Revealed: £170m moves from Leeds & West Brom feared ahead of crunch meeting

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Published on:

31 Mar 2020, 5:42 am

The prospect of £170million lawsuits from Championship high flyers Leeds United and West Brom is a key issue ahead of a crunch Premier League meeting later this week, Football Insider understands.

The English top-flight clubs are set to meet over video conference to discuss the latest proposals for how this season's leagues and cups may be concluded given the depth of the coronavirus crisis.

A Premier League source has told Football Insider that there remains a strong desire to complete the campaign before starting the next one.

This is for reasons of sporting integrity and to avoid owing a huge financial rebate to broadcasters and sponsors.

The source explained the potential for litigation from leading Championship clubs missing out on the vast broadcasting windfalls from the English top flight is also a major consideration.

Promotion to the Premier League is worth a minimum £170million from increased broadcasting revenue as well as subsequent paracture payments.

Leeds and West Brom, who are well clear at the top of the Championship with nine match remaining, could make legal moves against the Premier League, as could the four sides currently in the play-off spots.

Clubs in all Europe's major leagues are set for key decisions at a time when European countries are in even stricter shutdown conditions than when this summer's European Championships was postponed two weeks ago.

As reported by Football Insider yesterday, Liverpool face the prospect of a £100million blackhole if the season is ended as well as losing out on their first Premier League title in 30 years.

Leeds and West Brom have privately and publicly made clear their preference for the season to be completed before a new one starts.

The EFL board led by chairman Rick Parry has been in constant dialogue with the Premier League and member clubs over the many ramifications of the suspension of top-level football.

In other Leeds United news, it can be REVEALED major Thorp Arch move planned as new return date is revealed.

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