UEFA’s new four-team summer tournament plans raise concerns with Premier League’s elite

UEFA are on a fresh collision course with the Premier League’s elite amid proposals to start a new four-way summer tournament made up of Champions League clubs.

Under the plans, teams will compete in the tournament ahead of their domestic and European campaigns – with the competition likely to be held in one city.

It would open the door to taking UEFA competitions outside Europe, with destinations in America and Asia likely to be considered.

The four-team tournament would likely act as an alternative to the lucrative pre-season tours that have become the norm at top-flight teams.

Indeed, any new UEFA summer tournament would need to be financially beneficial for clubs given it would likely replace traditional pre-season tours, which have become huge money-spinners.

However, the prospect of even more meaningful matches is, particularly with the added in obstacle of overseas travel, likely to divide clubs – who are already deeply concerned by player fatigue and workload.

The tournament would likely act as an alternative to the top-flight’s lucrative pre-season tours

The proposals are set to raise concerns with the Premier League’s elite over player welfare

Liverpool, for instance, will play 63 matches this season and the prospect of further meaningful games could be met with caution at Anfield.

Indeed, speaking earlier this week, on the prospect of proposals to play 10 Champions League games instead of the current six, Jurgen Klopp said: ‘They showed it to me the whole idea, and I said I don’t like it as there’s 10 games instead of six and I’ve no idea where we will put them in.

‘Maybe UEFA will ask for a cup competition to get cancelled or have 18 teams in the league.’