Pep leaving or 130 Premier League charges? Man City’s 'biggest fear' revealed

Robin Bairner

• 24 Jan 2026 08:23 CST
• 3 min read

News

Manchester City are faced with two major off-field problems: the possibility that Pep Guardiola leaves at the end of the season and the 130 Premier League charges hanging over the club.

Both of these issues promise to have a monumental impact on the Etihad club. Guardiola has masterminded the club’s development into becoming a perennial superpower at the top of the Premier League table, but the implication of the charges could be enormous if City are found guilty, potentially resulting in a crippling points deduction or even relegation.

But according to The Telegraph, it’s clear which of these possibilities City fear most.

“It hangs over City more heavily than the 130 Premier League charges they have faced over the last three years,” it claims.

Man City braced for Guardiola exit

The possibility of Guardiola departing is something that is becoming increasingly apparent in public as the managerial merry-go-round accelerates to an almost unprecedented speed, with Real Madrid, Manchester United and Chelsea all having changed bosses in recent weeks.

Indeed, Enzo Maresca's departure from Stamford Bridge has only heightened fears that Guardiola could walk at the end of the season, one year before the end of his contract.

There have even been reports that the Italian wants to make Chelsea star Cole Palmer his first signing – a rumour that has picked up momentum amid claims the former City academy star is unhappy with life in London.

Ex-Real Madrid boss Xabi Alonso has been similarly linked with the post.

What’s happening with Man City’s charges?

But while the fears of Guardiola’s departure are tangible, it also points to Man City’s quiet confidence over their position on the charges they face.

The club are alleged to have made 130 breaches of Premier League regulations relating to their accountancy practices and a failure to cooperate with investigations.

An investigation was launched in February 2023, and an independent commission concluded in December 2024, but there is still no sign of a resolution, which had been expected late last year.

Premier League chief Richard Masters was asked when the outcome might be made public and told NBC in July 2025: “You can ask but our rules are very clear, it's a confidential process so I can't give any information on timing or anything like that. I can't add anything on that.”

City have maintained their position of innocence throughout, and the fact that they are more worried about lose Guardiola than suffering at the hands of these charges would seem to underline their ongoing confidence in their case.

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