Radical new plans suggested by the Premier League could see Championship clubs 'obliged' to take top flight players on loan.
The proposals were discussed at a top flight shareholders meeting in London and the aim of such a move would be to hasten the development of young British players as part of a wider plan that would restructure the finances within the top levels of English football.
According to the Guardian, the plans would see a greater and proportioned distribution of funds flow from the Premier League down the pyramid. The changes, which would see alterations to the parachute payments system, are also said to include investing in infrastructure at grounds of clubs in the third and fourth tier.
A bargaining tool that directors at top flight clubs are said to be mooting over includes having a quota of under-23 players that Championship sides must include in a first team. This could, for instance, take the form of each second tier club having to include at least three under-23s within a matchday squad.
So far this summer a clutch of Championship sides have brought in Premier League players on loan, with Blackpool signing Liverpool's Rhys Williams, QPR bringing in Leeds' Tyler Roberts and Preston agreeing a deal to sign Troy Parrott from Tottenham for the campaign.
Accrington Stanley owner Andy Holt, who is often outspoken on a number of issues, has had his say on Twitter.
He wrote of the proposals: "Need detail. Clubs are already loaning players from Prem. I’m not aware that there has been a ‘formal offer’ to resolve distribution and regulation of any description.
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"The takeaway for me is that the Premier League is talking ‘as one’ rather than falling out with top 6. This gives us a chance because those bottom clubs will benefit from a better structure."
There have been plenty of success stories down the years of top flight players shining in the Championship on temporary stays.
Notable highlights include Mason Mount's superb stint at Derby County a few years back. That spell ended with him returning to parent club Chelsea and becoming not only a key player for the Blues but an England regular.
Likewise, James Garner dazzled last season for Nottingham Forest as they completed a superb rise up the table culminating in promotion back to the Premier League. He is now said to be in contention for a first team spot back at Manchester United.
But the proposals to effectively force Championship sides to field top flight loan players would not be without controversy. Not every loan move is a success and there are dozens of examples of when top flight youngsters see temporary stints in the EFL amount to very little.
Also, the issue of effectively being made to play or at least include loanees in a squad may not sit well with some head coaches who could feel their authority on the team is being diminished.
There was an example of such an issue in 2018, when Cardiff signed Liverpool loanee Marco Grujic. Then Bluebirds' boss Neil Warnock said his club would be hit in the pocket if the Serbian did not pick up regular minutes.
He said: "We haven’t had to give assurances, but we get financially ‘punished’ if we don’t."
Last season saw Championship sides complete more than 100 loan signings. The rules state EFL clubs can name a maximum of five loan players within their 18-man matchday squad.
Birmingham City were the busiest when it came to temporary deals in 2021/22, with no fewer than eight loanees, whilst Bristol City were the only second tier side not to sanction a single loan transfer.
Mirror Football has contacted the Premier League for comment.
