Man City drop 130 Premier League charges verdict hint as major transfer decision made

Manchester City are not prepared to offer relegation clauses to January transfers amid their ongoing legal battle with the Premier League. Pep Guardiola's side are facing the idea of being kicked out of the top flight via a mega points deduction if they are found guilty of any of the most serious of the 130 charges against them.

A decision on the independent tribunal is expected in the spring following a 12-week hearing which concluded in December. Throughout the process, City have continued to insist that they are innocent. And the club have been preparing for the future as normal at the Etihad as they prepare to sign players.

There has been some speculation that City might have to include guarantees to new signings or current stars penning new contracts to guard against the worst-case scenario: relegation. However, according to The Mirror, no such provisions are going to be put in place as Guardiola prepares a rebuild.

City are closing in on their first recruit this winter after agreeing a £33.6million deal for Lens defender Abdukodir Khusanov. The 20-year-old has emerged as one of the most talented youngsters in Europe for his performances at Lens and is set to become the first Uzbekistan native to play in the Premier League.

Teenage Argentine attacking midfielder Claudio Echeverri has already arrived in a transfer that could reach £12.75m, while City are also trying to bring Eintracht Frankfurt's Omar Marmoush to the Etihad. Marmoush, 25, is rated at around £60m and has scored 19 goals and added 12 assists in 25 matches this season.

A central midfielder is another position City want to strengthen following Rodri's Anterior Cruciate Ligament injury, with Atalanta's Ederson and Real Sociedad's Martin Zubimendi