Finance guru: Liverpool want to ‘squeeze even more’ from deal as Uefa confirms £4bn ‘overhaul’
The plateauing value of Champions League television rights is not an immediate concern to Liverpool – but they will ultimately need to see commercial growth under the new format.
That is the opinion of finance expert Doctor Dan Plumley, speaking exclusively to Football Insider about how Europe’s top clubs are looking to profit from UEFA’s latest changes to the format of their flagship competition.
The Times reported back in January that UEFA expected rights of the new Champions League to rise 40% up to more than £4billion after their format change to the competition.
However that financial increase is yet to be seen, with the Daily Mail reporting last Friday (23 December) that both DAZN and Amazon have retained overseas rights despite paying less than their previous three-year deals.
Plumley does not believe that deals in the early stage of this major format change are a huge concern to clubs, but he insists that Europe’s powerhouses will eventually demand to see financial progress.
“I think in the early stages this is less of a concern,” the Sheffield Hallam University expert told Football Insider.
“Liverpool are one of the clubs that will be keeping an eye over the course of the cycle because the new format and the new deal runs until 2027 so this will be the first wave of the competition overhaul.
“I don’t think clubs would have signed up for it if they weren’t guaranteed to make at least the same as what they were earning before if not a little bit more.
“And they will get even more from the commercial side linked to more matches and matchday income. So they will be able to squeeze even more out of it.
“Plus, the way it’s set up is designed to protect the bigger clubs, so for Liverpool, this will be less of a concern for now.
“But when the new cycle comes around in 2027 and we’ve had three years of this new format the bigger clubs will be wanting to see growth in the TV market and the commercial market.
“So it’s one to keep an eye on rather than a huge concern.”
In other news, pundit backs Liverpool to sign Jude Bellingham alternative after update on signing three more stars.