Premier League offers EFL proposed £1.5bn funding deal

The Premier League has offered the English Football League a proposed 10-year funding and partnership deal that would increase solidarity payments by more than £1.5 billion compared with current arrangements, but negotiations are continuing and no final agreement has been reached. The proposal was presented to EFL clubs last week after Premier League clubs approved it in July. The funding estimate and terms are set out in proposal papers and remain subject to change as the leagues negotiate. The Premier League said discussions continued at a shareholders’ meeting and that it wanted to reach a football-led agreement as soon as possible. The current proposal would reduce parachute payments to relegated clubs by five per cent over six years and change cost-control measures applied to EFL clubs. It would also require 15 per cent of solidarity funds received by clubs to be ring-fenced for infrastructure projects, and provide for a £20 million fund to assist clubs entering administration. The proposed partnership includes closer cooperation between the leagues on issues such as the Saturday 3 p.m. blackout, the Carabao Cup structure and the EFL Trophy format.