Kieran Maguire: Sunderland braced for financial blow as ‘£119m-a-year’ deal on the line
Sunderland and the rest of the EFL will take a financial hit if the League Cup is scrapped to make room for more Champions League matches.
That is the view of finance guru Kieran Maguire, speaking exclusively to Football Insider about how the new Champions League format will impact the domestic game.
Europe’s premier club competition will add two extra group stage matchdays from the 2024-25 season.
The Daily Mail reported last Friday (13 May) that the League Cup could be scrapped to make room for the extra games.
Maguire explained how the EFL’s £119million-a-year TV deal would fall in value if this situation transpires.
“The EFL TV deal is estimated to be worth £119m per year,” he told Football Insider’s Adam Williams.
“Some people say that between a third and a half of that is due to the League Cup because it has the likes of Man United, Chelsea and Liverpool in it.
“We know that quite a few clubs put forward weaker teams for it, so the value of matches in the early rounds tends to be relatively low. But as you progress through the competition, there is more interest.
“It is important in terms of it being a flagship competition and good for the EFL brand. The prize money is buttons, so they get a lot of money coming in but don’t have to pay a lot out.
“Proportionately, a greater element of the money goes to EFL clubs themselves.”
Alex Neil’s side will play in the Championship next season after Saturday’s (21 May) 2-0 play-off final victory over Wycombe at Wembley.
The Black Cats were knocked out of the League Cup at the quarter-final stage this term.
In other news, Sunderland make contact over signing Oxford star Alex Gorrin.