The Premier League is said to have raised urgent concerns over the way the transfer market will operate after the United Kingdom exits the European Union next year.
As a result of the UK's decision to exit the EU, free movement of people and labour is expected to end in March 2019, theoretically meaning that it could become more difficult for British clubs to sign players who are EU citizens.
According to The Telegraph, the Premier League is concerned that the Football Association and the government will leverage the situation as an "opportunity to increase opportunities for English players in the Premier League" and generally fears that "Brexit will harm the league's competitiveness and global popularity".
The newspaper claims that the league "accepts" that clubs will be unable to sign European players aged under 18 post Brexit but "wants regulations on players older than 18 to be changed as little as possible", arguing that it generates £3bn a year in tax for the government and directly employs 12,000 people.
A government spokesperson said of the report: "We recognise the need for sports, including football, rugby and cricket, to continue to access talent from the EU and globally and are in ongoing discussions with professional sport about this.
"After we leave the EU, the UK will continue to be the open country it has always been. We will have in place an immigration system that delivers control over who comes to the UK, but that welcomes the brightest and best who want to work hard and contribute."
The UK is due to exit the EU on March 29, 2019.
Neil Wilkes
