Five Premier League clubs weighing up possible support of Manchester City against the Premier League over sponsorship rules | OneFootball

Manchester City could yet see a further five clubs within the Premier League support their stance against the top-flight’s associated party transaction (APT) rules proposal.

The latest stand-off over APT rules comes after Manchester City and the Premier League both claimed victory in October after the decision of an arbitration panel following their legal battle earlier on in the year.

From the perspective of Manchester City, Etihad Stadium officials had some of their complaints upheld, with two aspects of the Premier League’s rules deemed ‘unlawful’ by the tribunal.

The same award also highlighted that low-interest shareholder loans should not be excluded from APT rules, and that changes made back in February 2024 to toughen up regulations breached competition law.

In Manchester City’s own statement after the public award, the club claimed that the rules were “void”, before also criticising the Premier League’s “misleading” suggestion they could be swiftly amended, and threatening further legal action if there was a “knee-jerk reaction”.

Now, the Premier League are set to place fresh proposals over amendments made to the Associated Party Transaction rules in front of its clubs this week, as they continue to sweat over whether such proposals will even be approved by its members.

According to the information of MailSport’s Mike Keegan, the vote over sponsorship rules scheduled for this week is now believed to be ‘on a knife edge’ as a growing group of clubs consider their own positions.

It is explained that senior officials from all of the top-flight clubs will gather in London on Friday of this week for a ‘crunch summit’ which is expected to be followed by a ballot over the Premier League’s proposal on amended APT rules.

In order for those proposals to be approved, they would require the support of 14 clubs, and Aston Villa have already publicly revealed their intention to support Manchester City by voting against the amendments.

MailSport have now also revealed that all of Newcastle United, Nottingham Forest, Chelsea, Wolverhampton Wanderers, and Everton are ‘closely considering’ their own positions on the matter.

Manchester City’s own focus within the club will no doubt be placed firmly on the field, as Pep Guardiola and his players continue their work towards an unprecedented fifth consecutive Premier League title.

First of all, the club will be eager to come back from a run of four matches consecutively falling to defeat across competitions, with their next outing coming against Tottenham in the Premier League on Saturday evening.

City’s squad may be boosted by the news of Pep Guardiola remaining as the club’s head coach for at least another 12 months, after the 53-year-old this week week reached an agreement in principle over a one-year contract extension with the option of a further year beyond then.