Mesut Ozil's agent has told his players not to accept any pay cuts as the increasingly acrimonious fall-out from the coronavirus pandemic continues to split football.
Dr Erkut Sogut, who helped negotiate Ozil's lucrative £350,000-a-week contract at Arsenal, believes that wage deferrals are the best solution and that agents needs to be included in talks.
His intervention comes amid a stand-off in the Premier League as players push back against club executives' proposed 30 per cent wage reduction.
German lawyer Sogut believes that an offer to defer wages - possibly for as long as nine months - is the key to breaking the deadlock.
And in a webinar address on the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the game, he accused some owners of running their clubs like a PlayStation game.
He also took aim at politicians after health secretary Matt Hancock said footballers needed to play their part and make financial sacrifices.
In quotes reported by The Sun, he said: 'I wouldn't recommend agreeing a cut today because I don't know tomorrow if the league will be played, if clubs will get TV sponsorship money.
'What the exact financial impact is on the clubs, we can see three to six months later - but we can't see it today.
'Deferral is an option but not to agree a cut today when the clubs may still make the same profit as last year.
'When politicians tell players to do their part, it's a distraction because they can't even protect NHS staff.
'It's easy to target these 'greedy' Premier League players - but so many players do so much for charity.'
Having already agreed wage deferrals for some of his clients in Germany and Austria, Sogut outlined his plan to move forward.
He told the Football Business Academy webinar: 'One club may need 50 per cent, another 20, while another may not need to defer any payments at all.
'After that, clubs and players can talk about cuts - if necessary.'
Premier League clubs could stand to lose in excess of £1billion if the current season isn't completed with broadcasters likely to demand a rebate on money already paid.
And while the club are pushing players to take cuts and some are furloughing staff, Sogut doesn't believe their situation is as bad as they're making out.
He said: 'Premier League clubs are not in the very bad position they are showing themselves in. Most are profitable, a lot have cash reserves.
'Clubs are in trouble because they mismanage their finances.
'However, some owners do not care if they lose £50million or £200m. It's all about prestige. They just want to win a trophy.
'The club for them is a gaming centre, like playing on a PlayStation. They want to win, it doesn't matter how.'
Source: m.allfootballapp.com