Alvaro Negredo faces Champions League chop because Manchester City have too many foreign players in their squad

Under FFP sanctions they are only allowed 16 foreign players

Alvaro Negredo (GETTY IMAGES)

Manuel Pellegrini could cut Spanish striker Alvaro Negredo from his Champions League squad because Manchester City have too many foreign players.

After being found guilty of breaching Financial Fair Play rules, Uefa restricted the defending Premier League champions to a maximum of 16 foreign players in their 21-man European squad.

The arrival of Eliaquim Mangala from Porto pushed the number of foreign players in the City squad up to 17 and because of Negredo’s broken foot, he is the one who will miss out.

The Spanish striker, who scored 23 goals last season, is expected to return to the City side in mid-September. He enjoyed an explosive start to his City season but failed to add any goals after injuring his shoulder against West Ham on 21 January.

The arrival of Eliaquim Mangala leaves Negredo's place in doubt (GETTY IMAGES)

The former Seville striker lost his place to Edin Dzeko, another 20 goal striker, and lost his form in the process. Negredo has been linked with an exit from the Etihad, and should be left out of the Champions League squad that speculation will only increase.