Manchester United, Liverpool bid to join new European super league

Salah, Origi goals hand Liverpool Champions League triumph
Salah, Origi goals hand Liverpool Champions League triumph

English Premier League giants Manchester United and Liverpool are in talks with Europe's elite clubs to join a new FIFA-backed tournament that would reshape the sport's global soccer landscape, Sky News reported on Tuesday.

Manchester United declined to comment on the report, Liverpool did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Citing unnamed "football industry" sources, Sky said more than 12 teams from Europe's top five leagues – in England, France, Germany, Italy and Spain – are in negotiations to become the founding members of the new tournament, dubbed the European Premier League, with a provisional start date in 2022.

The report added the financiers are looking to raise a $6 billion funding package to kick start the new tournament.

Sky said that FIFA, football's world governing body, is working on a new format, which is expected to feature 18 teams playing fixtures during regular European season before a knockout phase, adding that neither FIFA or UEFA had commented on the story.

Reuters has approached both organizations for comment and neither immediately responded. The idea of a European super league has been regularly floated over the last 20 years, with UEFA coming out strongly against it.

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