Man City to sell their players at '30% discount' when they get relegated - top source

Manchester City will look to sell their leading stars at a 30 per cent discount if they are relegated from the Premier League.

That is according to former Everton chief executive Keith Wyness, speaking exclusively to Football Insider, who believes that the Citizens would not be able to afford to keep the majority of their first-team squad if that scenario played out.

They are currently staring down the barrel of a points deduction that would ensure a drop into the Championship, after being found guilty of 114 financial breaches by the Premier League.

Wyness believes that City would "plan" to sell almost all of their senior players if they were relegated, but know that they wouldn't be able to get "top dollar" for them.

It has also been widely reported that none of Enzo Maresca's first-team squad have relegation release clauses in their contracts.

The uncertainty surrounding City's situation is still ongoing, but Wyness is adamant that they would be foolish not to plan for the worst.

Man City to take 'business' view of the squad

Everton’s former chief Wyness – who served as CEO at Goodison Park between 2004 and 2009 and now runs a football consultancy advising elite clubs – believes that City would have no choice but to take a "business" view of the squad if they were relegated. 

The Scottish businessman outlined that they would face "enormous wage pressure," which would prevent them from keeping most players with their massively reduced revenue.

Speaking on the latest edition of Football Insider's Inside Track podcast, Wyness explained how City would have to be clever when it comes to moving their players on.

"You're absolutely right that there wouldn't be release clauses, but this proves the point once again, and I learned the lesson the hard way that there should always be relegation clauses in contracts," he said.

"We know that there are deep resources within the ownership. However, they'll also have to look at this pretty professionally and look at it as a business situation. And they will see enormous wage pressure. 

"The market will know the quality of players coming onto the market is at a very high level, which limits the number of potential buyers for those players as well. So I would expect there to be about a 25 to 30 per cent discount over what the market value of these players would be. 

"City are very skilled traders; as we mentioned, they're probably out-trading the market right now. There'll be buybacks, sell-ons and all the good clauses, and they'll do a very good job of it. 

"I think that's what the plan would be. But I don't think they're going to get top dollar for everybody."

Clubs already in contact for Erling Haaland

Football Insider revealed last weekend that both Arsenal and Real Madrid have already made contact over a move for City striker Erling Haaland.

The Norwegian will be in extremely high demand as the saga continues to unfold, and some of Europe's leading clubs are already making enquiries.

Haaland staying at City in the event of relegation is seen as being almost impossible, and there are several clubs ready to pounce and prise him away.

The 26-year-old already has over 160 goals for the club after just four full seasons, but his time at the Etihad Stadium could soon be drawing to a close.