The unthinkable Man City consequence and five vital questions surrounding Premier League case

Amid so much speculation over Pep Guardiola’s future and now his expected exit after this season, the Manchester City case could yet rumble on for at least six more months, and potentially much more, according to sources with knowledge of the process. The Independent has also been told the independent panel of three judges have not yet made a decision, as the club themselves revealed with the publication of their annual accounts in December. It remains unclear just how much this has influenced Guardiola’s ultimate decision over his immediate future, with Enzo Maresca the expected heir to the Catalan and one of the most successful football dynasties in English football history.

Nobody outside of the panel has any idea of when the judges will actually make a ruling - and it is understood they have also been working on other cases. The initial judgement will likely only be on liability, with a “100 per cent expectation” from those close to the situation that City would strongly appeal any outcome they find unfavourable. City insist on their innocence.

Pep Guardiola leaves Man City – latest: ‘Deal agreed’ with replacement ahead of shock exit announcement Other sources maintain there would only be a narrow grounds for appeal according to Premier League rules, that would take no more than a year, unless there are considerable flaws in the Premier League’s case. The investigation has been the subject of another phase of chatter earlier this season, both for the fact that 2026 represents the ninth year the case has ticked into since the November 2018 Football Leaks, and the manner that the club spent in January. City signed Marc Guehi from Crystal Palace for £35m and then swooped in to bring Antoine Semenyo in from Bournemouth for £62.

5m, it will take net transfer spend since the December 2024 conclusion of the hearing to almost £500m. That irritated some in the Premier League, but it was also been met by a certain fatigue. A number of clubs now just want to get the process over with, especially with how legal fees are believed to be into the tens of millions for both sides.