According to The Independent, if Manchester City is found to have breached Premier League financial rules, several rival clubs are prepared to pursue legal action against Manchester City to claim damages that could exceed £200 million. At least four clubs — Arsenal, Manchester United, Liverpool, and Tottenham — have reserved their right to claim damages under Article W of the competition rules.

Sources told The Independent that the four clubs are Arsenal, Manchester United, Liverpool, and Tottenham. The Independent contacted all four clubs for comment; Manchester United and Tottenham declined to comment. This action essentially preserves their "right to sue" before the statute of limitations expires.

Although some law firms have also contacted other clubs that did not reserve their rights, it is generally believed that compensation claims may no longer be viable due to the passage of time. However, the relevant rules are not entirely clear, and lawyers could argue, based on the nature of the case, that the entire process was initiated before the statute of limitations expired, though this remains a gray area.

Some clubs have consulted with law firms to determine their eligibility to claim compensation.

During the investigation period, for example, Manchester United missed titles in the 2011-12 and 2017-18 seasons, and Liverpool came close to winning the title in the 2013-14 season, while Manchester City qualified for the Champions League every season from 2009-10 to 2017-18. However, the scope of compensation claims may not be limited to these seasons and lost potential revenues, but could also include "loss of opportunity" in subsequent seasons.

Losses related to commercial contracts could also be considered.

An important precedent for this case comes from Burnley's claim against Everton in June. At that time, an independent panel ruled that the Merseyside club gained a competitive advantage after breaching Premier League's Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR) in the 2021-22 season, and therefore had to pay Burnley £35.1 million in compensation. That season, Everton finished in 16th place with 39 points and avoided relegation, while Burnley finished in 18th place with 35 points and was relegated.

People familiar with the process said that any successful compensation claim could result in some clubs receiving more than £200 million in damages. Sources indicated that Arsenal was the first club to reserve its right to claim damages, followed by Tottenham, Liverpool, and Manchester United.

However, any legal action can only begin after the entire case has been concluded and all appeal procedures have been completed.

Manchester City is expected to exhaust all appeal options, as they anticipate a ruling that the club will lose on most of the charges. A Manchester City spokesman issued a statement regarding the news reports on Friday, reiterating the club's position of innocence.

The statement read: "Premier League proceedings are ongoing, with significant steps still to be completed, and must comply with strict confidentiality rules. Therefore, Manchester City Football Club's position remains consistent with the club's statement from February 2023. The club has maintained lawful procedures over eight years, based on the premise that the Premier League panel and regulatory bodies will act as independent, fair, and impartial governing authorities, unaffected by partisan interests."

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