PREMIER LEAGUE clubs could be forced to sell players in order to pay the rest of their squads, according to reports.
The coronavirus pandemic has had a huge effect on club finances, with teams losing key revenue streams.
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Southampton and West Ham are so far the only PL clubs to agree wage cuts with their playersCredit: Getty Images – Getty
On average, top flight sides in England use 75 per cent of their overall revenues to pay player wages.
And having no matches to play has hit them hard in the pocket – with Tottenham, for example, missing out on £5million-per-home game.
Clubs are desperate for the season to finish, to avoid potential repercussions that could even see them have to pay some of the TV money back to the networks.
Many European sides, meanwhile, have agreed pay cuts or deferrals with their players in order to ease immediate cash flow problems.
Barcelona are among them, with their players agreeing a 70 per cent drop, with a further two per cent ensuring that the club’s non-playing staff receive their full salaries.
But only Southampton and West Ham have reached agreements with their players in the Premier League, as the row over pay rumbles on.
If the current climate continues, the Mirror claim that four teams already find themselves having to seriously consider flogging players in order to keep themselves afloat.
Another issue is what will happen with the players that are only contracted until June 30.
The likes of Willian, Adam Lallana and Jan Vertonghen are all set to become free agents in the summer.
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But with the season set to finish beyond that date, Fifa have been hoping that players can come to an arrangement.
Willian has claimed that he will stay at Chelsea until whenever the season finishes out of “loyalty”.
However players will legally be entitled to leave when their deals expire.
Willian produces epic goal in Chelsea training
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
