Man City’s fresh stance on potential expulsion as rivals eye Erling Haaland and Phil Foden

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Manchester City are aware that several clubs – both from home and abroad – have started to circle around their star-studded squad to put themselves in a prime position to pounce if the club are punished

Manchester City have been giving Pep Guardiola’s players more assurances that the club will not be booted out of the Premier League.

The reigning champions are aware that several clubs – both from home and abroad – have started to circle around their star-studded squad to put themselves in a prime position to pounce if City are found guilty of fraud by the Independent Commission set up to investigate the 115 charges levelled against them by the league.

City insist that they have “irrefutable evidence” that will prove their innocence at a hearing that started last Monday and is expected to last 10 weeks. But that hasn’t stopped rival clubs from putting plans into place to snatch away big names like Erling Haaland, Rodri, Kevin De Bruyne and Phil Foden should the Blues suffer a significant sanction.

City chief executive Ferran Soriano gathered City’s playing staff together after the charges were laid in February 2023 to tell them that the club would beat the rap. But with the case now being heard by a panel made up of three eminent KCs, the issue has become the talk of the dressing room.

Several player agents have also contacted the club for clarity. But with the commission sitting behind closed doors, the club are unable to give any updates on the hearing other than to reiterate their stance to the players through the manager and his backroom staff.

The commission has unlimited powers of censure should the Premier League’s legal team prove any of the most serious allegations – including banishing the club from the top-flight.

Any guilty verdict could also bring suspensions from the Champions League, FA Cup and Carabao Cup – as well as next summer’s Club World Cup in the United States. As Guardiola suggested ahead of the top-of-the-table clash with Arsenal : “It’s like everyone expects us to not just be relegated – they want us to disappear off the face of the earth.”

City’s decision not to spend big in the transfer market last summer has led to speculation that the club are preparing themselves for some kind of significant hit.

The fact that Guardiola is out of contract at the end of the season is also adding to the uncertainty. But the Catalan has been a key figure in assuring his players that there will be no footballing Armageddon at the club.

At executive level, City insist that it is business as usual as they press ahead with a spectacular £300million redevelopment of the North Stand that would take their stadium capacity beyond 60,000. Etihad bosses are aware that Real Madrid have targeted Ballon d’Or prospect Rodri for a return to the Spanish capital five years after the midfield lynchpin joined City from Atletico.

But the club are ready to offer the 28-year-old a contract extension that would give him parity with £375,000-a-week top earners Haaland and De Bruyne. City also want to reward Haaland for his incredible goals output with a new deal, while an offer will also be made to De Bruyne if the Belgian can prove during the final months of his current contract that he can stay fit.

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