Stoke City hope to save a fortune by clearing several high wage earners off the books in the summer.
The Sun says Stoke are ready to save £7.5m a year because big earners Jermaine Pennant, Matthew Upson and the retiring Michael Owen are all out of contract in the summer.
The Potters will suffer a £40m shortfall if they fall out of the top flight and miss out on next season's TV cash bonanza.