Erling Haaland and his Manchester City teammates do not have relegation release clauses in their contracts, talkSPORT understands.
On Friday, Man City were found guilty of the overwhelming majority of the 115 charges they faced relating to breaches of the Premier League’s financial rules.
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Haaland in the Championship?
And the potential sanctions against the club, which have yet to be determined, include a points deduction so hefty it would effectively relegate them from the top flight – or worse.
talkSPORT also understands the EFL, who administer the second to fourth tiers of English football, are prepared to try and keep City out of their competitions if necessary.
And one of the numerous big questions right now is where would relegation leave City’s star players?
With no relegation clauses, the club wouldn’t have to let players go on the cheap, but it’s almost inconceivable that the likes of Haaland, Ruben Dias and Gianluigi Donnarumma would be content with anything less than Premier League and Champions League football.
As such, were City to find themselves dropping down to the Championship or lower, one would expect a whole raft of big-name departures.
talkSPORT previously reported that Barcelona were keen on signing Haaland.
The three-time Premier League Golden Boot-winning striker still has eight years left on his contract at the Etihad Stadium, having agreed a lengthy extension last year.
Indeed, according to Transfermarkt, only two senior City players are set to become free agents at the end of this season: Mateo Kovacic and Marcus Bettinelli.
However, it could be some time yet before City are faced with the nightmarish situation of having to sell their stars.
It’s anticipated that the club will appeal against whatever punishment may come their way, meaning the saga could rumble on for months if not years yet.
City chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak continues to maintain the club’s innocence.
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‘So much noise’ around City
In a letter to fans on Saturday, he wrote: “Following Friday’s media reporting, many of you will have spent your evening answering questions and responding to messages from friends, family and colleagues. So have I. Here’s what I said to my family: The Premier League process still has a long way to run, and our confidence and intent in proving the Club’s innocence is just as strong as when this began.
“There are so many things that I would like to be able to share with you to help you understand why we feel so confident in our position. But the strict confidentiality of the legal process and our determination to respect it means I cannot do that at the moment. Even this letter underwent several legal checks to make sure it complies.
“I ask you to please carefully read the statement below, which we gave on Friday, and the statement we issued in February 2023 (also below). Every word matters and holds true.
“While some people have been quick to reach their own conclusions, and there is so much noise swirling around us, nothing has changed. We have faced challenges together before and have prevailed. There remain many who want to undermine the momentum of our Club. We will not give them that opportunity.”
Top of the Premier League as it paused for the international break, City return to action with a trip to Liverpool on October 11.
