Man City well set to release huge transfer war chest to offset Pep Guardiola departure

Pep Guardiola could walk away from the Etihad Stadium in the summer according to those who know him best, but Manchester City are set up to react strongly

Pep Guardiola's legacy at Manchester City will include a £300million-plus transfer war chest if he decides to quit the Etihad next year.

Guardiola’s incredible achievements during his eight seasons at the club have seen City assemble a squad that is the envy of football - as well as amassing a fortune that will ensure his successor can continue to target the world ’s top players.

City’s powerful financial position has been built on the investment put into place by owner Sheikh Mansour following his takeover in 2008. But a sustained period of unprecedented success under Guardiola has enabled the club to open up lucrative commercial revenue streams that have been boosted even further by the Blues’ ability to generate huge sums through player trading.

City made over £140 million in the transfer market this summer after cashing in to the tune of £170 million on players who were deemed surplus to requirements.

Twelve months ago, they generated £125 million - and over the last five years no fewer than 11 other Premier League clubs have a net spend that is higher than the four-in-a-row champions. City’s net spend works out at around £35 million-a-year in that period.

It means the club has posted total profits of £122 million over the last two years - and those figures will put them in a position of strength when UEFA’s new financial sustainability rules are tightened up next year.

Image: Getty Images) Getty Images)

The regulations restrict spending on transfers, wages and agents’ fees to 70 percent of club revenues. City’s income after winning the Treble last year was £712.8 million - a Premier League record - and the expectation is for that figure to rise when the next set of accounts are made public.

Matchday revenues will be given a further boost next year when a £300 million revamp of the Etihad’s North Stand opens up 6,000 extra seats and takes the stadium capacity beyond 60,000. The development includes a luxury hotel and more space for corporate supporters.

City, of course, continue to be haunted by the 115 charges levelled against them by the Premier League for allegedly failing to give accurate financial information between 2009-18. And if an independent commission upholds the most serious claims when it sits over the coming weeks, the punishment will be severe.

Image: AFP/Getty Images) AFP/Getty Images)

Four years ago, City were cleared on appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport of any financial misdeeds after being banned from the Champions League for two years by UEFA.

But they were fined £8.5 million for failing to co-operate with the initial investigation - and the Premier League have made similar claims.

City continue to insist they have “irrefutable proof” that will clear the club - and earlier this month Guardiola emphasised how important it is that the case will be judged by an independent body.

Guardiola has won an incredible 18 trophies during his reign at the Etihad - including City’s first Champions League and six titles in seven seasons.

They are top of the table again after winning their first three games - and if they stretch their hold over English football to a fifth season there will be little left for the manager to prove.

The club’s hierarchy have not given up on persuading Guardiola to extend his reign to a decade and beyond by signing a new contract. Chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak has been told to do what it takes to keep the Catalan in Manchester beyond 2025 by owner Sheikh Mansour.

There is also the added lure of taking the team to the expanded Club World Cup in the United States at the end of next season.

But a new book about the City boss written by close confidante Marti Perarnau, it is claimed that Guardiola will have left the club by the time a judgement on the Premier League charges has been confirmed.

‘The Pep Revolution’, heralded as the authorised story of the period at City between 2020-2023, is a brilliant fly-on-the-wall account of the inner workings of Team Pep.

It claims: “Any legal process takes time - and he’ll (Guardiola) will be long gone when this situation is finally resolved.”

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