Many European football clubs are side-stepping EFA’s Financial Fair Play (FFP) rules by opting for loans rather than sales of top players.
The loan of Kylian Mbappe by Monaco to Paris Saint-Germain in 2017 started the trend, with a loan cost of 45 million euros. The 135 million euros transfer fee was payable the following year.
The summer window this year has seen Real Madrid, PSG, Tottenham, Arsenal, Inter and Bayern Munich get into the loan game in order to avoid the FFP rules. There are a number of variations on the theme. Manchester United will pay seven million of the annual 12 million euros wage of Alexis Sanchez while he plays on loan to Inter.
Bayern paid Barcelona 8.5 million euros for Philippe Coutinho on loan for the season. The German side have an option to buy him next year for 120 million euros.
PHOTO: Kylian Mbappe
