Manchester City are facing one of the most difficult moments of their successful era after an independent commission reportedly found the club guilty of 114 of the 115 charges brought by the Premier League for breaching financial rules.
The news was first reported by David Ornstein of The Athletic and has been confirmed by several international media outlets. However, the Premier League has stated that the process remains ongoing and subject to confidentiality, while Manchester City are expected to appeal.
The charges relate to the period 2009-2018 and include allegations of failure to provide accurate financial information, player and coaching payments, Premier League financial sustainability rules and UEFA regulations. The English club has consistently denied the allegations.
The focus has now shifted to sanctions. The commission has yet to determine the punishment and a range of measures could be on the table, from financial fines to points deductions and other sporting sanctions. Expulsion from the Premier League has also been mentioned as one of the measures the regulations could allow, although no such punishment has been imposed so far.
The situation is also being closely monitored by major European clubs. According to "SPORT", Real Madrid is among the teams that are monitoring developments, as a heavy sanction against City could affect the future of some of the Manchester team's players.
The spotlight is on Erling Haaland. The Norwegian forward has long been linked with Real Madrid, although his long-term contract with City and the current situation in Madrid's attack make such a transfer complicated.
Rayan Cherki and Josko Guardiola are also names that have previously been on the Spanish club's radar. Guardiola, meanwhile, recently renewed his contract with Manchester City until 2031.
Another area that could be of interest to Real Madrid is midfield. According to Spanish media reports, some of the players approached by City during the last transfer window have previously been in the spotlight of the Madrid club.
However, there is currently no guarantee that the legal situation will result in any departures from the Etihad. The process is expected to continue with Manchester City's possible appeal and could take a long time.
If the sanctions prove severe, the transfer market could change significantly for the English club. And in this scenario, Real Madrid will be one of the clubs that will monitor the situation closely.
