Premier League clubs take legal advice over compensation claims against Manchester City

Premier League clubs are seeking legal advice about pursuing compensation from Manchester City in the fallout from the verdict which found the club guilty of the majority of the financial rule breaches it was charged with.

One source, who held a senior executive position at two Premier League sides, said they expected clubs to submit individual compensation claims against City. Another leading lawyer told the BBC that the process could even be centralised by the league.

Premier League rules allow clubs to seek legal action against each other for compensation — and there is recent precedent. In June, Everton were told they must pay Burnley £35m after breaking profit and sustainability rules (PSR) over a three-year period, with Burnley arguing the breach impacted their chances of staying in the division.

The compensation threat opens an entirely new front in a case that has already run 1,329 days since City were charged and two years and 10 days since the hearing began. City won seven domestic trophies during the period of the alleged offences, and any club that believes it was denied a title, European qualification or even survival during that era could now argue it has a direct claim.

The warnings from those close to the case are stark. Christian Purslow, the former Aston Villa chief executive, has said City's legal fight could spiral out of control — and with clubs expected to submit claims of their own, the verdict that was meant to bring clarity may instead be the start of years of litigation.

City, who have always insisted they have done nothing wrong, did not address whether they had been found guilty in a statement making clear that — with an appeal expected — the "process remains ongoing" from their point of view.