guardiola managing in the Championship or lower, as fascinating as such a scenario would be.
Join our new WhatsApp community and receive your daily dose of Mirror Football content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don’t like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you’re curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.