Didi Hamann believes that Manchester City’s players will be in contact with the club to get out of their contracts if the club can’t fight the 115 charges against them.

Manchester City are currently appealing their 115 charges after lodging that on Friday. That followed the Premier League announcing that they had been found guilty of all the claims against them.

They accused Manchester City of setting up ‘sham’ contracts to boost their financial growth over an extended period, which led their success under the current regime.

While the appeal process is now underway, the attention is on what sanctions may be handed down by the Premier League’s experts.

They have previously handed a 10-point deduction to Everton, later reduced to six on appeal, and a four-point deduction to Nottingham Forest. Everton were then later handed a two-point deduction for a second, smaller PSR breach.

Manchester City punishment

Manchester City Champions League
Manchester City in simpler times, lifting the Champions League trophy and completing the treble

Some feel that has set a precedent for Manchester City, who many feel should face huge points deductions and financial penalties as well.

Whether that happens, remains to be seen. But it would lead to a tight financial future in which Manchester City would need to sell off their biggest stars to help balance the books. And Hamann believes that players at the Etihad will already be asking questions.

“It could certainly have an impact,” he told Sky Germany regarding the ‘financial turmoil’ at City.

“Given the talk of forced relegation; in my opinion, the minimum penalty they’ll face is a massive points deduction. That might ultimately lead to relegation.

“Naturally, the players and their agents will be in close contact with City’s management right now, because this affects every single player…”.

Manchester City vs Liverpool: Premier League finishes over 15 seasons

 
Season Manchester City Liverpool
2011/12 1st — Champions 8th
2012/13 2nd 7th
2013/14 1st — Champions 2nd
2014/15 2nd 6th
2015/16 4th 8th
2016/17 3rd 4th
2017/18 1st — Champions 4th
2018/19 1st — Champions 2nd
2019/20 2nd 1st — Champions
2020/21 1st — Champions 3rd
2021/22 1st — Champions 2nd
2022/23 1st — Champions 5th
2023/24 1st — Champions 3rd
2024/25 3rd 1st — Champions
2025/26 2nd 5th
Final Premier League positions for the last 15 completed seasons.
The ongoing 2026/27 season is excluded.

Liverpool vs Manchester City

Hamann, like everyone else, will be watching on as Manchester City head to Liverpool this weekend. That seems destined to be one of the Premier League’s most iconic games.

It is almost iconic that Enzo Maresca’s side are heading to Anfield at this point. It was Liverpool who were arguably their biggest rivals during the period of their alleged period of financial doping.

The former midfielder has a vested interest in such a game. He made 283 appearances for Liverpool from 1999 to 2006. He then moved on to Manchester City, where he made 71 appearances over three years.

However, he’s happy to admit that it’s the Reds who have his heart in this game.

“That was the longest spell of my career—the most successful one—at Liverpool,” he added.

“And that is naturally why Liverpool holds the biggest place in my heart among my former clubs. (…) I’d say that, across the whole of England, this is probably the biggest match right now.”

What division will Manchester City be in next season?

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Sean Lunt
Experienced football journalist who has worked in the industry since 2015, specialising in transfer stories from across the world’s media. His career spans digital newsrooms, live match coverage, long‑form features and statistical analysis, with a particular focus on Premier League and European football. Sean has become an expert in how the football transfer business works and his reporting often brings clarity to fans. A long‑suffering Everton fan, he approaches every window with optimism and caution in equal measure.