Manchester City chase an unprecedented fifth Premier League title in a row, but off-field doubts surround the English champions ahead of the new season.
Under Abu Dhabi ownership and Pep Guardiola's astute tactical leadership, City have become the dominant force in English football, winning six Premier League titles in seven seasons under the Spaniard.
Guardiola, though, is entering the final year of his contract, and on more than one occasion last season hinted that his time at the Etihad Stadium is nearing its end.
"Nine years today in the same club is an eternity," Guardiola said during pre-season. "I want to be sure it's the right decision. Not just for me, for the club, for the players."
City start their campaign on Sunday with a trip to Chelsea, but a cloud hangs over the champions ahead of their title defence.
The long-awaited hearing into 115 Premier League charges for alleged breaches of financial rules, originally expected to take place before the end of the year, could be brought forward to next month, according to a report in The Times.
The newspaper said on Monday that the start of an independent commission hearing, planned for November, would now begin in mid-to-late September. The hearing is scheduled to last for 10 weeks, with a verdict likely to be delivered early in 2025.
Neither the Premier League nor Manchester City have commented.
The Times added that the outcome of a separate legal case, which City have brought against league rules that regulate how clubs strike sponsorship or revenue deals with businesses linked to their owners, is now due in the next fortnight.
That in turn, said the paper, would allow the hearing into the 115 charges – all of which City deny – to be brought forward, provided there are no further legal delays.
City are facing the charges for alleged breaches of regulations and financial rules between 2009 and 2023.
If found guilty, City could face points deductions and even relegation from the Premier League.
Everton and Nottingham Forest received points deductions last season for breaches of profit and sustainability rules (PSR), with promoted Leicester City set to face similar consequences this season.
The need to meet those regulations and a summer of both European Championship and Copa America action have been blamed for an unusually slow start to the transfer window from City and other Premier League clubs.
City have only added Brazilian winger Savinho and on Monday agreed the sale of Argentina international Julian Alvarez to Atletico Madrid for a fee of €85 million.
The 24-year-old striker arrived at City for just €16m in January 2022 from River Plate, winning two Premier League trophies and the Champions League among other silverware.
Alvarez also helped Argentina lift the World Cup trophy in December 2022 and the Copa America in 2021 and 2024.
"Today I say goodbye to this amazing club, with a lot of emotion," Alvarez told City's official website. "These have been two very special years. During this time, I have grown and learnt a lot – both as a player and as a person."
Alvarez scored 36 goals for City in 103 appearances across competitions.
Fatigue and an aging squad could also be a factor, with several City players involved in the and European Championship this summer.
Jeremy Doku, Kevin De Bruyne (Belgium) Josko Gvardiol, Mateo Kovacic (Croatia) John Stones, Kyle Walker, Phil Foden (England), Nathan Ake (Netherlands), Bernardo Silva, Ruben Dias (Portugal), Rodri (Spain), and Manuel Akanji (Switzerland) were all involved at the Euros in Germany.
De Bruyne has been the subject of interest from Saudi Arabia, with 2022 champions Al Ittihad said to have approached City over the 33-year-old's availability. De Bruyne, whose contract expires in 2025, said in June that he is not ruling out a move, though Guardiola has said the Belgian is staying put.
Playmaker De Bruyne has been integral to City's near decade of dominance since joining from Wolfsburg in 2015, winning six Premier League titles, two FA Cups, five League Cups, the Champions League and the Club World Cup.
However, concerns over the midfielder's fitness and ability to stand up to the physical demands of another season of English football have persisted since an injury-interrupted 2023/24 campaign.
Arsenal a force to be reckoned with
Arsenal look the best-placed challengers to take City's crown after finishing second in each of the past two seasons.
Italian defender Riccardo Calafiori is Arsenal's only major summer signing to date, strengthening what was the best defence in the league last season.
But the Gunners are the coming force in the English game. Mikel Arteta's squad was the third youngest in the league last season and features a host of stars such as William Saliba, Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli yet to hit their peak years.
"I see Arsenal playing at the same level as last season," Guardiola said. "They are on fire. Every year it looks like they are more and more difficult."
Liverpool ran City and Arsenal close for the majority of last season before a dip in form cost them a glorious finish to Jurgen Klopp's reign.
Arne Slot has been given the daunting task of replacing the charismatic Klopp, who won the Premier League and Champions League during his time at Liverpool.
The former Feyenoord manager needs a fast start to ensure there is no hangover from Klopp's departure and resounding friendly victories over Arsenal, Manchester United and Sevilla were a step in the right direction.
"We both like the fans to come into the stadium and see a team that plays with a lot of energy, that plays good football," said Slot on the similarities between his and Klopp's style.
Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag survived an internal review into his position after their worst Premier League finish of eighth.
Ten Hag held onto his job largely thanks to a shock FA Cup final win against Manchester City last season.
The Dutch boss has been backed by United co-owner Jim Ratcliffe, with the signings of Leny Yoro – who will miss the first three months of the season due to injury – and Joshua Zirkzee expected to be followed by a swoop for Bayern Munich defenders Matthijs de Ligt and Noussair Mazraoui.
Chelsea are also under new management after Enzo Maresca replaced Mauricio Pochettino, who departed Stamford Bridge after only one season.
However, Maresca inherits a chaotic situation with more than 50 players on Chelsea's books after another free-spending window snapping up young talent from around the globe.
