Premier League clubs wishing to sue Manchester City may reportedly have to do soon - without knowing the outcome of the legal case against the champions.
City are defending 115 separate alleged breaches of financial rules, with their 10-year hearing set to begin next month.
Legal experts have told The Times that clubs have a six-year deadline to sue for breach of contract - and that deadline is in November after Der Spiegel published Football Leaks documents in 2018.
However, City's 10-week hearing starts next month and its outcome will not be known until early next year.
City stand accused of funnelling money from the club’s owners through sponsors in the United Arab Emirates.
However, the outcome of the hearing for their 155 alleged breaches will only be known in 2025
The club have been accused of financial impropriety spanning nine years from 2009 and the sternest punishment if found guilty is relegation. Points deductions and fines are also potential penalties.
The Premier League charged City with a failure to provide accurate financial information and a failure to provide accurate details for player and manager payments.
Some clubs have reportedly taken legal advice over compensation claims, which could stretch into hundreds of millions of pounds.
They would, for example, be able to claim a loss of income for missing out on the title should the charges against City be proved.
Due to the 1980 Limitation Act setting a six-year deadline for claims of breach of contract claims in the UK - a path clubs might pursue - City's rivals are faced with the prospect of having to sue without knowing the outcome of the case.
City deny wrongdoing and are defending their case at an independent inquiry.
Pep Guardiola's side begin their title defence against Chelsea on Sunday at Stamford Bridge after a mixed pre-season.
They overcame Manchester United on penalties in the Community Shield final on Saturday after a late Bernardo Silva equaliser, and won their final friendly 4-2 over the Blues.
However, City lost their first three games of the summer against Celtic, AC Milan, and Barcelona, the latter on penalties.