UEFA president Michel Platini has made banning players under 18 from moving abroad one of his main priorities, insisting all sign their first professional contract with the club where they are being developed.

His aim is to boost youth development and prevent the biggest clubs hoarding teenage talent. Platini is trying to persuade the European Commission to support his plan, which would stop clubs like Arsenal poaching players such as Cesc Fabregas from overseas teams.

Triesman said: “We need to restrict the trading of under-18 players and their movement around. If it can be accommodated in European law, it’s worth considering.

“Is it really OK for youngsters simply to be traded around the world?

“Is that desirable either for them or for clubs who could lose them too easily? Are there mechanisms that would produce a fairer state of play?

“I worry about the movement of youngsters without there being  concern about whether they can do anything other than football.”

Triesman called on the Premier League to increase its contribution to the rest of the game, currently £90million over three years, to give more cash to the have-nots.

He said: “You could imagine greater solidarity payments between different parts of the system.”