Premier League to investigate Man City over controversial transfer

The Premier League is set to investigate Manchester City's latest transfer dealing.

City have won five of the last six Premier League titles and are the reigning champions of Europe, but there is a grey cloud hanging over their success.

The treble winners will face an independent panel after they were charged by the Premier League last year with 115 breaches of financial rules. If found guilty the club could face punishments ranging from fines to relegation.

In the meantime it's business as usual at the Etihad Stadium, although a small part of that business is now set to be srutinised by the Premier League as a separate matter.

On Monday reports claimed that City are close to agreeing a deal to sign Brazilian winger Savio in the summer from French club Troyes.

The Ligue 2 side are a member of City Football Group - the organisation that owns City and several clubs around the world - a point that has sparked controversy.

Troyes paid around £5.6 million to make the 19-year-old their club record signing last summer, but he could end up never playing for the club.

Savio has spent this season on loan at Girona, another member of CFG. The teenager has made a contribution to the Spanish side's surprise title challenge in La Liga, and as a result has attracted interest from other top European clubs.

The value of City's offer to Troyes is unknown, but bids in the region of £25 million from other English and German clubs have reportedly been rejected.

Getty)

According to The Telegraph, City will need to provide evidence that they are paying a fair market value for Savio before the Premier League approve the deal.

That's because the Premier League rulebook has clauses relating to transfer business conducted between teams under the same ownership. The aim of the rules is the prevent clubs paying under the market value in order to adhere to financial regulations.

Savio will need to be valued at 'book value' for the purposes of Financial Fair Play, which would allow City to amortise an agreed fee across the period of his contract.

Even if the deal is approved by the Premier League, Savio is unlikely to play for City next season. According to Relevo, City will send the Brazilian on loan to Girona should the Spanish side qualify for next season's Champions League.