BBC reporter claims three massive Premier League clubs are set to back radical salary cap

A BBC reporter has claimed that three top Premier League will back radical planned reforms for a new salary cap.

The Premier League's spending power has been on an upward ascent throughout much of this century, although the amount of money clubs are spending has hit incredible heights over recent seasons.

Clubs spent a total of £2.36 billion on player transfers during the 2023 summer window - a divisional record.

Chelsea spent £397.2 million of that amount themselves (via Football365), with the only non-Premier League club in the top five being Ligue 1 giants Paris Saint-Germain (second place, £299.2 million).

With higher transfer fees, it correlates that wages have also been significantly on the rise.

That is why Premier League clubs are due to discuss a new financial proposal on Monday which would enforce a salary cap on the division.

The proposal is known as 'anchoring', which would cap spending on players to a multiple of the amount of TV revenue earned by the bottom-placed club each season. The proposed figure is believed to be a multiple of five.

And BBC reporter Dan Roan claims that three major clubs are considering voting for the controversial new salary cap.

He told BBC Radio Four: "Clubs have backed an alternative squad cost regime for the 2025/26 season, which links the amounts they can spend on player wages to their own revenues.

"But some Premier League clubs have pushed for this additional financial control, known as anchoring, to try and boost competitive balance and fairness. It would effectively mean a strict salary cap.

A salary-cap for the Premier League?

My live report for the @BBCr4today programme earlier, as the 20 PL clubs meet today to discuss a controversial proposed new financial rule known as ‘anchoring’ that would tie spending on players to the bottom club’s TV revenue
👂 ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/rpCTeWUjMS

— Dan Roan (@danroan) April 29, 2024

"Club investment in their squads would be limited to a multiple of the lowest club's broadcast revenue. So if the multiple was five times, as proposed, and the bottom club earned £100 million, clubs could only spend £500 million on wages and fees.

"Some of the richest clubs, such as Manchester United, are thought to be opposed to the plan, on the basis that it could mean some top players have to be sold.

"But with the majority of sides, including Arsenal, Liverpool and Tottenham, it is understood they are thought to be in favour of anchoring amid fears that Middle Eastern-owned clubs, such as Manchester City, could become too dominant.

"It could be approved in principle today, and then finalised at the AGM in the summer. But the Premier League would need to consult the PFA, so this is only a first step."