Portsmouth plans to scrap transfer window being considered by English clubs including Coventry, Sunderland and Peterborough

The Blues chief executive has forwarded plans which will allow the EFL’s 72 members to buy and sell players until January, to help combat the threat of clubs going to the wall amid the coronavirus crisis.

Catlin told the Daily Mirror: ‘It is something I have floated with the EFL executive, with the FA and with (EFL chairman) Rick Parry. Why put a restriction of trade on ourselves when there is no need to?

‘It is something that is going to be coming under consideration; that we do not close the summer transfer window and keep it open until the end of January.

‘That will allow clubs to trade their way out of this current crisis. I am talking specifically about League One and League Two, but potentially the Championship as well.

‘If you had a League Two club struggling to pay their players’ salaries come November and they had a midfielder wanted by a club in League One or the Championship, why would you stop them being able to sell?

‘I have spoken to 20-plus chief executives and owners in the EFL, including two in the Championship, and they have all said they would support it.

‘Rick thinks it’s a good idea. We would need to speak to the FA, UEFA and FIFA but this would have a positive domestic impact.

‘I cannot see why any of the other governing bodies would want to put a block on this.

‘There is going to be a short window anyway which means the agents and the players hold all the aces. By taking the window away, I think it makes sense.

‘I think It is already being considered and it would not surprise me at all if we did see it.’