Pep Guardiola has revealed that Manchester City expects to hear a verdict on its 115 charges next month. Liverpool will be among a host of clubs waiting intently for the outcome.

The hearing into the charges - brought about by the Premier League for alleged financial rule breaches - took place in front of an independent commission between September and December. City has strongly denied the charges, although it could face a hefty punishment if found guilty.

The commission has unlimited powers and could therefore hand down a huge punishment if City is found to have breached the rules. That could include a massive points deduction, or even relegation.

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A date for a verdict has not been given, although it has been mooted to arrive before the end of the current season, with Guardiola confirming that the club expects it next month. The City boss broached the subject when discussing the club’s big spending during the January transfer window, with questions being asked as to whether it was triggered by a fear of a potential transfer ban.

"In one month, I think there will be a verdict and a sentence," Guardiola said. "After that, we will see my opinion of what happened so far."

Furthermore, Guardiola denied that City’s January spending - which totalled $223m (£180m/€216m), the second-biggest spend in a mid-season window for a Premier League club - was anything more than a case of strengthening his squad as they look to claw their way back into the top four in the Premier League.

"My words will not convince people," he said. "I know with this club it is always 'just about the money'.

"But in the past five years, we are the last among the top six for net spend. Even after what we have spent in this transfer window, we are away from Chelsea, (Manchester) United, Arsenal, Tottenham. Even from Liverpool. The only reason why is we sell a lot in the last seasons."

Guardiola’s comments come as City launches a new legal action against the Premier League. According to the BBC, which has seen a letter sent out by Premier League chief Richard Masters to the rest of the clubs in the top flight, City believes new rules governing sponsorship deals are "void".

The Premier League implemented the rules in order to prevent clubs from profiting from commercial deals such as ones involving companies linked to their owners that are deemed to be above "fair market value". Last year, an independent arbitration panel found some aspects of the Associated Party Transaction regulations to be unlawful after City took it to court.