Martin Keown says Manchester City's financial case could be done and dusted inside six weeks. The former Arsenal defender, speaking on talkSPORT, insisted the club might escape with nothing more than a hefty fine.
It is a bold claim. And Keown was quick to admit it is not his own. He was relaying rumours, he stressed, not delivering a confirmed legal update. There has been no official word from the Premier League or City to suggest the appeal will conclude in that timeframe, or that any particular punishment has been settled on.
What is certain is that City are appealing an independent commission's verdict. That commission delivered its findings in September, finding the club guilty of serious financial rule breaches between the 2009/10 and 2017/18 seasons. The findings included misleading commercial arrangements used to inflate revenue, inaccurate financial reporting and breaches of spending regulations. City were also found to have failed to cooperate fully with aspects of the Premier League's investigation.
The club lodged their appeal on October 1, arguing the commission's conclusions contained substantial legal and factual errors. In an official statement, City reiterated their position: they are innocent of the accusations and will continue to challenge the verdict.
"I'm hearing rumours that this will all be over in a number of weeks," Keown said. "In six weeks or so, we'll see what's going to happen. And it won't be nearly as bad as we think it might be. Maybe they get off with huge fines and we return to the football pitch again."
It is worth remembering what is actually at stake. City were initially found guilty on 114 financial breaches following an extensive investigation into historical revenue reporting and compliance. Sanctions could range from financial penalties to points deductions or more severe sporting measures, depending on how the appeal unfolds. No final punishment has been confirmed while the process remains ongoing.
Opposition fans and rival executives have made their feelings clear, calling for penalties stretching from historic point deductions to expulsion from the top flight or the stripping of titles. That noise will not quieten until a verdict lands.
For now, Keown's timeline is exactly what he said it was: a rumour. City's appeal rumbles on, and the only thing supporters can bank on is that the club will keep fighting the findings. The rest is speculation dressed up as insight.