Transfer expert 'mystified' by Man City's Elliot Anderson payout amid 115 charges case
Manchester City's ability to spend £116million on Elliot Anderson while awaiting a verdict on 115 charges should be called into question.
That is the opinion of experienced former Aston Villa, Everton and Tottenham scout, Bryan King, speaking exclusively to Football Insider.
The 23-year-old is expected to sign a five-year contract with the Citizens this week, and will become the most expensive British footballer ever.
Man City's transfer record will also fall to the fee, which comes more than 18 months after the hearing into the 115 charges alleged by the Premier League came to an end.
A verdict is still awaited, with the eight-time Premier League champions accused of a range of financial rule breaches between 2009 and 2018.
If found guilty, Man City could face anything from a fine to a points deduction or even expulsion from the Premier League.
Bryan King questions Elliot Anderson move amid 'court cases'
The Premier League announced that 115 charges were being brought against Man City in relation to alleged breaches of financial rules in February 2023.
Since then, the Citizens have won the Premier League twice, the Champions League, the Carabao Cup and the FA Cup twice.
Anderson's arrival will also take their transfer spending up to around £800m in that time, and more are expected to follow this summer.
While the length of time that is being taken to release a verdict is ultimately outside of the Premier League's control, there is a feeling that a mockery has been made of the attempts to punish Man City for their alleged breaches.
"Football's controlled by TV, whether we like it or not and that's where the money is and that's what provides the money." King told Football Insider.
"But I'm still a little bit mystified with all these court cases hanging over Manchester City that they have the free will to go out and pay that amount of money for a player."
Man City far from finished
Man City were also reportedly eyeing a move for Sandro Tonali, who is now expected to join Tottenham after a £100m deal was agreed.
The Citizens are expected to look elswhere, however, and have been linked with Ayyoub Boudaddi and Eduardo Camavinga.
Further attackers and defenders could be on the target list, too, with Man City's spending showing no sign of slowing.
A verdict will be welcomed when it finally arrives, but to the likes of Everton and Leicester City, who were charged and punished in a fraction of the amount of time, this process has proven damaging for the idea of an even playing ground.