Shearer warns Maresca faces sack pressure as City's 115-charge spending draws scrutiny

Alan Shearer has warned that Enzo Maresca’s position as Manchester City manager will come under serious threat if the club fails to win the Premier League title this season, while also questioning how City have been able to spend more than £350 million in the transfer market while still awaiting a verdict on 115 alleged breaches of Premier League financial rules.

Speaking before City’s victory over Coventry City at the weekend — their third consecutive win to open the season — Shearer argued that the scale of the club’s investment demands a title return. “You’re paying that amount of investment out to win the league,” Shearer said. “So, City now have to be title challengers. And if they don’t win the league then I guess the manager would be under huge pressure. You don’t spend that money to finish second or third.”

Maresca took charge at the Etihad Stadium this summer following Pep Guardiola’s departure after a decade in the role. City have made a perfect start to the Premier League campaign, winning all three of their opening fixtures against Bournemouth, Crystal Palace and Coventry City to sit joint-top alongside Arsenal, who defeated Chelsea on Sunday.

The club’s summer transfer activity has drawn widespread attention given the unresolved 115-charge case. City signed Elliot Anderson and Enzo Fernandez in deals worth more than £100 million each, while Ayyoub Bouaddi arrived from Lille in a move reportedly worth up to £86 million and Iliman Ndiaye joined from Everton for around £65 million.

“I haven’t got a clue how Man City have been able to spend the money they have whilst they are still under those charges,” Shearer said. “I mean I get why there’s so many questions being asked, it’s just gone on too long, hasn’t it? I saw an interview with Richard Masters not so long ago when he said that he understands how everyone views it, but he says it’s the independent commission’s decision. So I don’t know. I really don’t know.”

The independent commission hearing the 115 charges has yet to deliver a verdict, and Premier League chief executive Masters has previously indicated the process remains outside the league’s direct control. City have consistently denied any wrongdoing.