Premier League title integrity in question due to Jota Liverpool transfer
Robin Bairner
- 20 May 2022 10:05 BST
- 3 min read
Diogo Jota’s transfer from Wolves to Liverpool has thrown the integrity of the Premier League race into doubt.
Liverpool will do battle with Manchester City on the final day of the season for the right to win the trophy, with Pep Guardiola’s side holding the upper hand as they boast a two-point advantage plus a significant edge in terms of goal difference.
All Jurgen Klopp’s side can do is beat Wolves and hope City are upset by Aston Villa, who will have Reds’ legend Steven Gerrard in the dugout.
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Concerns have been voiced, however, that it may not necessarily be in the Molineux club’s best interests to try their hardest on Sunday because of the transfer agreement that they have in place over Jota.
The Daily Mail reports that a substantial portion of the transfer fee for the Portugal international attacker, which could total up to £45 million following the September 2020 agreement, is tied into potential bonus payments. One of these is Liverpool winning the Premier League.
It is stated that Klopp’s side will be due to pay Wolves “several million” should Jota help the Anfield club to glory on Sunday.
Conversely, Wolves have £2.2m on the line in prize money on Sunday as they attempt to secure an eighth-place finish. Both Leicester and Brighton could overtake them should they have positive results against Southampton and West Ham.
Are there bonuses in Grealish’s Man City transfer agreement?
Meanwhile, Reds fans concerned that there may be a similar agreement in Manchester City’s transfer deal with Aston Villa over Jack Grealish, which was struck last year, can rest easy. It is reported that Grealish had a £100m release clause in his deal but this did not include any performance-related bonuses.
Instead, the structure of the deal dictates that it is paid in three equal portions.
Villa, therefore, have no incentive to take it easy against Man City as the Premier League boils down to a thrilling final day.
