City probe goes deeper but De Jong still in sight
MANCHESTER: Manchester City face a number of investigations after leaked emails revealed how they tried to get around UEFA’s Financial Fair Play restrictions — but it is unlikely to halt their transfer expenditure with Ajax’s Frenkie De Jong lined up for a £50 million (RM271 million) summer move.
City look like beating Manchester United to the signature of the holding midfielder, 21, with the player keen to work with Pep Guardiola. Both clubs also want to convince Ajax teammate Matthijs De Ligt, 19, to join them but the central defender is veering towards a move to Barcelona.
City look likely to spend the coming months dealing with several investigations from football authorities and possibly HM Revenue and Customs.
FIFA will investigate claims City had signed an agreement with Danish club Nordsjaelland and their Right to Dream Academy allowing them to recruit African players for free, which has been reported by Danish newspaper Politiken. FIFA is concerned it might be a breach of rules over third-party ownership.
With further leaks expected this week, Premier League executives will meet in London on Thursday at a scheduled shareholders meeting. While City's accounting practices are not due to be discussed, City’s executives can expect a frosty reception, with several clubs at home and in Europe behind the scenes urging authorities to investigate more fully.
Yesterday, the Premier League issued a statement which read: “The Premier League has a range of financial rules and disclosure obligations that apply to all clubs, and result in ongoing monitoring of club finances.
“If we receive any substantiated material that suggests our rules may have been breached, or relevant information has not been disclosed, we will investigate and have a track record of doing so.
“These processes are confidential and we do not comment publicly unless there is anything substantial to say.”
HM Revenue and Customs say they will be ‘relentless in pursuing’ any football figure or club that avoided tax.
UEFA's Club Financial Control Body would seem obliged to investigate after several commercial deals concluded by City appear to have been funded by Sheik Mansour, City’s owner, which would be a breach of Financial Fair Play rules.