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One Premier League giant is losing a staggering £9million-a-week.

And they may have to take out a £100m bank loan to cover their potential losses during the coronavirus lockdown.

That is the real cost facing one of the top clubs during the crisis and why some have now been forced into looking at potential pay cuts and deferrals for their players.

It comes because the clubs are still having to pay out their biggest costs - player wages - during the lockdown without any income.

They are facing the potential nightmare of having to pay back up to £750m in TV cash to broadcasters, they are missing out on gate receipts, sponsorship deals and significant match day revenues.

(Image: REUTERS)

None of the clubs know how long the crisis will last and how many weeks or months they will have to go on without any games. The big clubs will come through it - but the massive costs are being underestimated.

And there is a frustration at some of the biggest clubs that people are questioning whether they really are facing a financial meltdown because they are seen as being so wealthy when the reality is they are hemorrhaging cash.

Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City and Manchester United all have wage bills over £200m according to UEFA’s latest figures with United paying the most in 2018 with player salaries totalling £286m.

Clubs are all resigned to needing to put cash back in to keep themselves going but the grim financial reality is why they are now beginning to push hard to get players to accept cuts.

(Image: REUTERS)

There is a widely-held view that Premier League clubs are cash rich and it is the EFL who will struggle but the huge scale of losses is certain to be an eye opener and, for some, will be a game changer when it comes to future transfer plans.

Brighton chief executive Paul Barber has admitted the cost of the lockdown has been huge for Premier League clubs amid the devastating effects of the virus on the wider world.

Barber said: “The shock to the system has been huge. There’s so many people losing their jobs, so many people facing very difficult times ahead that it would be wrong for us not to pause for a moment and reflect upon how we run it.

“I think this crisis has been a ride awakening for all of us. To see your business effectively closed down overnight, incomes ceased from match day, non match day, retail, everything effectively stopped.

(Image: Getty Images)

“But our costs of course have rolled on and it’s a big shock to the system and it makes you think very hard about the business: where you spend the money, how you earn the money, the costs you incur week to week.

“I’m sure the whole of football will take the chance to reflect on what has been such a big shock to the system.

“I’m sure there will be some impact on the next transfer window, maybe the next two or three, but we all know the best players want to play for the best clubs in the best league and eventually there will be some normality that returns to the market.”