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Loan costs rise for League One and League Two clubs

Clubs in League One and League Two are aggrieved about the rising costs that Premier League clubs impose on them when they send out players on loan. The clubs feel that they are providing opportunities to develop players for the top sides but are also expected to pay increasing amounts to do it.

Liverpool are one of a number of leading clubs who impose clauses in their loan agreements that can lead to financial penalties of up to hundreds of thousands of pounds if the player does not appear in three-quarters of the matches for the club where he is on loan.

One suggestion is that there should be a cap of £1,000 a week paid for a loan player in League One and £500 a week for a player in League Two.

Feeder clubs are not permitted in English football, but they work well elsewhere. Chelsea has a relationship with Vitesse Arnhem through which 23 players have gone on loan there since 2010. Manchester United have had a long relationship with Royal Antwerp. Manchester City recently bought a stake in Spanish club Girona and had four players on loan there last season.

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