When Manchester United will find out if they face a Financial Fair Play charge from Premier League

Manchester United will find out in the coming weeks whether they’ve broken the Premier League’s Financial Fair Play (FFP) rules after adopting a new tracking system.

That’s according to the Manchester Evening News, who have explained that The Reds will discover their fate by January 14.

United chiefs have already explained that they are not expecting major business to be done in the January transfer window, partly due to FFP concerns after spending more than £400 million in the last two years.

The Old Trafford club reported a fiscal loss of £42 million in October, added the report, after suffering a record deficit of £115 million 12 months prior.

Losses under FFP can be offset by investments into aspects such as investment into infrastructure or the women and academy setup. Sir Jim Ratcliffe is planning to invest around £260 million into the stadium and training ground at United.

The British billionaire has taken a 25 per cent stake in Manchester United but is awaiting Premier League approval to get the deal ratified.

Premier League clubs are afforded a maximum net loss of £105 million over a three-year period – which is then a smaller figure for those promoted from the Championship during that period.

That three-year time frame means that United officials could still remain cautious of spending in later January even if they were found to not have breached any rules.

Meanwhile, The Times have reported that clubs were required to submit their accounts for the 2022/23 campaign by December 31, under new alterations to the league’s profit and sustainability rules, with potential breaches to be confirmed two weeks later.

That report also went on to mention that any clubs who are charged with exceeding the financial loss threshold would have an additional two weeks to respond before an independent panel hearing took place. That would conclude no later than April 8, the report added.

A new ‘fast-tracking’ scheme has been incorporated within the latest system, where the more simple cases are processed faster so that penalties can be sanctioned during the club’s current season.

Everton experienced a 10-point deduction earlier this season, a punishment they are appealing. They were initially sanctioned last term after breaching the £105m million loss limit and could be at risk of a second sanction, The Times added.

Meanwhile, Manchester City’s case would be viewed as much more complicated due to the amount of allegations (115) against the club.

Football finance expert Kieran Maguire believes that Nottingham Forest could be most likely to be at risk of breaking FFP rules, after spending a large amount on players during their time in both the Championship and Premier League.

“Nottingham Forest were very much at the limit of their Financial Fair Play allowance when they were promoted to the Premier League, and that investment in new players continued in their first season,” said Maguire to the Times.

“When they signed players on high wages, including some such as Jesse Lingard who didn’t work out. If you are looking for clubs close to the limit they would be at the top, in my opinion.”