Manchester City's legal battle against the Premier League could drag on for years, according to the club's chief executive Ferran Soriano.

Sky News understands that the Man City boss has indicated the fight between the club and the league is set to be an extended process with no quick resolution in sight.

At the same time, Soriano has delivered a defiant message directly to senior executives at rival clubs, as BBC Sport has been told.

That message to opposing team bosses specifically addresses the prospect of Manchester City being found guilty of a majority of the Premier League charges brought against them.

The reporting reveals how the club's leadership is positioning itself behind the scenes as it confronts both the league authorities and competitor teams.

Rather than preparing for an imminent conclusion, Soriano's assessment points to a protracted struggle that could span multiple seasons.

According to the information shared with BBC Sport, Soriano made his defiant stance clear straight to the executive figures running other top-flight sides.

What we do not know yet are the precise words used by Soriano in that communication, or the exact points put forward to rival leadership.

It also remains to be seen how executives at other Premier League clubs or the league itself will formally respond to the stance taken by City's chief executive.

With the timeline now described as potentially taking years, the dispute will continue to hang over the competition as the legal proceedings move forward.

I'll be following this one — check back for updates.