The potential loss of Manchester City’s Premier League titles has led to various rivals contemplating the honours that could be up for grabs. With the club now facing serious repercussions on multiple counts, discussions are rife about what this could mean for clubs that finished as runners-up during the affected seasons.
This could mean a historic shift, with calls arising to nullify City’s titles and distribute the medals to those teams that finished second:
- Manchester United — for the 2011/12, 2017/18, and 2020/21 seasons;
- Liverpool — for the 2013/14, 2018/19, and 2021/22 seasons;
- Arsenal — for the 2022/23 and 2023/24 seasons.
As teams weigh up a chance to find unexpected new recipients of gold medals, we take a look at 15 players who could find themselves inadvertently recognised if their titles vanish. Each featured player has made at least five appearances in the Premier League during the respective seasons (the league's standard criteria for medal eligibility).
Yago Aspas (Liverpool, 2013/14)
The forward is currently enjoying an emotional chapter at Celta, where he has been honoured with a stand named after him and plans for a statue are underway for his achievements. A retrospective Premier League medal would be a delightful bonus for Aspas, who featured in 14 matches for Liverpool that season without finding the net. The Reds thrived on the explosive partnership of Luis Suarez and Daniel Sturridge, who scored over 50 goals between them, leaving Aspas struggling to make his mark in English football.
Alexis Sanchez and Henrikh Mkhitaryan (Manchester United, 2017/18)
Synonymous with one of the most infamous swaps in Premier League history, their mid-season trade stands as a testament to failed aspirations. Yet, both players clocked enough appearances for the Reds that season to stake a claim for medals should City face sanctions.
Rob Holding (Arsenal, 2022/23)
The defender spent seven years with the Gunners, finally lifting silverware in 2023 before departing from the Emirates. Having only once played more than half of the league matches in a season, Holding's final campaign saw him make 14 appearances (six as a starter) before going on to join Crystal Palace, where he made no Premier League appearances in the months that followed.
Daniel James (Manchester United, 2020/21)
The Welshman's move to Old Trafford in 2019 was an audacious leap, but he managed to start 11 times in the 2020/21 season, scoring three goals and meeting the threshold for a champion's medal before transferring to Leeds United.
A product of the Anfield academy, Kelly later proved a valuable addition for Crystal Palace. However, he could have exited Liverpool as a title winner in that memorable campaign, featuring in five matches — all as a substitute.
Jon Flanagan (Liverpool, 2013/14)
Flanagan emerged as a breakout star during the 2013/14 season, amassing 23 league appearances and even earning an England cap. Unfortunately, injuries derailed his career, and after loan spells with Burnley and Bolton, he was released in 2018 at just 29.
Ally Cissokho (Liverpool, 2013/14)
The French full-back had a fleeting spell on loan in Liverpool, starting only 12 times amid stiff competition for places. Cissokho struggled for game time and eventually moved on to Aston Villa, where he experienced relegation shortly after.
Alex Telles (Manchester United, 2020/21)
Initially arriving from Porto with considerable fanfare, the Brazilian left-back soon fell victim to the traps of expectation. His debut season saw him make just nine appearances in the league, enough for a medal should titles be redistributed.
Axel Tuanzebe (Manchester United, 2020/21)
Tuanzebe played a mere one match in the 2017/18 season. However, he managed to clock up nine appearances in 2020/21, failing to break into the starting line-up even after numerous loan spells at clubs such as Aston Villa, Napoli, and Stoke City, subsequently joining Ipswich Town.
Albert Sambi Lokonga (Arsenal, 2022/23)
The Belgian midfielder joined the Gunners in 2021 but struggled to adapt to the team's rising standards. By his second season, he made six Premier League appearances before heading off on loan to Crystal Palace, followed by relegation with Luton Town and a difficult stint with Sevilla in Spain.
Takumi Minamino (Liverpool, 2021/22)
The Japanese winger shone brightly with Red Bull Salzburg in the Champions League but failed to become a fixture in Liverpool's line-up. His best spell came during a loan at Southampton, and following his return to Anfield, he played 11 matches in the 2021/22 campaign.
Donny van de Beek (Manchester United, 2020/21)
A symbol of untapped potential stemming from Ajax's 2019 semi-final side, the Dutchman participated in half of the games in his maiden season in England under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. Following a few years riddled with underutilization and numerous unfruitful loan moves, the midfielder was eventually offloaded by the club in the summer of 2024 for a modest sum of €500,000.
Luis Alberto (Liverpool, 2013/14)
The Spanish midfielder had a fleeting time in England, with just nine appearances off the bench and no involvement in the decisive late stages of that title race. He later blossomed into a key figure at Lazio in Italy.
Reiss Nelson (Arsenal, 2022/23 and 2023/24)
This winger holds the chance to be a two-time Premier League champion, featuring in 11 league matches (all from the bench) in 2022/23 and then 15 times (with just one start) the following year. Ironically, by the time Arsenal potentially clinched their title, Nelson was already on loan at Brentford.
