The hundreds of millions of pounds which Premier League clubs have allowed to leave the game in the form of agent fees this summer has been cited at Westminster as a key reason for denying football the bailout which the Government are expected to grant to other sports.
The 20 top-flight clubs spent a combined total of £1.15billion on new players during the summer transfer window, with an additional £250million-plus estimated to have been racked up in agent fees.
Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden has been briefed that the £263m spent by Premier League clubs on agent fees during the 2019-20 season is actually more than the EFL are seeking as a rescue package to guarantee the survival of their 72 clubs, a fact that has not softened the Government's attitude to the top flight.