Everton’s appeal against their 10-point deduction will be heard this week.
Goodison Park chiefs are set to challenge the severity of November’s original punishment for breaching the Premier League’s Profit and Sustainability regulations.
Their case against that double-figure sanction, the biggest in top-flight history, will now be heard by an independent panel during a two-day hearing from Wednesday.
A verdict on the appeal is expected to arrive in mid-February, which could have a bearing on the Blues’ subsequent financial fair play charge for the 2022/23 season.
If the original sanction is upheld, Sean Dyche’s side run the risk of a second points deduction when their second breach is heard by another independent commission.
Meanwhile the league’s chief executive Richard Masters has been asked to clarify remarks about Everton at a parliamentary select committee earlier this month.
Masters referred to both the Toffees and Nottingham Forest, who were also referred on overspend charges, as ‘small clubs’ when answering questions about them.