Premier League 'reconsidering playing matches abroad'

The Premier League are believed to be revisiting the idea of playing regular-season games on foreign soil.

The '39th game' notion was knocked back in 2008 but clubs are apparently considering playing a round of matches from the existing fixture schedule overseas.

England's top clubs are encouraged by the success that the NBA and NFL have had in moving games abroad and now themselves want to capitalise on the huge audiences seen on their pre-season tours.

BBC Sport understands that the idea could be introduced within the next five or six years.

Premier League chief executive Richard Scudamore spoke about the concept at a pre-season event in August, saying: "The clubs wanted it then [in 2008] and they would all probably want it now.

"It will happen at some point. Whether it's on my watch, who knows?"

Manchester United's friendly with Real Madrid in Michigan in August attracted a record crowd for America of 109,318.