Manchester City know that a number of clubs, both at home and abroad, have started to look at their star players. If Man City are found guilty of 115 financial charges by the Independent Committee, rivals will immediately jump in to lure these stars.
The Citizens insist they have “irrefutable evidence” that will prove their innocence at the hearing, which began last Monday. But that hasn’t stopped other clubs from plotting moves to snatch the likes of Erling Haaland, Rodri, Kevin De Bruyne and Phil Foden if Man City are hit with sanctions.
Man City chief executive Ferran Soriano called the players together after the allegations were made in February 2023. He insisted the team would be innocent. But the incident remains a hot topic of discussion in the Premier League champions' dressing room.
Several players' representatives are also in contact with the Man City board for clarification. However, as the Independent Committee is keeping all information confidential, Man City cannot provide anything else, other than to constantly reiterate their stance.
In the worst case scenario, the Etihad outfit could be expelled from the Premier League. There are also other tournaments such as the Champions League, FA Cup and Carabao Cup, along with the FIFA Club World Cup in the United States next summer. As Guardiola said before the Arsenal game: "It's like people expect us not only to be relegated, they want us to disappear from the face of the earth."
Man City's decision not to spend big in the transfer market this summer has led to speculation that they are preparing for some significant shock.
The fact that Guardiola's contract expires at the end of the season also adds to the uncertainty at the Etihad, with the Spaniard a key figure in securing the future of his players.
At an executive level, Man City insist it is business as usual as they continue work on the £300m redevelopment of the North Stand, which will increase the stadium's capacity to more than 60,000.
With Real Madrid interested in Rodri, The Citizens are also ready to offer the 28-year-old a new, more lucrative contract. The Spanish midfielder's income will be close to the stars currently earning the most money at Man City, Haaland and De Bruyne.
Man City are also keen to reward Haaland for his incredible goalscoring record with a new contract, while another offer will be made for De Bruyne if the Belgian can maintain his form.
