Three of football’s biggest agencies have told the Premier League they will see them in court should they introduce a highly-controversial salary cap.
On Friday, top flight clubs are set to vote on bringing in ‘anchoring’ from next season, which would see the amount any side could spend limited to five times the prize money and broadcast revenue paid to the club which finishes bottom.
Daily Mail Sport has previously reported that an outraged Professional Footballers’ Association have already threatened legal action ahead of a key shareholders meeting.
And now, with the situation ramped up yet further, big-hitters CAA Stellar, CAA Base and Wasserman have taken the unprecedented step of joining forces to lay out their position to Premier League bosses.
Communicating via a leading London law firm, the trio note the PFA’s stance, claim the move would breach competition law and say they would also take legal action should anchoring be voted through.
Both Manchester clubs are opposed to the method which, based on 2023-24, would see spending capped at £550m.
They believe such a move would be dangerous for the Premier League as it would trigger a talent drain to rival countries in Europe and could also wreak havoc should the Championship adopt a similar system.
The PFA will this week meet captains from all 20 top-flight sides with some believing the game is on the brink of civil war.
When clubs were first balloted on whether to explore the mechanism last year, Arsenal were among 16 clubs who voted in favour. It will require 14 clubs to support the move for anchoring to be implemented.
The three agencies look after a host of household names including Jack Grealish, Ivan Toney, Cole Palmer, Eberechi Eze, Curtis Jones and John Stones.
One exec, strongly opposed to anchoring, explained: ‘This will kill the status as the best league in the world and all the money that brings. It feels like we are being sleepwalked into disaster.’
Premier League insiders say they have specifically consulted with the three agencies involved and have been ‘completely ignored’. They also say UEFA’s squad cost rules have not been challenged and point out that, from February 2024 to 2025 the net total paid to agents relating to the Premier League was £409m.
PFA chief executive Maheta Molango last week hit out at the plans.
‘We have a tendency in football to think that we are above the law,’ he said. ‘The reality is that you cannot artificially cap someone’s ability to make a living as this would just not withstand any legal challenge.
‘We’ve been clear with the Premier League that it (the introduction of a salary cap via a ‘Top to Bottom Anchoring’ rule) is something we will oppose but the Premier League themselves know that, even before the PFA does this, there will be clubs within their own room who will legally challenge the measure.
‘The only ones who end up winning are the lawyers. We want to talk about football, we don’t want to talk about legal bills.’
Anchoring would set a limit on ‘football squad costs’, which include player and head coach wages, amortisation (transfer fee spread over duration of contract) and agents’ fees.
The Premier League declined to comment on the latest development. They have previously said that they disagree with the PFA and add that they have carried out ‘an extensive consultation process with clubs and other stakeholders’.
A spokesperson said: ‘The PFA has had numerous opportunities since March 2024 to provide feedback on, and shape, the proposals and the principles that underpin them. Where the League has received feedback on the New Financial System from stakeholders, including the PFA, we have considered it carefully and, where appropriate, incorporated it into formulating the draft rules.
‘It is the League’s objective to maintain the Premier League’s value, competitive balance and ensure clubs operate in a financially sustainable way.
‘We are engaging with our clubs, and they will continue to evaluate the proposals. They will have the opportunity to vote on them later this month.’
