Premier League clubs are poised to vote on a new 'salary cap' which two clubs are already strongly opposed to.
Representatives of all 20 clubs are due to meet on November 21 and a radical new set of rules proposed will form a key part of the agenda.
According to Mike Keegan of the Daily Mail, a 25-page draft has been handed out to clubs over the potential introduction of an 'anchoring' system.
The rule, designed to increase competitiveness, would mean all clubs would be limited to spending around five times the sum lowest-ranked side received from broadcast revenue and prize money - when it comes to their football squad costs.
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As per the report, this would include salaries for players and managers, transfer fee spread over duration of contract and and agents’ payments.
It would come alongside 'squad cost ratio’ regulations which limits spending to 85 per cent of revenue. But there are major concerns that anchoring will have a disastrous impact on the Premier League product.
In fact, it's reported that both Manchester City and Manchester United are strongly against it and believe it would stop the very best players like Erling Haaland and Mo Salah plying their trade in the English top flight as they would go elsewhere.
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United's minority owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe has already made his feelings clear, stating it would "inhibit the top clubs in the Premier League".
He added: "And the last thing you want is for the top clubs in the Premier League not to be able to compete with Real Madrid, Barcelona, Bayern Munich, PSG – that’s absurd. And if it does, it then ceases to be the finest league in the world."
An unnamed executive claimed that the move would "kill the status as the best league in the world and all the money that brings" - with fears that TV revenue would drop and it could also make it harder for promoted teams when they make the step up from the Championship.
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Going off 2023/24 figures, there would be a rough limit of £550 million - which would put some sides at risk of an immediate financial breach.
In addition, if it was to be a multiple of five, any club relegated to the second tier would be in breach of a £40m ‘cap’ straight away - taking in 2023/24 figures into account.
It's possible that proposed rules may be amended before November's sit-down, where more than two thirds of clubs would need to have voted in favour for it to be brought in next season.
The PFA are known to be opponents, which could prove difficult for the Premier League and even lead to another unwanted legal challenge.
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SPORTbible have contacted the Premier League for comment.
Topics: Premier League
Josh Lawless