Man City set to net surprise £20m windfall if one thing happens in the Championship play-off final

Manchester City will receive an unexpected £20 million payment if one thing happens in the Championship play-off final.

Man City were crowned 2023-24 Premier League champions on Sunday, becoming the first team ever to win the English top flight four years in a row.

Pep Guardiola has one of the most talented squads in world football at his disposal, but City are still expected to strengthen in the summer transfer window.

City could be looking for a new midfielder, with the futures of Bernardo Silva and Kevin De Bruyne uncertain.

If club bosses do decide to dip into the market, then they could have £20 million added to the transfer kitty, depending what happens in the Championship play-off final.

Leeds United and Southampton will battle for a place in the Premier League at Wembley, a year after both were relegated from the top flight.

Southampton finished fourth in the Championship table with 87 points, before beating West Brom 3-1 on aggregate in the play-off semi-finals.

Their defence this season has been marshalled by England Under-21s captain Taylor Harwood-Bellis, who joined from City last summer on a season-long loan.

Taylor Harwood-Bellis will join Southampton permanently if they are promoted. (Getty)

A clause in the deal obligates the Saints to buy the central defender for £20 million if they secure promotion to the Premier League, meaning City would receive a pleasant boost if Russell Martin's side do the business at Wembley.

Harwood-Bellis is a product of City's youth academy, and in recent years has impressed during loan spells at Anderlecht and Burnley.

The 22-year-old was a key member of Vincent Kompany's Burnley side that ran away with the Championship title in 2022-23, and captained England U21s to U21 European Championship victory last summer.

The youngster has made 45 appearances for Southampton this term, scoring twice and providing four assists.