SKY presenter Simon Thomas was forced into an awkward apology after Tim Sherwood’s on-air comments about Manchester City.

The former Blackburn midfielder joined Soccer Saturday to report on the weekend’s Premier League action.

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Sherwood and the rest of the panel discussed City’s January transfer dealing as they looked ahead to Saturday’s game with Chelsea at the Etihad.

Trio Omar Marmoush, Abdukodir Khusanov and Vitor Reis have arrived at the Etihad for a combined spend of over £100million over the past few weeks.

City were slapped with a whopping 115 charges in February 2023 over alleged breaches of Financial Fair Play rules.

Sherwood said: “They seem to be the only team who can spend money, and they’ve got 115 [charges] over their head.”

Asked by co-pundit Paul Merson if he believed City were heading for a transfer embargo, he replied: “Perhaps yeah, they must know something.”

Sherwood continued: “They’re trying to build for the future, they made a mistake by not buying in the summer.

“I think they’ve realised that, it’s obviously brilliant in hindsight, we’ve all got a degree in that. 

“If there’s players available they will go and get them, even if they have to pay over the top, they don’t care. Man City make their own rules up.”

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Following an ad break, host Thomas was put on screen to issue an apology on behalf of Sky.

Thomas said: “We had a conversation earlier today in the build-up about Manchester City [regarding] their transfer business.

“There was a comment made about Man City and the rules.

“I just want to say that they are absolutely not the views of Sky Sports and we apologise to Manchester City for those comments.”

The Premier League have now been investigating City for more than five years.

City have vehemently denied the charges, with the alleged rule-breaking said to have taken place over a 14-year period.

The club were initially hit with 115 charges in February 2023, but these were increased to 130 following an administration issue.

Despite a three-man panel hearing closing arguments in December, it will still be months before a verdict is released.

What will happen to Man City?

MAN CITY began the season as favourites to win the Premier League title yet again – but there is one elephant in the room that threatens to put the skids under the Etihad giants.

Sunsport’s MARTIN LIPTON discusses what the next few months could hold with Head of Sport SHAUN CUSTIS….

Custis: So the big question – will there be a resolution this season?

Lipton: Yes…. probably! It will take at least a month to go through the evidence. So I suspect around March, April time, we will get a result. But that’s where it starts to get tricky.

Custis: Why is that?

Lipton: If the result is in City’s favour, that’s the end of the matter. They will be cleared. They will have no punishment to face.

But if City are found guilty, these will be the heaviest penalties ever imposed by the Premier League.

I suspect if they are found guilty, they will be expelled from the league or given a massive points deduction and a huge fine so that they’re not in the Premier League next season.

Check out the full discussion on Man City’s future.

City have been accused of failing to accurately report their finances over a nine-year period from the 2009-10 season to 2017-18.

It is also alleged they failed to provide all the details about wages for a host of players and former manager Roberto Mancini.

The club are then charged with failing to cooperate with the Prem’s investigation.

If found guilty, City could be hit with a points deduction or financial penalties.

They could also be relegated from the Premier League if they’re found to have committed the most serious charges.