David Sullivan may have just relegated West Ham as details of key clause emerges
West Ham require a miracle from Nuno Espirito Santo to avoid relegation from the Premier League.
West Ham edged past QPR to reach the FA Cup fourth round on Saturday, with a showdown against League One side Burton Albion on February 14.
An FA Cup run is Nuno’s only chance of success this season, as the Hammers are currently seven points adrift of safety in the top-flight ahead of their visit to Tottenham on Saturday.
To make matters worse, Lucas Paqueta wants to leave West Ham and could go on strike to force a transfer after it was revealed that Flamengo launched a £35million bid for the Brazilian.
Losing Paqueta would be a huge blow to their chances of avoiding relegation, but one clause arguably explains why he’s keen to leave.
EXCL: West Ham United’s first-team squad have 50 per cent salary reduction clauses in their contracts in the event of potential relegation to the Championship. #WHUFC https://t.co/dYM3GrY8wT
— Roshane Thomas (@RoshaneSport) January 13, 2026
West Ham players facing 50% salary reductions
According to The Athletic’s Roshane Thomas, West Ham’s first-team squad have 50 per cent salary reduction clauses in their contracts in the event of relegation to the Championship.
A source close to the club has insisted that this clause has always been inserted into players’ deals, but it’s looking likely that it will come into action this term.
Worryingly, the report has stated that the clause has made it harder to convince targets to join this window, knowing that their wages will be halved if the team drop into the Championship.
Relegation could also leave West Ham with a 75 per cent loss in their financial revenue, with a fire sale set to emerge at the London Stadium.
David Sullivan has protected West Ham
David Sullivan has received a lot of stick from Hammers fans over the years, and rightly so. West Ham’s transfer strategy and unwillingness to back their manager have ultimately caused their downfall.
Nuno is the one attempting to pick up the pieces when it’s Sullivan who has caused West Ham’s demise, and the 76-year-old must sell the club if they are to progress.
That being said, he has at least shown some sense by inserting a 50 per cent wage reduction in players’ contracts in the event of relegation.
It’s normally common to see clubs deduct 20 or 30 per cent, but the Irons have a bloated wage structure, and the only way to avoid falling deeper into financial turmoil is by halving the wages.
Of course, everyone associated with West Ham is hoping that a miraculous turnaround is possible, but as it stands, a Championship rebuild is on the cards only three years after winning the Europa Conference League.
Stay up to date this winter with our West Ham transfer tracker. Click to see every done deal at the London Stadium, plus expert reaction from our team of writers.