Premier League chiefs urge FA to help clubs sign foreign talent by easing rules on work permits

The Premier League have told all 20 clubs they will lobby the Football Association to significantly slash their work permit points threshold to make it easier for them to sign foreign talent.

Sportsmail has learned that top-flight chiefs will ask the FA to lower the total number of Governing Body Endorsement (GBE) points required for an overseas players to secure a visa to 12 from 15 – though that figure remains under review.

The Premier League’s chief football officer Tony Scholes briefed clubs at the start of February about how they plan to press the FA into easing their restrictions on signing foreign players.

Since Brexit, prospective overseas transfer targets must meet a certain criteria under the GBE system before being cleared to play in England.

Each foreign player must reach a 15 point target – based on a weighted points system including the quality of the league they currently play in, how often they have played and international caps – before securing a work permit.

And in Scholes’ briefing, a proposal to reduce the current threshold to 12 points was discussed. There is scepticism among clubs that the FA will accept the recommendation.

Ways of making it easier for players to reach the required points total was also discussed during the recent meeting.

It is understood that top-flight chiefs are looking at adding more weight to footballers playing in peripheral leagues – such as in Eastern Europe and Scandinavia – and those plying their trade in the second division of major leagues.

Revamping the ‘exceptions panel’ which rules on players who fall just short of the 15 point mark is also being looked at.

The Premier League are also lobbying to help ease the ban on clubs signing under-18 players.

In the past, a wild card system – which would effectively provide clubs with a ‘free pass’ to sign a limited number of under 18 players – has been discussed.

Talks between the football authorities and the Government over a revamp of the current visa laws as part of the Whitehall’s plans to establish an independent football regulator are underway.

Recently, Chelsea have deferred their visa application for Brazilian youngster Andrey Santos knowing the 18-year-old would unlikely accumulate enough GBE points.

The Blues have signed Santos from Palmeiras for £16million but have had to delay his playing arrival until they are sure he will be eligible for clearance by the FA