UEFA plan to block financial fair play loophole that could affect Manchester City

Manchester City could be impacted by plans within UEFA to block a financial fair play loophole most recently used by Chelsea, according to reports.

The London club have most recently been involved in a flurry of successful transfer negotiations, tying players down to long contracts to spread the impact of their spending across a greater period of time.

Just this month alone, Chelsea signed Benoit Badiashile and Noni Madueke on seven-and-a-half year deals, with the latter having the option to extend by a further year. Additionally, Mykhailo Mudryk signed an eight-and-a-half year contract.

However, it has now been reported that a number of clubs in Europe have raised concerns with the continent’s governing body UEFA over Chelsea’s policy – which is deemed to be a loophole around financial fair play.

This is according to the information of The Times’ Martyn Ziegler, who reports that the aforementioned loophole around FFP is to be closed by UEFA.

It is explained that officials within UEFA are planning to set a five-year maximum for the length of time over which a player’s transfer fee can be spread.

In a hint towards the severity of the matter, it is suggested that the new policy could brought in before the upcoming summer transfer window.

Manchester City are expected to be busy during the coming transfer window, with a number of areas within Pep Guardiola’s first-team squad being identified by those within the club as positions to replenish and refresh ahead of the 2023/24 campaign.

The likes of Rafael Leao and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia have been sounded out for wide roles by those in transfer-focussed positions as players to be monitored over the course of the coming months, while in midfield areas, Jude Bellingham and Enzo Fernandez have admirers within the club.

As for potential departures, Bernardo Silva could still seek an exit this summer, but continues to keep his cards close to his chest, despite Manchester City being hopeful of coming to a resolution over his longer-term future.

Talks with Ilkay Gundogan have also started, with City chiefs confident that Pep Guardiola’s decision to extend his own contract will convince the club captain to extend his deal – which expires at the end of the ongoing campaign.