Pep Guardiola reveals the date Manchester City will discover the verdict of the 115 charges hearing against the Premier League

Pep Guardiola has claimed Manchester City could hear the verdict of their landmark hearing as early as February.

Mail Sport exclusively revealed that the hearing into the Premier League’s 130 (originally 115) charges against City concluded on December 6.

The Premier League have accused its champions of multiple breaches of financial rules and of failing to co-operate with a subsequent investigation.

Should City, who strongly refute any wrongdoing, be found guilty of some of the more serious charges, they could be hit with huge financial penalties, points deductions or even relegation.

And Guardiola expects the club to have clarity in the near future.

Asked if players might be hesitant to join City, he said: ‘I don’t know. It’s going to happen in winter time.

The Premier League charged the perennial champions with 115 financial breaches, since extended to 130

‘I don’t know what’s going to happen. I know the people are expecting that but I don’t know. In February, March, [maybe] will be the sentence.’

Amid the wrangle, Guardiola and his men must remain focused on the task at hand. They sit fifth in the Premier League table after a run of one win in 11 games and face Aston Villa at 12.30pm on Saturday.

Guardiola’s fresh contract – a one-year deal with a potential option to extend for a further 12 months – opens the possibility that he could manage Man City outside the top flight or with a points deduction should the club ultimately be hit with a sanction.

As Mail Sport previously reported, it is highly likely that – should an agreement not be reached – each side would launch an appeal against the forthcoming verdict. And, should that be the case, a final decision may not be delivered until the end of next season, with a state of damaging limbo continuing.

City’s alleged rule breaking is claimed to have taken place over a 14-year period. The original 115 charges have been extended to a total of 130 after an administration issue.

The four-in-a-row champions are accused of failing to report accurate financial information for nine seasons stretching from 2009-10 to 2017-18, as well as failing to provide full details of former manager Roberto Mancini’s pay between 2009-10 and 2012-13.

They are also alleged to have failed to provide full details of monies paid to players between 2010-11 and 2015-16 and failing to co-operate with the probe from 2018 to 2023.

That investigation, prompted by hacked material published in German media, has triggered astronomical legal costs for the league, which have raised concerns at a number of its clubs.

The competition’s senior barrister is Adam Lewis KC while Lord Pannick is leading City’s defence. Both are from Blackstone Chambers.

City and the Premier League’s legal trial officially began in September.

The trial has been heard in private as the Premier League rule regarding FFP breaches states that any ruling before an independent commission will be held in private and will be strictly confidential.