Premier League Chaos Loading…As EPL Teams have made their Feelings Clear Over Man City Potential Sanctions

As reports run amok that the Premier League has deemed Man City guilty on a significant amount of their 115 charges, there has been widespread talk of potential relegation for the English giants.

Of course, this turn of events would present a massive turning point in the history of the Premier League, but on a more granular level it would force Man City to decide what to do with their best players and highest earners.

The Sporting News takes a look at what the club might do with some of its most notable players, including Erling Haaland and many other top earners in the squad.

MORE: Man City appeal Premier League guilty verdict | Will Man City be relegated from the Premier League?

Will Erling Haaland, other players leave Man City amidst punishments?

The future of many Man City players like all depends on what the punishment is that the Premier League hands down to the Manchester club.

Should the Premier League go easy on the club, it could present a way forward for the players to continue at the club, especially if they should remain in the top flight.

However, if the club is forcibly relegated or otherwise sent away from the Premier League, it would be far more difficult for the players and club to continue in a partnership.

Could Erling Haaland leave Man City?

Erling Haaland’s salary of £525,000 ($645,000) per week could present significant problems for Manchester City if they were to be relegated, but losing a player of his caliber would also be enormously problematic.

Should Man City be relegated, by force or by points deduction, in all likelihood, the best resolution for Erling Haaland would be to find another club to play on loan for a season. Many of the clubs who would be of interest to Haaland would be likely to afford his wages — from Real Madrid to Chelsea to Bayern Munich and other top European clubs with free-spending ideals.

He has reportedly already been subject to inquiries from Arsenal and Real Madrid, and more speculation would likely ramp up should harsh punishment be rendered from the Premier League.

In the event Man City were not able to secure an immediate return to the Premier League after one season in the Championship, then an exit would likely be arranged, but it would be surprising to see Man City cut ties so quickly.

Could Enzo Fernandez leave Man City?

It would be surprising for Enzo Fernandez to depart Man City so quickly after he joined, but such are the nature of these extraordinary circumstances.

Reports claim that Enzo Fernandez is on about £350,000 ($460,000) per week, which is significant but not out of the range of many top clubs.

Given how soon Fernandez joined Man City, and how much they paid for him, it’s likely they would try to find a loan option for him before entertaining a full-on sale. Considering how much Enzo was linked with Real Madrid, there could be a solution for him to join the Spanish giants for a season before they reconsidered their relationship the following summer.

Could Jeremy Doku leave Man City?

Jeremy Doku’s rise to prominence at Man City over the past 18 months has been significant. The 24-year-old enjoyed a stellar 2025/26 season, blossoming into one of the best dribbling wingers in the world.

On just a reported £50,000 ($67,000) per week in his previous deal, he signed a five-year extension this past summer that gave him a significant pay bump up to a reported £280,000 ($371,000) per week.

He would be a candidate to either remain at the club, but more likely he would secure a permanent deal away if City were to be bumped from the top flight, as he could fetch the club a pretty penny and also shed wages on the bill.

Could Phil Foden leave Man City?

Reportedly earning an estimated £300,000 ($400,000), Phil Foden could be an important part of Man City’s revival should they be condemned to the lower leagues.

A Man City youth product, he will have deeper ties to the club than many others on the squad, and could be motivated to lead their redemption story back to the Premier League level.

If he decides he wants to leave, shedding his wages could be helpful to the club, but a clean break would be more likely than a loan for a player like Foden, who will want to put the club behind him for good if he does depart the Etihad.

Could Elliot Anderson leave Man City?

Having just joined Man City this past summer as part of their midfield overhaul, Elliot Anderson is reportedly earning wages of around £250,000 ($330,000) per week.

Seen as the future Rodri, the club would be loathe to see the 23-year-old leave permanently, and that feels almost out of the question. Instead, they would be much more likely to ask the midfielder to stay for a season in the lower league, which would be significantly below his level but also a boon to the club in their hunt for an immediate return to the Premier League.

However, if he were to force his way out, Anderson could fetch a huge transfer fee, possibly even close to the £115 million he cost the club. If they were to make their money back, that could go a long way towards mitigating the massive financial hits from this crisis.

Do Man City players have release clauses in case of relegation?

According to a report by Football Insider, players are being kept in the dark about their future at the club should things go awry.

However, this report also states that none of the significant first-team players at Man City have relegation release clauses, meaning the club would have full control over their f

utures should they be banished to the Championship or further.