Erling Haaland set to lose fortune if he decides to stay at Man City after relegation as major decision looms

Haaland has been linked with Arsenal and Barcelona since the guilty verdict dropped.

Erling Haaland and his Man City teammates may be set to miss out on a fortune should they choose to stay at the club if they are relegated from the Premier League as a result of breaching the league’s financial rules.

City return to action this weekend for their first Premier League clash since the majority guilty verdict over financial rule breaches between 2009 and 2018, a period in which they won three Premier League crowns, with a trip to Anfield to face Liverpool on Sunday (October 11).

No current City player has commented on the verdict, although it is likely their agents are asking questions over what happens next.

READ NEXT: What Man City have told players about guilty verdict ahead of Liverpool clash

If the verdict is upheld after City’s appeal, an array of punishments are possible, including suspension from playing in the league, points deductions, the replaying of matches, expulsion from the league, being ordered to pay compensation to other clubs, automatic relegation and even the stripping of titles.

If City are relegated, most of their key players would likely move on, with Haaland already being tentatively linked with a move to Arsenal and Barcelona.

Haaland, who earns £500,000 per week, does not have a relegation clause in his contract, like the rest of City’s squad, but he may consider his options due to the fact that he is likely to miss out on all potential bonuses if they drop down to the Championship.

Haaland was pulled from media duties while away with Norway over the international break but will likely face questions over the weekend.

As reported by the Daily Mail, City’s players’ contracts are made up of three elements: a basic wage, a Champions League qualification bonus and a further bonus based on the percentage of achievable minutes played across a campaign.

Over the past few seasons, due to City’s on-pitch success, almost all bonus thresholds have been met.

However, the bonus for minutes played is only valid for the Premier League, Champions League, FA Cup and Carabao Cup, meaning these would be void in the eventuality of relegation. This would cost City’s top earners hundreds of thousands of pounds, with basic salaries making up between 60 and 75 per cent of each player’s wages, while bonus payments make up the rest.

City were found guilty of 114 of the 115 charges they were accused of by the Premier League after an independent commission hearing.

In a statement posted to its website last week, the Premier League explained how City had used “sham” contracts to inflate revenue figures and reduce costs, as well as arranging disguised funding schemes worth more than £830million with commercial partners.

The commission also found City guilty of all but one of the charges relating to non-cooperation with the league’s investigation, saying that “a number of important club witnesses gave false evidence in key respects and that some knowingly gave untrue and dishonest evidence”.

City later appealed the verdict and maintain they are not guilty of wrongdoing and that they have a “comprehensive body of irrefutable evidence that exists” to support their position.

The appeal will be heard by a three-person commission and is expected to last no more than 12 weeks. A result is expected within 30 days of its conclusion.

READ NEXT: Man City could avoid key punishment due to little-known loophole as Premier League clubs fear one scenario

Topics: Erling Haaland, Man City, Premier League

Luke has covered sport – including football, MMA, cricket, and boxing – for SPORTbible since 2024, having previously freelanced at Reach and JOE. When he isn't writing for SPORTbible, he's following Everton home and away. Luke also created and hosted a podcast interviewing guests from singers and bands to footballers and boxers.

Guardiola left City in the summer, months before the guilty verdict relating to Premier League financial rule breaches was made public.

City have been found guilty of 114 of the 115 charges put against them by the Premier League and have since appealed the verdict.

City were found guilty of the majority of charges they were accused of by the Premier League between 2009 and 2018.

British journalist Morgan is a close friend of the Portuguese forward.