Why Man Utd will launch fierce resistance against Premier League salary cap plans - explained

The prospect of a salary cap being introduced into the Premier League is set to be raised at an annual meeting but will meet fierce resistance from Manchester United and new part-owners INEOS, according to The Times. Sir Jim Ratcliffe is against the idea as he believes it would put the club at a disadvantage as they would find it harder to compete domestically and in European competition against heavyweights such as Real Madrid and Bayern Munich.

Major changes are coming elite football with an expanded Champions League set to kick off next season. The Premier League will also replace its Profitability and Sustainability Rules from the 2025-26 campaign with a squad cost control policy but further measures could also be introduced. The squad cost control will mean clubs can only spend 85 per cent of total revenue on transfers, player wages and agent fees. The plan to bring in a salary cap will be discussed at a Premier League meeting in June.

Crystal Palace chairman, Steve Parish spoke about a potential salary cap back in October: "UEFA’s squad-cost caps are one idea — and maybe something that is a bit more rigid than that, with a hard cap at the top, that doesn’t take turnover into account. We also have to be very careful because there are also unintended consequences."

Ratcliffe is busy making changes at Manchester United as he aims to turn the club back into title-challengers. The Red Devils have just appointed Jason Wilcox as the club's new technical director, while the Premier League side are also still eager to bring in Dan Ashworth as their new sporting director. Doubts also remain over manager Erik ten Hag's future after a disappointing Premier League and European campaign.