Sheffield United Wiretap

The Premier League is moving forward with a plan to implement a salary cap starting with the 25-26 season.

The new rules would cap payrolls by introducing an “anchoring” system tied to the TV revenue of the club that finished in 20th place. 

Last season, Southampton earned £104 million from TV, $131 million based on current exchange rates, and a multiple of five times that benchmark, or $653 million, would have been the cap had the rules been in place. 

The spending would include wages, amortized transfer fees and agent fees. 

Sheffield United have secured their return to the Premier League following their promotion-clinching 2-0 victory over West Brom.

Led by Paul Heckingbottom, United have been fighting at the top of England's second tier since their relegation from the Premier League in 2021. 

Vincent Kompany's Burnley have already secured automatic promotion.

Chris Wilder and Sheffield United have parted ways by mutual consent.

Sheffield are currently in last place in the Premier League.

"Being manager of Sheffield United has been a special journey and one I'll never forget.

"I was delighted to be given the opportunity in 2016 and have been delighted with the success we have achieved, including two promotions and a highest ever Premier League finish," said Wilder in a statement.

Tension between Wilder and club owner Abdullah Bin Musa'ad Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud had increased in recent weeks due to a lack of upgrades in the winter window. 

A widespread test of Premier League players and staff returned zero positive tests for COVID-19.

"The Premier League can today confirm that on Thursday 28 May and Friday 29 May, 1,130 players and club staff were tested for COVID-19. Of these, zero have tested positive," said the league in a statement.

12 players have tested positive in the previous three rounds combined.

The testing revealed 10 positive results from Championship clubs.

The Premier League is currently set to restart on June 17th. 

Premier League matches will take place on neutral grounds if and when the season restarts, sources told ESPN.

The move is a response to the fear that supporters will crowd outside stadiums of home sides.

The Premier League is set for a decisive vote on May 8th that will determine how to continue the season.

While there has been no set date for season's return, early-June is the target date should the UK government relaxes its current lockdown measures. 

Teams will not get relegated from the Premier League is the season is unable to resume, according to Brighton owner Tony Bloom.

Premier League sides met on Friday to discuss a plan to restart the season, though all possibilities are hypothetical due to the unpredictability of the pandemic.

"You may get a title winner, obviously Liverpool deserve it, you may use that criteria for European qualification, but I do not see how anyone can vote for that, certainly the percent needed for teams to get relegated," said Bloom.

Bloom also discussed a plan in which teams would be ranked by their points-per-match.

"I don't foresee a situation, if the season's not played out, that teams will get relegated on a points-per-game basis.

"I just don't think it's fathomable that a team which is not allowed to play out the season may lose out on 0.2 points based on this system, and also it does not take into account the strength of the team you have not played."

English soccer are working towards June 6th as a date for their return to competitive action. Matches will be played without fans in attendance.

A video conference of all 20 Premier League clubs is due to take place this Friday in order to discuss and outline a tentative schedule for the resumption of the league in the coming weeks.

Clubs will have a three-week mini preseason starting on May 16th.

The plan depends entirely on government advice and the extent of lockdown measures in the United Kingdom.

Several Premier League sides are looking to end the 2019-20 season with immediate effect, with an eye towards replaying the entire season.

One source told The Athletic that it would be morally wrong to restart the season considering the current COVID-19 pandemic.

“We run a game. No more, no less. There is no place for sport at the moment," said the source.

Should the season be canceled, Liverpool would be denied their first Premier League title in 30 years.

Premier League sides committed to finishing the season in a meeting last week, though many are developing strong reservations due to the growing pandemic. 

The Premier League will not start the 2020-21 season before every match from the 2019-20 season is completed.

This year's Premier League and EFL seasons will "absolutely finish before the next one begins," a source told ESPN.

The decision followed Thursday's announcement that the league will be postponed until at least April 30th, though a mid-May return looks more likely.

It is also increasingly likely that those matches will be played behind closed doors.

"The FA's Rules and Regulations state that 'the season shall terminate not later than the June 1' and 'each competition shall, within the limit laid down by The FA, determine the length of its own playing season.'

"However, the FA's board has agreed for this limit to be extended indefinitely for the 2019-20 season in relation to professional football. Additionally, we have collectively agreed that the professional game in England will be further postponed until no earlier than April 30," released the Premier League and EFL in a joint statement.

The Premier League will delay the start of the 20-21 season until the 19-20 season is finished in its entirety. The league also won't resume play until April 30th at the earliest. 

All professional soccer was suspended in England last Friday, initially until April 3rd, due to COVID-19.

There is hope the Premier League could resume fixtures in early May, though likely without fans.