HomeExclusives Mon 16 September 2024 8:55, UK

Man City weren't being careful with their spending during the summer transfer window because of points deduction fears.

That is the view of finance expert Stefan Borson, who exclusively told Football Insider the defending Premier League champions are trusting their academy to produce talented players.

The hearing into Manchester City's 115 charges for alleged breaches of the Premier League's financial rules begins on Monday.

City were charged and referred to an independent commission in February 2023 following a four-year investigation.

It is alleged City breached its financial rules between 2009 and 2018.

Borson claims City didn't worry about the profit and sustainability rules (PSR) during the summer transfer window, even though Pep Guardiola didn't bolster his squad too heavily.

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The Premier League side brought in Savinho from Troyes for PS21million, while Ilkay Gundogan returned to the club on a free transfer from Barcelona.

Man City are focusing on growing their own talent "It's not a PSR-related thing," Borson told Football Insider.

"I suspect really where we're getting to, is the quality of the players that they have coming through the academy that they have successfully sold for a number of years between PS15 even up to PS40million with Cole Palmer.

"I suspect that they now start to believe that those players are now around the sort of level of the players that they can bring in from elsewhere.

"Therefore, the question will always be, why invest in an external player when you've got one in-house?

"Maybe give them more time, and of course, the side is clearly still very successful, and Pep likes to play a relatively small squad so I suspect it's a combination of all of those things.

"I doubt it's anything to do with the charges or anything of that nature."

In other news, Man City held Kyogo Furuhashi talks and deal could still happen - sources.