MANCHESTER CITY were today drawn into the threat of a transfer window ban.

French club Rennes have declared that their signing of the young defender Jeremy Helan had been unlawful and presented a more clear-cut case for reprisals from Fifa than Chelsea's move for Gael Kakuta, which landed the London club a restriction on signing players until 2011.

Rennes technical director, Pierre Dreossi, said that the case had been referred to Fifa and that his club were expecting punishment to be meted out.

"Manchester City must now realise the consequences of their attitude in the Helan case as it is even more illegal than Kakuta," he said.

Meantime, Manchester United say they will take legal action against Le Havre unless they stop making allegations about the transfer of 16-year-old Paul Pogba.

The French club have repeated claims that United offered financial inducements to Pogba's family in order to lure the teenager to Old Trafford.

But United are satisfied the transfer was completed within Fifa guidelines.

"Manchester United is ready to defend any claim brought against it by Le Havre at Fifa," said a club statement.