The workload of players such as Kane would decrease in the event of an 18-team Premier League

The FA is to ask the Premier League to reduce the elite division from 20 clubs to 18. The FA argues that this would give leading clubs more breathing space as they contest European honours and would also help England.

The plan has been devised by Greg Dyke, the FA chairman, who has been seeking ways to revive the national team’s fortunes. Dyke is to speak to Richard Scudamore, the executive chairman of the Premier League, about his idea of cutting two clubs from the top division. Given the obvious impact on the Sky Bet Championship, the Football League would also need to be consulted.

Dyke’s proposal is that after the move to 18 clubs, the Barclays Premier League would become two up, two down.