Clubs and broadcasters remain determined to restart and complete season But there remains a fear that it will never restart due to coronavirus pandemic

                                                                                            Sky Sports will not demand to be repaid the £371 million they are owed by the Premier League if the season is cancelled.

Talks are ongoing between the broadcaster and the Premier League to find alternative way to make good any lost value in a worst-case scenario.

Although the most-favoured option among clubs and broadcasters is to restart the season and then play to a conclusion, there remains a fear that it might never restart, an outcome which the Premier League have calculated would cost them £762m in TV income that would have to be repaid.But the talks between Sky and the Premier League have indicated that almost half of the £762m exposure is not at risk.

The figure of £762m was the figure the Premier League calculated would be owed to Sky, BT and overseas broadcasters in the event of the season being voided and was the figure presented to players when asking them to take a 30 per cent pay cut.

Apart from Sky's £371m, another £341m would have to be paid back to overseas broadcasters — but it is understood that though there are some companies who would demand the money back, many have indicated a willingness to negotiate a settlement.

It is hoped that relationships with long-standing overseas broadcasters mean that, in a worst-case scenario, the Premier League would only have to repay at most £150m.Among the ideas being discussed with Sky if the season were voided are:

• Extending the current rights for another season, until the end of the 2022-23 season;

• Awarding Sky and BT extra live games next season so they can show football from Monday to Friday and at the weekend.

• However, given that it is still expected that the season will resume and accepted that it will be behind closed doors, there is also discussion over showing all the 92 remaining Premier League fixtures live on TV.

Of those, 47 are already scheduled to be shown live by BT and Sky — leaving 45 which could now be streamed, given that restrictions on the number and timing of live games are obsolete during a pandemic that will see no fans in stadiums.