Enzo Maresca with Erling Haaland
Manchester City's historic charges could impact Enzo Maresca's current squad(Image: Nick Potts/PA Wire)
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While we might finally have a ruling on Manchester City's 115 charges, a punishment could still be some way away. The eight-time Premier League champions have been found guilty of breaches of financial rules in relation to the 2009-18 period, though they were cleared of one charge in relation to non-cooperation with the investigation.
City continue to protest their innocence, saying they are "disappointed and surprised" by the findings. However, while there could be further twists and turns, repercussions could follow sooner rather than later.
A number of potential punishments have been floated, ranging from points deductions and transfer bans to instant relegations. However, one football fan has gone directly to the subject of what might happen to City's squad members.
They called for "An NFL style draft where 1 by 1, each of the other 19 Premier League teams get to select one of their players to sign free of charge."
You're probably wondering how this would all pan out. Well, in true NFL style, the teams at the bottom get first pick and those at the top have to wait their turn, in the interests of levelling the playing field.
Were this to pan out in real life, teams would no doubt have preferences based on the make-up of their squad. We're using players' Transfermarkt value as a rough guide (and keeping it to the top 19 by value, in case you were wondering why you can't see the likes of Mateo Kovacic or Geronimo Rulli) but - just because it's fun - speculating about certain teams going rogue and ignoring that order.
1. Tottenham Hotspur - Erling Haaland
Sorry Omar Marmoush and Savio, you're not able to escape Haaland that quickly. Spurs' lack of a goalscoring No.9 has been apparent this season so a move for Haaland is a no-brainer.
2. Fulham - Elliot Anderson
Under Alvaro Arbeloa, Fulham have perhaps been too easy to get at in the early weeks of the season. The addition of a player who can break things up in midfield and start transitions should see to that, though we're not sure how much Anderson would enjoy leaving one relegation battle only to be thrown right into another.
3. Coventry City - Enzo Fernandez
Wouldn't it be just like Frank Lampard to sign one of the league's most Lampard-esque midfielders while capitalising on the City chaos?!?!?! No, but seriously, this would make sense for Coventry's needs.
Enzo Fernandez at Manchester City
The draft solution could see Enzo Fernandez leave Manchester City just months after joining(Image: Getty Images)
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4. Bournemouth - Antoine Semenyo
Sure, maybe there's an emotional aspect to bringing Semenyo home just months after his move north. However, there's also a 'he's very good' aspect, too.
5. Aston Villa - Josko Gvardiol
There are a number of areas where Villa are in transition after a summer of upheaval but Gvardiol would cover both left-back and centre-back. He'd be an upgrade on the replacements they actually signed after the departure of Lucas Digne and Ezri Konsa and is somehow still only 24.
6. Crystal Palace - Marc Guehi
Would Guehi entertain a return to Selhurst Park so soon after leaving? It doesn't matter, this is a hypothetical game and we make the rules, plus Palace could still do with some defensive leadership.
Marc Guehi at Crystal Palace
Could we see Marc Guehi back in Crystal Palace colours(Image: Getty Images)
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7. Sunderland - Rayan Cherki
A new No.9 might be a bigger priority for Sunderland after Brian Brobbey's injury on international duty. However, the next best thing is a creator who's brilliance would make it near-impossible for their current crop to miss.
8. Nottingham Forest - Ayyoub Bouaddi
Oliver Glasner built his Crystal Palace team on the midfield smarts of Adam Wharton, among other things. We're not saying Bouaddi is just Wharton with better hair but we're not not saying that.
9. Manchester United - Phil Foden
Is Foden the best pick we could include here? Maybe not. Is it the funniest? Absolutely. We need to make it happen.
Phil Foden during the September 2026 Manchester Derby
Someone would have to cross the Manchester divide so why not Foden?(Image: CameraSport via Getty Images)
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10. Ipswich Town - Gianluigi Donnarumma
Ipswich signed a new keeper over the summer with the recruitment process beginning with 'is he the tallest one?'. Gary O'Neil dropped Kjell Scherpen after he conceded four in 10 games so another change between the sticks sounds reasonable.
11. Chelsea - Ruben Dias
One of Xabi Alonso's first steps after taking charge was to install Danny Welbeck and Jordan Henderson as quasi-teaching assistants to look after a squad of rowdy schoolboys. A centre-back version a la Dias ought to do the trick.
12. Newcastle United - Jeremy Doku
Newcastle lost Anthony Gordon over the summer and, while Bazoumana Toure has shown some tidy moments, he's still just 20. Doku has that bit more experience and would be a plug-and-play wing option.
13. Hull City - Abdukodir Khusanov
Hull have 18 different nationalities represented in Sergej Jakirovic's squad. Who are we to stop them adding a 19th while also integrating someone who could add another dimension to their three-at-the-back system?
14. Everton - Iliman Ndiaye
'Isn't it a cop-out just sending players back to their old clubs?' we hear you ask. No it isn't, they were good at those clubs, that's why we're backing them to be good there again.
Iliman Ndiaye at Everton
Iliman Ndiaye has already thrived at Everton once(Image: Nick Potts/PA Wire)
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15. Liverpool - Nico O'Reilly
An England squad with only one Liverpool player in it feels wrong. Yes, more wrong than a Liverpool squad with Nico O'Reilly in it. Get him to Anfield.
16. Leeds United - Rayan Ait-Nouri
Leeds' start to the season suggests they don't need to improve all that much. However, an attacking outlet in a different area of the pitch should help support their strengths and feed Dominic Calvert-Lewin for more of those delicious inside-the-box goals.
17. Brentford - Vitor Reis
Brentford have a knack for taking young prodigies and turning them into top talents, even those who temporarily stall. Reis might not have enjoyed a breakthrough at City yet but he's still just 20 and feels like the type of player who would suit the Bees' set-up.
18. Brighton & Hove Albion - Matheus Nunes
Sure, Brighton already have a midfielder-turned-full-back-turned-midfielder-again in the form of Pascal Gross, while Jack Hinshelwood has a similar profile. You might think they've already got enough and don't need Nunes. That's one way of looking at it, another way of looking at it is, people like them, let's add some more of them.
19. Arsenal - Rico Lewis
How do you improve a team that won the league last season? Well, some of Arsenal's summer business probably helps but it can also be handy to add someone who's used to stepping in from the sidelines after limited game time. Also, there was only one player left on the list so you get what you're given.
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