:focal(176x39:178x37)/origin-imgresizer.tntsports.io/2026/02/23/image-11b4ab47-a19b-4bc0-97e2-4785e987be43-85-2560-1440.jpeg "Spurs players face wage cuts if relegated – Paper Round - TNT Sports")
Tuesday’s Paper Round leads on Tottenham Hotspur, with former executive chairman Daniel Levy having installed relegation clauses in all of the players' contracts to ensure a 50% wage cut will take effect should they go down. Spurs are also in the hunt for a new sporting director, while there is also talk of Manchester United taking a £74m hit after agreeing to sell Marcus Rashford to Barcelona.
Tottenham Hotspur players face wage cuts if the club are relegated, The Athletic has revealed, with Daniel Levy ensuring all contracts included clauses before his departure in September.
Spurs are just four points above the relegation zone in 16th, and are yet to win a league game in 2026, having sacked Thomas Frank and brought in Igor Tudor on an interim basis.
The Athletic adds: "The Croatian has overseen defeats in his opening two matches against Arsenal and Fulham, heightening the possibility of Spurs falling into England’s second tier for the first time since 1977.
"Should that happen, there would be major ramifications on and off the pitch, although when it comes to squad remuneration there are provisions in place to limit the cost.
"The Athletic can reveal that most members of the first team squad are on deals which include mandatory salary reductions and the vast majority would see their earning slashed by around 50%.
"It was a provision factored into all existing agreements struck before Daniel Levy’s departure as executive chairman in September, granting Spurs an element of protection against the doomsday scenario of demotion."
Spurs eye sporting directors
Spurs have sounded out several candidates as they look to hire a new sporting director, with Paul Winstanley and Dougie Freedman among those being considered according to the Telegraph.
Winstanley is currently Chelsea, where he is contracted until 2031, while Freedman joined Al-Diriyah in Saudi Arabia’s second tier last year.
The Telegraph adds: "It is believed that Tottenham would ideally like to agree a deal with a new sporting director in time for them to have a say on the identity of the next permanent head coach.
"It remains to be seen whether that is possible, given Tottenham are involved in a Premier League relegation battle, but the club have started the process and hope to start speaking to candidates.
"Spurs want to replace Fabio Paratici, who left the club to join Fiorentina last month. Johan Lange is the remaining sporting director at Spurs, but has faced criticism for the club’s recruitment.
"Freedman is best known for his work at Crystal Palace, where he was credited with signings such as Eberechi Eze, Marc Guehi, Michael Olise and Adam Wharton. He was also heavily involved in the appointment of head coach Oliver Glasner."
Man Utd’s £74m hit on Rashford
Selling Marcus Rashford to Barcelona for less than £30m would warrant a £74m hit according to the Mirror, who claim the forward was once wanted by Paris Saint-Germain for £100m when Thomas Tuchel was in charge of the French club.
Rashford looks set to make his loan move to Barca permanent in the summer, with the £26m transfer set to officially end the England international’s time as a United player.
The Mirror adds: "Tuchel had made the forward his top priority ahead of the new season. United would only entertain a figure that went north of £100m and the PSG boss was working hard to convince the hierarchy that Rashford was worth the money. In his discussions the now England boss claimed that people 'didn't realise how good a player Rashford actually is'.
"Comparisons were drawn with Kylian Mbappe and some in the French capital saw Rashford as the perfect foil - or even long-term replacement - for the World Cup winner amid constant links with a move to Real Madrid - a switch he would eventually make."
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