Leeds United
Premier League stand. Credit: Imago
Leeds United stand to benefit if Manchester City are severely sanctioned after being found guilty of breaking the Premier League’s financial rules at an industrial level.
David Ornstein dropped a bombshell on Friday evening, revealing that an Independent Commission found Manchester City guilty of 114 of 115 charges the Premier League levelled against them.
Most Read on The Leeds Press
Premier League clubs were informed of the panel’s verdict on Thursday, although neither Manchester City nor the league has formally announced the outcome. The ruling, however, is understood to have gone against City, with the independent panel finding the club guilty.
The verdict itself is not the end of the process. A separate hearing will determine what punishment, if any, Manchester City should face, with the possible consequences ranging from a substantial points deduction and a financial penalty to relegation.
Manchester City are expected to challenge the verdict, meaning the legal process is likely to continue before any final punishment is determined.
Read More: Man City verdict could open unexpected door for Leeds amid £800m claim
Sean Dyche suggests how many points Manchester City may lose this season
Adam Caterall and Sean Dyche discussed the Manchester City case at length on talkSPORT on Saturday afternoon, and they agreed the club is facing severe consequences for its actions.
However, Dyche wondered how lenient the Premier League could be to hit Manchester City hard while still giving them hope of staying up in the Premier League.
He believes a 40 to 60-point deduction may still give Enzo Maresca’s side a fighting chance to survive in the Premier League.
Dyche said: “A low-title win points haul will be 80, and to stay up is 40.”
Caterall added: “You still have to give them a 40- 60-point deduction.”
“That’s what I am saying; it gives them a fighting chance to stay up.”
Read More: Three Man City stars who could end up at Leeds if City go down
Leeds United stand to benefit
The Whites could see their ambitions boosted if Manchester City are hit with a significant points deduction.
Daniel Farke’s side have given themselves an excellent platform to build on, taking nine points from their opening five Premier League matches while remaining unbeaten. Their performances have already prompted suggestions that Leeds could surprise a few teams and challenge for a place in the European places, with a top-half finish looking increasingly realistic.
Farke, however, has been keen to keep expectations under control. The Leeds boss has repeatedly stressed the importance of establishing themselves in the Premier League over a second full season before setting their sights any higher.
That could change if Manchester City receive a heavy points penalty. A substantial deduction would drag them down the table and could open another route for Leeds to climb higher than expected.
If the sanctions are severe enough to leave Enzo Maresca’s side fighting near the bottom, the impact could be significant for the wider Premier League table. For Leeds, that could ultimately make the difference between a comfortable top-half finish and pushing into the European places.