Man City to pay barrister as much as Kevin De Bruyne with £10,000-per-hour wages necessary amid Premier League charges

• Investigation alleges more than 100 violations
• Man City face calls for relegation
• Pannick has worked with club before

WHAT HAPPENED? Pannick could cost City as much as £10,000 an hour to defend the organisation as an independent commission determines whether to punish them over the findings of a four-year Premier League investigation, according to The Lawyer. Disciplinary measures for violations of financial rules could be as harsh as a points deduction or relegation, so the club are willing to pay any amount to fund a strong defence.

THE BIGGER PICTURE: If paid at his highest requested fee, Pannick would make as much as star midfielder Kevin De Bruyne.

AND WHAT'S MORE: There is no set timetable for when the independent commission, appointed by the Premier League's judiciary panel, must finalise its ruling on Manchester City. The proceedings will happen in private.

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WHAT NEXT FOR MAN CITY? The club will try to focus on the pitch as turmoil unsettles them off of it, with a crucial game against Arsenal set for next Wednesday after a weekend clash with Aston Villa.