Why Everton could have added incentive for Manchester City legal battle as source speaks out

Everton could have added incentive to seek compensation from Manchester City.

If anyone knows about financial scapes with the Premier League, it's the Toffees.

They have faced points deductions and often felt very hard done to by the league organisers.

The shoe is now on the other foot and it is the eight-time champions facing the heat.

Having been found guilty on 114 of 115 financial charges from 2009 to 2018, that isn't a surprise.

It has opened a whole world of possibilities and legal battles against the Citizens, with Everton potentially having as much reason as anyone else to get involved.

How Everton could get involved in £100m+ legal battle

Having been found guilty of accusations across an nine-year period, the Sky Blues are set to face the music.

That will first come from the Premier League as they draw up a punishment for the 114 breaches.

What that will be, no one quite knows, but it is likely to be nothing compared to what the rest of the division has for them.

The i Paper has reported that a loss in earnings between 2008 and 2019 acts as the basis for various clubs, managers and players to take action against City.

That could run up a legal bill reaching nine-figures while Everton could demand a larger chunk of that.

A source who previously worked at a relegated Premier League team told the outlet that clubs who sold players to the Etihad could cause a problem for the Sky Blues.

They said: "I imagine it is incredibly hard to prove, but given the financial struggles at Championship clubs, teams relegated after defeats to City or those who lost several key players to City in that period may be considering action.

"It may be an issue of quickly examining the possibility, but some will be more persistent than others. It could become a bit of a free-for-all."

With the Blues selling a number of players to Man City over the years, how could they broach a legal case moving forward?

How many players did Everton lose to Manchester City?

Looking back to the end of 2008/09, the Merseyside outfit secured a fifth place finish, while City could only manage 10th.

There was a 13 point gap between the two before they went on to make six signings, including Joleon Lescott from Everton.

The difference the next season was six points the other way, with the Citizens in fifth and David Moyes' men in eighth.

That would represent a £1.75million drop-off in prize money for that single season before Jack Rodwell was then snatched from them the next summer.

City stayed away for just three years after that as John Stones moved to the Etihad after becoming a key part of the squad at Goodison.

Between the sale of Lescott in 2009 and Stones in 2016, the Sky Blues won two Premier League titles and would go on to win another six by 2024.

In the same period, fifth place was as good as it got for the Toffees before they eventually slumped to 16th as of 2022.

Man City played their role in weakening Everton year on year and it could act as a basis for a legal battle if the above source is correct.