Alan Shearer believes that Manchester City’s Champions League ban could set the club back years.
City have been banned from European club competition for the next two seasons after committing ‘serious breaches’ of UEFA’s financial fair play regulations.
That could lead to an exodus of their squad, with David Silva leaving at the end of this term, while Sergio Aguero and Leroy Sane’s contracts expire in 2021.
The Citizens have confirmed they will appeal the decision at the Court of Arbitration for Sport, describing the ruling as ‘disappointing, but not surprising’.
However, if the appeal is thrown out, Shearer believes the side could be broken up.
He told The Sun:“The outcome of their legal challenge against the two-year UEFA ban is so important.
“It could knock them back years. Big-name players have joined City expecting to play in the elite of European football.
“Without that they will surely look at other options and they will have plenty.”
There must also be fears about attracting high-profile signings should they not be in the Champions League.
Shearer added: “City’s squad is at the stage where they have to bring in more players this summer than they have needed to for a long time, if they are to mount a challenge again.
“To be able to get to a position where then can compete with Liverpool they need a freshen-up, definitely.
“The Champions League is the carrot City can dangle in front of the best players, which they need in order to challenge again.
“Without that what can the blue half of Manchester offer to win the race for their signatures?
“They won’t just be able to throw huge salaries at players and hope that will be enough. As we now know, financial fair play will have an impact on that.
“City could find they are in a position where their best players - the likes of Kevin De Bruyne, Raheem Sterling and Bernardo Silva - will be looking to move on and they will find it impossible to get replacements of the same level.”
The English champions are still allowed to participate in this year’s competition and travel to face Real Madrid in the first leg of their last-16 tie on February 26.
