Gary Lineker calls for change to agent rules to stop clubs paying astronomical fees and avoid ‘conflicts of interest’

Gary Lineker has called on the authorities to change the rules surrounding agents receiving astronomical fees as part of transfer dealings.

The former England striker was reacting to Jorge Mendes’ successful window, which saw the Portuguese agent strike deals for many of his stable to secure transfers.

Rúben Dias, Nicolas Otamendi, James Rodríguez, Matt Doherty, Nelson Semedo and Diogo Jota, among others, all commanded big fees this summer, with Mendes integral to the process and some of those mentioned overlapping in the same negotiations between clubs.

Edinson Cavani’s representatives were thought to have demanded a €10m fee before Manchester United signed the Uruguayan, and Lineker has offered a potential solution to better serve clubs in the market.

Lineker said: "Players’ agents should only be paid by a commission from the players, not by the clubs, or even occasionally both clubs.

“Acting for two parties in a deal and often three parties (player, selling club and buying club) is wrong with an inevitable conflict of interest.”

Lineker then directly approached Fifa with a potential solution to avoid “conflicts of interest”.

"The answer: Fifa must introduce a rule where no one person can act or receive fees for more than one party in any deal," Lineker said.

“Clubs should not pay a players agent, whether selling or buying. Player should negotiate his commission with his agent. All transparent and made public.

"This is a serious issue in the game. I know one deal was largely scuppered by the £30m demands from an agent for himself.

“This needs addressing: no agent should be able to act/receive money from any party other than his player. It’s so open to corruption as it is.”