If City Face a Fire Sale, Where Could Their Stars End Up?

With Manchester City appealing their guilty verdict on financial rule breaches, rival fans have already begun imagining the club’s star players being forced out if severe sanctions—such as large points deductions or even expulsion—force them down the leagues. No relegation clauses are believed to exist in the players’ contracts, but maintaining a squad on elite wages outside the Premier League would be extremely difficult. In that hypothetical scenario, several Premier League clubs could look to pick up high-quality players at reduced cost.

Erling Haaland to Arsenal
Arsenal have long sought a reliable finisher. Signing Haaland would settle debates between the running power of Viktor Gyökeres and the creative link-up of Kai Havertz. He could continue competing for trophies and Champions League football under Mikel Arteta, though he might find himself scoring more from set pieces than from the open-play sequences City have provided. Real Madrid and Barcelona have also been linked, while a short move across Manchester to United—who create chances but lack a consistent striker—remains another possibility.

Marc Guehi to Liverpool
The move nearly happened last year when Palace agreed a £35 million deal, only for it to collapse at the last moment. Liverpool still need a long-term successor to Virgil van Dijk on the left side of defence. Guehi’s leadership and left-footed profile would fit naturally; a second chance could prove timely if City are forced to sell.

Jeremy Doku to Tottenham
Spurs have already signed Omar Marmoush and Savio from City this summer. Adding Doku, whose Premier League goal tallies have been modest (five in 30 last season, three in 29 the year before), would continue that pattern. Arsenal, having lost Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard, could also view him as an option on the left, though Christos Tzolis has started well.

Nico O’Reilly to Brighton
Brighton’s system under Fabian Hürzeler asks full-backs to invert or push high. O’Reilly, capable of operating as a left-back, holding midfielder, box-to-box player or even further forward, and named young player of the season, would understand those demands. Liverpool could also use a left-back, but Brighton’s track record of developing and reselling players makes them a logical landing spot.

Elliot Anderson to Manchester United
United wanted Anderson before he chose City. Despite their midfield additions of Youri Tielemans, Carlos Baleba and Andrey Santos, a controlling presence still appears missing. Anderson’s performance in the Manchester derby, even with City reduced to ten men, showed exactly the profile they sought.

Rayan Cherki to Fulham
Fulham once had an initial £12 million offer accepted by Lyon, only for the then 21-year-old to turn it down. A move to west London might look more appealing under different circumstances, though Cherki’s quality—Zinedine Zidane once called him a “real baller”—suggests Real Madrid or another elite club would remain the more realistic destination.

Ruben Dias to Chelsea
Chelsea have sought experienced leadership at the back since Thiago Silva’s departure. Dias offers organisation and a winning mentality that few current options, including the £52 million Maxence Lacroix, currently match. The club previously considered John Stones after his exit from City, so interest in that defensive profile is clear.

Antoine Semenyo to Liverpool
Liverpool still need reliable output from the right after Mo Salah’s departure. Bradley Barcola has yet to fully establish himself after a £123 million move. Semenyo, developed into a top-level winger under Andoni Iraola at Bournemouth, would represent a logical reunion that should cost far less than that fee.

Enzo Fernandez to Aston Villa
Aston Villa have repeatedly sold players to remain within financial rules, so landing a midfielder who has been transferred twice for more than £100 million would normally be unrealistic. In a forced-sale scenario, however, the Argentine would offer exactly the technical quality and box-to-box drive they have sought.

Any such fire sale remains entirely speculative and dependent on the outcome of City’s appeal and any subsequent sanctions. For now the players remain at the Etihad, but the possibility of a sudden redistribution of talent is already shaping conversations among rivals.