Premier League sides, Manchester United and Liverpool are in talks for a European Premier League.
According to Sky News’ Mark Kleinman, both clubs are in talks about a plan to involve Europe’s biggest football clubs to join a new FIFA-backed tournament. This is expected that it would reshape the sport’s global landscape.
According to the media, the financiers are assembling a $6 billion (£4.6 billion) funding package to assist the creation of what could become known as the European Premier League.
Top clubs from England, France, Germany, Italy, and Spain are planning to be members as negotiation is ongoing. It was gathered that five English clubs could sign up to join it. Provisional start date could be suggested for as early as 2022.
According to sources, FIFA had been involved in developing the new format, which is expected to comprise up to 18 teams, and involve fixtures played during the regular European season.
Format of the suggested European Champions League
The sources further revealed that top-placed teams in the league would qualify for a knockout format to conclude the tournament. The prize money for the winners is expected to be worth hundreds of millions of pounds each year.
According to a football industry figure, a formal announcement about the plans could be possible as soon as the end of this month. A number of key details, which include the full list of participating clubs is yet to be finalised and the plans could still fall apart.
This has been described as “potentially the most important development in world club football for decades.
“FIFA does not wish to comment and participate in any speculation about topics which come up every now and then and, for which, institutional structures and regulatory frameworks are well in place at national, European and global level,” a FIFA spokesperson said.
Insiders have it that some English sides have been approached about joining the league, with the other candidates comprising Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur.
Although no club has reportedly sign legally binding terms to join, it remains unclear which member of the so-called ‘big six’ would miss out if only five are ultimately involved.
