Barclays is set to renew its long-standing link with the Premier League with a £75m deal that easily eclipses the value of its existing link.
Sky News has learned that the British bank’s proposed four-year deal with English football’s top flight was presented to its 20 clubs at a shareholder meeting last week.
Sources said the deal, which would last for one more season than the current partnership, was worth around 60% more each year.
Barclays has a long connection with the top flight, having been its main sponsor for years, both on its own behalf and that of Barclaycard.
The financial services alliance will come as Oracle prepares to end its association with the Premier League, leaving it to search for a new technology partner.
Guinness, the beer brand owned by Diageo, recently proposed paying a significantly higher sum than the previous category deal with the Budweiser owner, underlining the continued commercial appeal of the world’s most popular domestic football league.
Last week’s meeting with the clubs, however, was overshadowed by the news that Manchester City’s legal attempt to overturn the Premier League’s rules on transactions between associated parties was about to begin.
The champions’ decision to try to eliminate spending limits has raised new concerns about their dominance after winning a fourth successive title.
Manchester City continues to face the prospect of legal action in the autumn accusing the club of 115 breaches of the league’s financial fair play rules.
Barclays and the Premier League declined to comment.
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