Premier League’s Big Six ‘reject calls to set June 30 cut-off date for the current season’

The Premier League‘s so-called ‘Big Six’ have banded together and will reject calls to agree a cut-off date for the current season, according to reports.

As reported on Thursday, some clubs are expected to push for a June 30 cut-off point at a Premier League meeting on Friday, with the growing feeling that the season simply cannot run into July.

But the Big Six are not among those sceptics, with The Sun reporting that they have put up a united front and will signal their desire to play the remaining games out in full.

The Premier League’s Big Six have joined together to reject calls for a June 30 cut-off deadline

Pep Guardiola’s Man City are not among the clubs that believe the season cannot go into July

That would result in that amalgamation of clubs requiring just one other top-flight side to join them before they can put a block on the rest of the league’s push for a definitive cut-off point.

One of clubs’ greatest concerns is the issue of players whose contracts will end on June 30.

Previously, July 12 had been a key date in the Premier League calendar because completing the matches by then would avoid repayments to broadcast partners – but that date has since been brought forward after a number of clubs received legal advice, particularly on the subject of player contracts.

Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool have joined the united front to play out the season in full

FIFA have announced that they will bring in special measures to protect clubs and players whose contracts expire on July 30, the official end of the European season.

Yet clubs have been advised that English contractual law would supersede any arbitrary or emergency arrangements introduced by the governing body, and players could not be legally held to FIFA’s rulings.

This raises the possibility of loaned players, or those out of contract – such as Pedro, Olivier Giroud and Willian at Chelsea, Jan Vertonghen at Tottenham and Adam Lallana at Liverpool – being able to walk away from their clubs on July 1, even if the campaign was underway but incomplete.

Moreover, the report claims that the Big Six’s resolve is being further reinforced by the prospect of total losses of £580million if the season is cancelled, which is more than the other 14 clubs put together.

Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal are also among clubs worried about the total £580million losses

Premier League bosses have designed a number of restart scenarios in June, July or August, with the latter also allowing next season to run on time if the Carabao Cup is crapped.

And league chiefs will look at all other options before even contemplating voiding the season, especially with Bundesliga and Serie A bosses hinting at potential resumptions in May.

It is understood UEFA are also keen for all remaining matches in the domestic leagues to be played, but April 23’s meeting is likely to see the subject of possibly ending them early at least discussed.

Premier League chiefs are also considering scrapping the Carabao Cup for next season

UEFA is considering the option of finishing the Champions League and Europa League competitions in August once domestic leagues are completed, it is understood.

If domestic leagues are up and running some time in the next couple of months, then UEFA could decide to play them alongside the league action as they do in normal circumstances.

But if it is not until July or August that the action is under way then UEFA would be more likely to play the remainder of the two competitions in a condensed timeframe, culminating at the end of the August.