Exclusive: Man City can lose £300m as PSR status revealed – ‘Do what they want’
Man City are showing no signs of slowing down in the transfer market as the club looks to overhaul Pep Guardiola’s squad.
That is according to football finance expert Dan Plumley, who told Football Insider exclusively it was hard to know when the Sky Blues would hit their financial limit, because “ultimately clubs will do what they want”.
In the summer of 2024, City signed winger Savinho and brought back Ilkay Gundogan after a sojourn in Barcelona, and what followed was their worst season under Guardiola’s stewardship.
Although they ultimately finished third in the Premier League table, the Sky Blues finished 13 points behind champions Liverpool and finished the season without any major silverware.
City reacted by signing Omar Marmoush, Nico Gonzalez and a trio of young defenders in January, and have made use of FIFA’s new transfer window this summer.
The Sky Blues will head to the USA to compete in the revamped Club World Cup (CWC) with Rayan Cherki, Rayan Ait-Nouri, Tijjani Reijnders, and Marcus Bettinelli as new additions.
But in a world where the Premier League’s profit and sustainability rules (PSR) dominate each and every transfer window, City look set to continue spending without concern.
Man City can afford £300m loss without PSR sanction
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, finance expert Plumley broke down City’s spending in the last two windows.
The senior lecturer from Sheffield Hallam University said that it was difficult to estimate exactly how much the club can afford to lose, but cited The Athletic‘s PSR report whilst estimating the club could make losses of near “£300million and still be compliant”.
Plumley said: “In terms of how much they can more they can spend, it’s difficult to estimate that figure, because ultimately clubs will do what they want sometimes in that regard.
“But I think if you look at City through the lens of what could they afford to lose based on PSR, that figure on some good professional estimates, and looking at the numbers, and The Athletic have done reports on this as well, would suggest that City can lose in the most recent accounting period somewhere near £300million and still be compliant.
“That’s not a good indicator of what they could spend, but it’s a good indicator that they’re okay with PSR.”
Man City star Jack Grealish linked with Everton switch
Former Everton CEO Keith Wyness told Football Insider that Everton are one of the teams in the race for Jack Grealish this summer.
Whilst City are unlikely to face any sort of PSR trouble this summer, by Plumley’s accounts, the Sky Blues will likely be keen to be rid of the 29-year-old’s hefty wages.
Grealish started just seven Premier League games last season and has not been included in the club’s CWC squad.
With the arrival of Cherki, the England international has fallen further down the pecking order at the Etihad, given the overlap in the positions played by the duo.