Premier League clubs are bracing themselves for a raft of pay-rise demands from top players should Kylian Mbappe seal a £259million switch to the Saudi Pro League.
Executives at the ‘Big Six’ fear the France striker’s potential move to Al Hilal, on a rumoured salary of more than £3m a week, would be a ‘disrupter’ and lead to their stars threatening to follow him to Saudi Arabia unless they are given huge increases.
The salaries being offered in Saudi Arabia dwarf those paid in the Premier League. Erling Haaland is this country’s top earner, picking up a package of close to £900,000 a week at Treble winners Manchester City.