Could Manchester City be relegated? The club's possible sanction revealed

The 'trial of the century' is getting closer to its conclusion, and at Manchester City, they are optimistic about their possible sanction. The club is being investigated for alleged financial irregularities and violations of the 'fair play' rules of the Premier League, and the verdict from the independent Commission overseeing the case is expected to be revealed in March, if all goes as planned.

In this regard, 'The Athletic' has reported that calm prevails at Etihad Stadium, where they trust that the consequences of the investigation will not escalate. The Mancunians are preparing to pay a hefty fine, a minor issue for a state-owned club, and they breathe a sigh of relief as they assume that administrative relegation, or any punishment of such magnitude, is completely ruled out.

The renewal of Haaland, the key factor

The main indicator that City is not facing a serious sanction is the renewal of Erling Haaland. The Norwegian extended his contract with the club until 2034 and this decisive decision suggests that the 'skyblue' entity is aware that their penalty will not be as severe as was speculated at one point.

In fact, the movements of the 'citizens' in this winter market make it clear that the institution is not very worried. The Mancunians have initiated a squad renewal plan and are on track to make an investment of over 200 million euros to finalize the signings of stars like Marmoush, Reis, Cambiaso, or Khusanov.

Moreover, the extension of Pep Guardiola's contract until 2027 only confirms the institution's confidence in the resolution of the courts, so in the coming weeks, a 'soap opera' that, against all odds, will have a favorable outcome for the 'skyblues' is expected to conclude.