FIFA's latest decision to cap agent fees could see transfer fees soar for the likes of Liverpool and Manchester United, according to one financial expert.
Liverpool were among the Premier League's biggest spenders in agent fees last season, splashing £22.1million on agents, ranking fourth highest in the top flight.
Manchester United spent even more, handing out £29million to agents. They were second only to local rivals Manchester City, who saw £35million go into agents' pockets.
Overall, the top flight spent a collective £272million on agent fees.
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What are FIFA's new agents' rules?
FIFA's new regulations ensures that agents representing a club can earn a maximum of 10 per cent of a transfer fee. The laws were introduced on January 9, with the rules set to be fully implemented by October.
But financial expert Dr Dan Plumley reckons FIFA's new regulations could have a negative impact on the transfer market, encouraging agents to hoik up players' prices in order to take a larger cut of the deal.
How will they impact transfers?
Speaking to Football Insider, Plumley discussed the changes.
"In theory, the new regulations point towards costs coming down for clubs. But clubs may just go out and spend more in the transfer market as a result," he said.
"The other possibility, which hopefully has been considered, is that agents might inflate transfer fees so they get a larger cut with their 10 per cent.
"There are a couple of things which suggest clubs might spend more in the transfer market or that transfer values will increase, which is absolutely crazy considering where the market is already.
"The assumption is that it will bring costs down for clubs but it might not play out that way."
It could come as a worry to Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp, who expressed his side's shortcomings in the transfer window -explaining that they lack the budget of other clubs.
Topics: FIFA, Liverpool, Manchester United, Premier League, Football, Transfers, Jurgen Klopp
Joe Adams