Man City drop 130 Premier League charges verdict hint as major transfer decision made
Manchester City are not prepared to offer relegation clauses to January transfers amid their ongoing legal battle with the Premier League. Pep Guardiola's side are facing the idea of being kicked out of the top flight via a mega points deduction if they are found guilty of any of the most serious of the 130 charges against them.
A decision on the independent tribunal is expected in the spring following a 12-week hearing which concluded in December. Throughout the process, City have continued to insist that they are innocent. And the club have been preparing for the future as normal at the Etihad as they prepare to sign players.
There has been some speculation that City might have to include guarantees to new signings or current stars penning new contracts to guard against the worst-case scenario: relegation. However, according to The Mirror, no such provisions are going to be put in place as Guardiola prepares a rebuild.
READ MORE: I didn't expect what Man City fans did vs Salford as Gary Neville and Kevin De Bruyne sent message
City are closing in on their first recruit this winter after agreeing a £33.6million deal for Lens defender Abdukodir Khusanov. The 20-year-old has emerged as one of the most talented youngsters in Europe for his performances at Lens and is set to become the first Uzbekistan native to play in the Premier League.
Teenage Argentine attacking midfielder Claudio Echeverri has already arrived in a transfer that could reach £12.75m, while City are also trying to bring Eintracht Frankfurt's Omar Marmoush to the Etihad. Marmoush, 25, is rated at around £60m and has scored 19 goals and added 12 assists in 25 matches this season.
A central midfielder is another position City want to strengthen following Rodri's Anterior Cruciate Ligament injury, with Atalanta's Ederson and Real Sociedad's Martin Zubimendi reportedly emerging as targets. Former City midfielder Douglas Luiz has been spoken about as a possible loan signing, having only joined Juventus in the summer.
However, it is claimed that any signings will not be offered relegation clauses in their contracts - giving the biggest indication yet that City believe they will not face a nightmare punishment. A verdict is expected later this year, although there may subsequently also be a further appeal trial.
Having endured a five-game winless run, City have returned to form in recent times, winning each of their last three matches, scoring 15 goals and conceding just one. They romped past League Two side Salford City 8-0 at the Etihad on Saturday, with James McAtee scoring his first club hat-trick.
Speaking after the win over Salford, Guardiola revealed that Kyle Walker has asked to leave the club. The 34-year-old has 18 months left to run on his contract and has been linked with a move to Bayern Munich. "Two days ago Kyle asked to explore the options to play abroad," said Guardiola.
"We cannot understand [what] the club did these years without Kyle. It's impossible. He's been our right-back, giving us something we didn't have. But now in his mind, for many reasons, he would like to explore if he can go to another country to play his last years."
