2025 could be one of the most important in Manchester City's history.

January will determine if they can find a replacement for Rodri or add reinforcements to their injury-hit squad, and form must improve quickly on the pitch to ensure Champions League football is played both after the League Phase this season and next season in general.

City have gone into new years outside of the top four before and won the title, so securing that target shouldn't be a concern, even if it is equally at serious risk. That is why 2025 has so much riding on it. It could have been the year Pep Guardiola left and was replaced, but the manager has committed to two more years.

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There will be one high profile exit as Txiki Begiristain departs in the summer, when Hugo Viana will replace him. That transition will determine how successful City's rebuild is with some big names coming to the end of their careers.

Kevin De Bruyne is out of contract in the summer, as is Ilkay Gundogan (who does have a year option), while replacements will be needed at right-back, centre-back and midfield in coming transfer windows.

On De Bruyne, contract talks are yet to begin and both parties must decide whether the time is right to end a brilliant partnership or if it is worth continuing. Whatever decision is made, you get the sense it will be done respectfully and without fanfare.

A new midfielder would help that transition, too. The club have money to spend after another year of profit, while Champions League progress will further boost the budget.

Another lucrative money-maker will be the FIFA Club World Cup, where City head to the USA in June to defend their title. Progression from the group looks likely, with the prize for finishing top almost certainly a path to the final that avoids Real Madrid.

City might think the Premier League is beyond them and it probably is. The FA Cup and Club World Cup are not, though, while they could in theory end 2025 with five trophies aside from the Premier League - however unlikely that may be.

So City will hope for another year where they will boost their trophy cabinet, retain their title as World Champions, and also find solutions to their ageing players in key positions, not a quick fix, but getting the work started is crucial.

And finally to the reason why 2025 is set to be the most consequential in a long time. Those 115 charges.

The independent panel has heard all the arguments and is expected to deliver a verdict on whether City broke the financial rules they are accused of breaching. The consequences at their worst could send shockwaves through the Premier League and beyond, while exoneration would only open up another can of worms and any verdict will only start a new process of appeals and counter-claims.

But after waiting so long for an answer on the biggest story in the history of the Premier League, this looks set to be the year where we find out. And what fun awaits us when we do.