Gary Lineker fears Everton could be sued by their OWN players in Premier League points deduction row

Gary Lineker says Everton could find themselves in a position where they are sued by their OWN players following their points deduction.

Everton have plunged into the relegation zone after being hit by a 10 point deduction by the Premier League.

They've been found guilty of breaching financial fair play rules, with FOUR clubs set to take legal action against the Toffees.

Lineker, who enjoyed one season at Goodison Park during his legendary career, discussed Everton's points deduction sanction on The Rest Is Football podcast as he suggested the club's own players could look to sue.

Alan Shearer touched on the idea of Everton players having their salaries reduced if the club were to be relegated from the top flight.

The Leicester City legend then stated that it could lead to players suing Everton as a result. Check it out below:

Shearer said: "If Everton were to be relegated, I would imagine all the players have clauses in their contract about relegation... salaries get 50 per cent reduced or something like that.

"There lies another problem, through no fault of their own... if they were to be relegated, they'd say 'hang on a minute those 10 points aren't our fault'."

Lineker chipped in: "Then you start suing the club."

The Newcastle United hero believes the punishment is 'harsh' but believes Sean Dyche's side have a 'realistic chance' of avoiding the drop this season.

"To me, it seems incredibly harsh when you’re talking about a figure of £19.5million," he added. "When you look at the grand scheme of things in Premier League football, £19.5million and to be docked that many points, that to me is incredibly harsh, is it?

“In terms of sending a message out with the 10-point deduction, which is obviously I think hugely harsh on them, but if there is going to be a time you are going to be deducted 10 points, then this is probably the season that you think at least we have got a realistic chance of getting out of the mess we find ourselves in.

"The standard at the bottom is as bad as it’s been for a long time. I think they will recover and they will get out of it. With the manager and players that they have got, they have already shown that they have got enough ability. If there is a season it is going to happen, perhaps this is the season."