Source reveals why Aston Villa have added reason to take legal action against Manchester City
Aston Villa could be readying themselves to take Manchester City to task.
The whole footballing world now knows about what has gone down at the Etihad Stadium.
It broke last week that the Citizens have been found guilty in 114 of their 115 charges.
There is no news of a punishment as the Premier League assess their options after this verdict from the independent panel.
Having breached financial years between 2009 and 2018, they have certainly caused a stir.
This looks likely to prompt a wide range of legal battles, but Villa could have a case to be answered for more than others.
How Aston Villa could get involved in nine-figure legal battle
City are ready to fight whatever the Premier League throw their way.
While they await a punishment, it may prove that the league organisers are the least of their problems.
A report from the i Paper details that compensation claims could fly in from clubs, players and managers for various reasons.
A loss in earnings is the basis to it all and it could end with a legal bill running into the hundreds of millions for Man City.
Villa will likely have a part to play in that, but it will be a source who previously worked at a relegated Premier League team who will catch the attention in B6.
They told the i Paper, "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."
The Villans have a case to be answered for as we assess who they lost to the Etihad club and what that meant for their finances.
How many players did Aston Villa lose to Manchester City?
The breaches the Sky Blues are being accused of lasted nine years between 2009 and 2018.
Villa went from being a top six regular to being in the Championship in that time.
That was thanks in part to City as they started that period by signing Gareth Barry from B6 in the summer of 2009.
They followed that up the next summer with a deal for James Milner.
In those two seasons, Villa went from sixth to ninth and ultimately lost their hold on Europa League qualification.
That allowed them to get their share of £128million from UEFA, but was ripped from them.
The same can be said about Premier League prize money when Fabian Delph moved to City in 2015 and the Villans were then relegated that season.
Missing out on Premier League football as a new record TV deal came in saw Villa make around £110m in the Championship, but they could have had around £307m had they been in the top flight.
Villa may well utilise that as the backing for a claim against Manchester City to play their role in many settlements that could total well over £100m.