There is a divide behind the scenes on who will pay what for the new solidarity system demanded by the Government
Premier League clubs are on a collision course with one another over how they will pay for the “new deal for football” –with smaller clubs insisting that the so-called “Big Six” accept a greater share of the bill, potentially through a transfer tax.
There is a divide behind the scenes on who will pay what for the new solidarity system demanded by the Government and estimated to be a total of around £170 million extra per year – with the Big Six of Manchester United, Manchester City, Liverpool, Chelsea, Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur isolated against the rest.
The Big Six, who were part of the aborted European Super League breakaway in April 2021, have insisted that each clubs’ payments for the “new deal” should be made “on merit”, which means according to a sliding scale that mirrors the way merit payments are awarded at the end of the season by league position. That sliding scale sets a limit: a ratio of around 1.7:1 from earnings in first to last place in the Premier League, ensuring that the top clubs do not get disproportionately more than those below them.
The Big Six say that the merit system is the one recommended by the Premier League executive for taking on the extra burden of payment and is the fair way of doing so.