Real Madrid, Barcelona and Bayern Munich are queueing up to poach Manchester City’s top talents with the club facing the threat of relegation.

It was confirmed on Tuesday that City had been found guilty of 114 charges of financial misconduct and obstructing the Premier League’s investigation, and they now face a nervous wait to learn their sanctions, pending the outcome of an appeal.

Punishment could take a variety of forms, but there is a very real threat of City being handed a points deduction so severe it would send them down to the Championship.

Should that come to pass, some of the game’s finest players could be available at cut-rate deals, and City’s European rivals are ready to pounce.

The prolific striker Erling Haaland will be in high demand, of course. Per reports from The Sun, both Real Madrid and Barcelona are keeping tabs on the Norwegian’s situation.

City would face a tall order to keep Haaland in situ if they were sent down, and the temptation of replacing Robert Lewandowski or playing alongside Kylian Mbappe would be difficult. to turn down.

The Sun adds Real are also interested in Josko Gvardiol, Rayan Cherki, and three of City’s summer signings: Enzo Fernandez, Elliot Anderson and Ayyoub Bouaddi.

Elsewhere, TeamTalk claim Phil Foden has caught the eye of Bayern Munich, though the Man City academy graduate may be tempted to stick with his boyhood club through this period of adversity. AC Milan and clubs in the Saudi Pro League are also sniffing around.

It was reported on Wednesday that members of Man City’s squad are aware of and discussing what now appears to be the very real prospect of relegation.

It remains to be seen when these moves may materialise. City have confirmed they intend to appeal the Premier League’s verdict, claiming they have “irrefutable” evidence of their innocence. That process could last months.

Provided the Premier League’s verdict is upheld after appeal, the independent commission must reconvene to assign sanctions.

It has been reported that Premier League clubs have called for the process to be settled by the end of the season, in May 2027.