Premier League facing civil war as agents threaten legal action ahead of salary cap vote

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Three of football's biggest agencies have told the Premier League that they will embark on legal action if they do choose to introduce a salary cap.

Clubs in the top flight will vote on Friday about bringing in 'anchoring' from next season, which means any team can only spend five times the prize money and broadcast revenue that is paid to the club which finishes bottom. The ultimate aim being to create a more level playing field.

Well-known agency firms CAA Stellar, CAA Base and Wasserman have decided to joining forces and have laid out their plans to Premier League chiefs should the vote go against them.

It comes after the PFA also threatened legal action ahead of a key shareholders meeting, as reported by the Daily Mail . The three firms believe the move would breach competition law and legal action is very much a live option. The agencies have the likes of Jack Grealish , Cole Palmer , Eberechi Eze, Curtis Jones and John Stones on their books.

Not every club is in agreement with the planned move - both Manchester clubs among them. Every team is likely to put their own ambitions first with the so-called lesser clubs and those with less financial might ultimately benefiting from any cap being introduced.

If the vote goes through then it will see a spending cap come in limiting clubs to outlaying £550million. The two Manchester teams believe the cap would lead to talent heading away from the Premier League, instead going to other countries where they could earn more.

When clubs were first balloted last year Arsenal were among 16 who voted in favour. It would require 14 clubs to support the change for it to be implemented. 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.

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PFA chief executive Maheta Molango said last week: "The reality is that you cannot artificially cap someone’s ability to make a living as this would just not withstand any legal challenge."

The Championship are considering adopting a similar system - which could lead to similar disagreement given some clubs will have just come down from the top flight whilst others will have been used to League One income.

One club executive 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."

Sky has slashed the price of its Essential TV and Sky Sports bundle ahead of the 2025/26 season, saving members £336 and offering more than 1,400 live matches across the Premier League, EFL and more.