Rumours surrounding the verdict on Manchester City's financial breaches have stirred the football community once again. Insider David Ornstein from The Athletic, who first broke the news on the proceedings, has stoked the imaginations of English fans, suggesting the 'Citizens' might not feature in the Premier League next season. Found guilty on nearly all counts, City is preparing an appeal, but specific sanctions have yet to be confirmed. British media are even hinting at the possibility of relegation through the divisions. While legal procedures and political leverage could lead to a transfer ban or a hefty financial penalty instead of expulsion from the top tier, the hypothetical scenario of the club dropping to the Championship or lower forces us to consider the fates of key players.
If a strict scenario unfolds, the star-studded roster of the 'Citizens' is likely to be scattered among Europe's leading clubs.
Gianluigi Donnarumma – Chelsea, Bayern Munich, PSG
The Italian goalkeeper is among the five highest earners in the squad, meaning any transfer would require meeting his wage demands and a strong need for a first-choice keeper. Chelsea, traditionally not shy about spending, have suffered from goalkeeping errors in recent seasons. After Xabi Alonso parted ways with Robert Sanchez, his replacement, 34-year-old Emiliano Martinez, hasn’t offered the stability needed. At just 27, Donnarumma could solidify the position for years to come. For Bayern, signing the Italian would provide a fitting farewell for the 40-year-old Manuel Neuer, with 23-year-old Jonas Urbig waiting in the wings. A return to PSG remains a fallback option if Luis Enrique softens his position, as the Parisians have failed to find a proper replacement for Donnarumma.
Ruben Dias – Chelsea, Real Madrid, Barcelona
In Xabi Alonso's 3-4-3 formation, defenders of Dias' calibre would fit perfectly, and Chelsea are well-positioned to compete financially for such an experienced leader. In Spain, the interest makes sense from both sides. Barcelona, who seem to have sorted their financial troubles, would gain a defender ideally suited to their possession-based game. Meanwhile, Real Madrid is desperate, having been unable to resolve defensive issues for several seasons due to the shortcomings of their current players.
Marc Guehi – Liverpool, Real Madrid
Liverpool's interest in Guehi hinges on the club’s hierarchy. His transfer from Crystal Palace fell through last summer at the last moment due to a veto from Oliver Glasner, and it seems the parties agreed to wait until 2026. However, the defender made a swift move to Manchester City in the winter. Real Madrid also kept Guehi on their shortlist during his time in London.
Abdukodir Husainov – Bayern Munich, Inter Milan
The young and dynamic defender needs to continue gaining experience, and the Bundesliga appears to be the ideal platform. Borussia Dortmund likely wouldn't afford both the transfer fee and the salary (currently a relatively modest 6.7 million euros per year in Manchester), but Bayern or Inter, where high-quality defenders are typically in demand, seem like more realistic destinations.
Josko Gvardiol – Real Madrid, Bayern Munich
Last summer, Real Madrid was ready to engage in a bidding war for the Croatian if he faced difficulties renewing his contract with Manchester City. The Madrid side has been looking for a left-footed defender capable of playing centrally and covering the left flank, weighing up their options between Gvardiol and Riccardo Calafiori from Arsenal. Bayern have been tracking Josko since his standout performances at RB Leipzig, making their interest entirely reasonable.
Nico O'Reilly – Arsenal
The Englishman, with experience playing at left-back and in midfield, would be a natural fit for Mikel Arteta. The Spaniard appreciates versatility, positional play, physical strength, and solid aerial ability, which is highly beneficial during set pieces. Having English citizenship only adds to O'Reilly's appeal.
Elliot Anderson – Manchester United, Liverpool, Chelsea
Top clubs were eyeing the midfielder last summer but hesitated to engage in a bidding war for the £130 million that Manchester City paid. All three clubs still require a pure holding midfielder with English nationality. Manchester United has filled the role with Carlos Baleba, Andre Santos, and Youri Tielemans, yet the Brazilian has yet to impress while the Belgian isn’t seen as a long-term solution. Liverpool lacks a specialist destroyer, using Ryan Gravenberch in a box-to-box role, while Chelsea has faced a shortage after losing Enzo Fernandez and missing out on Lamine Kamara, forcing Alonso to push Reece James further up the pitch.
Enzo Fernandez – Real Madrid, PSG
No one in England would be willing to match Fernandez's hefty wage of 21 million euros per year, with only Erling Haaland earning more at Manchester City. The only real contenders are the summer suitors: Real Madrid, who didn’t secure a central midfielder, and PSG, who sought either a replacement or a strong competitor for the 30-year-old Fabian Ruiz.
Ayub Boadi – Manchester United, Liverpool, Real Madrid, PSG
The young talent could be beneficial under various circumstances: at Manchester United, he could expect immediate first-team involvement and regular game time, while at Liverpool, Real Madrid, or PSG, he would likely start as a rotation player amidst stiff competition in a top club environment.
Ryan Cherki – Bayern Munich
Clubs in the Premier League that suit the Frenchman's playing style already have a full quota of players in his position. Real Madrid rotate between Jude Bellingham and Arda Güler, while Barcelona has Dani Olmo and Fermín López. Bayern formally has enough attacking midfielders, but with Jamal Musiala injury-prone, Ismaël Sayberry regarded as a striker, and Serge Gnabry now 31, only 18-year-old Lennart Karl poses a potential obstacle, yet this shouldn't be a significant issue.
Jeremy Doku – Arsenal
The Gunners parted ways with two left wingers last summer while aiming to recruit a superstar, but negotiations for Vinicius Junior and Morgan Rogers fell through. As it stands, Arteta has only Christos Dzolis in his ranks, potentially backed up by Eberechi Eze or left-footed Noni Madueke. The squad's shortage makes Doku an appealing option, even if he doesn't entirely solve the issues regarding weak finishing and a lack of goals.
Iliman Ndiaye – Manchester United, Tottenham, Atletico, clubs from Saudi Arabia
Manchester United, Spurs, and Atletico all showed interest in the forward last summer but lost out to Manchester City. If the club were to face relegation, the queue of European giants lining up for the Senegalese is unlikely to form. Realistically, his career prospects may involve wrestling for survival or joining a struggling second-tier club or a lucrative move to Saudi side Al-Hilal.
Antoine Semenyo – Liverpool, Manchester United, Chelsea
English clubs have previously tussled over the Ghanaian. Liverpool could use a boost on the right flank, while Manchester United needs depth on the left, and Semenyo’s versatility plays to both strengths. For Chelsea, the player is attractive as he has operated as a wing-back and can seamlessly integrate into Xabi Alonso's demanding system thanks to his speed and endurance.
Erling Haaland – Barcelona, Bayern Munich, Real Madrid, PSG
He is the main figure on the transfer market. Among Barcelona fans, theories are swirling that the signing of Julian Alvarez was merely a temporary cover while the club waits for the chance to snatch the Norwegian and form a partnership with Lamine Yamal and Raphinha. Haaland would be an ideal long-term replacement for Bayern's 33-year-old Harry Kane. PSG still lacks a top-quality out-and-out number nine (Ferrán Torres and Ousmane Dembélé don’t fit that bill). Finally, Real Madrid, who loves to acquire the biggest stars of a generation, could be tempted to offload Kylian Mbappé or Vinicius Junior to restore balance to their attack with the addition of Haaland.
