Man City stick two fingers up to Premier League again as wait for 115 charges verdict goes on

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Manchester City continue to stick two fingers up to the Premier League. What other conclusion can be drawn, considering the club's mind-boggling spending on new talent in the last 12 months?

City have completed the £30m signing of Marc Guehi from Crystal Palace, in a move that will see the club take their spending since New Year's Day, 2025, to not far short of half a billion pounds.

Which is astonishingly brazen and hard-faced, considering the circumstances City continue to find themselves in. Ah yes, the on-going investigation into 115 alleged breaches of the financial rules.

The whole episode has now taken so long to conclude, it resembles a modern day version of 'War & Peace'. City have been at war with the Premier League since it hit the club with the charges back in February, 2023.

And despite this seismic moment coming a few weeks shy of being three years ago, no peace is close to being found. The inquiry has concluded, but no verdict has been announced.

Some have even claimed it could be another 12 month before the footballing world discovers if the former English champions have cheated or not.

In the meantime, City continue to operate as normal. Like nothing has happened. The club strenuously deny any wrongdoing, so why wouldn't they? But the scenario involving all concerned is now a farcical.

It is just not normal. It is such a bad look. City have spent almost £100m in this window alone. The billionaires continue to flex their financial muscles, in pursuit of another title in what could well turn out to be Pep Guardiola's final season at the Etihad.

In just over 12 months, Guardiola has made 14 signings. He has overhauled his squad in this time. A reaction to finishing last season without a single piece of silverware. The first time City had failed to land a trophy in eight years.

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Because these two clubs don't stand accused of breaking the rules. It has to be pointed out that City are in a strong position financially because they've also made huge profits from selling players. Since 2023 City have generated £350m from sales.

But there is still no escaping the fact that should the club be found guilty of the charges laid at their door, then all the success Guardiola has engineered will have a gigantic Asterix alongside it.

His legacy will be left with a permanent stain. It's just an embarrassing shame the world of football has been left waiting so long to find out the fate of him and his club.

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