Breakaway Super League threat re-emerges hours before UEFA vote

Top English and Italian clubs were strongly linked again on Sunday to a breakaway European Superleague, a rival competition to UEFA's Champions League which could have massive ramifications for the game.

UEFA is due to sign off on its own plans for an expanded and restructured Champions League on Monday but less than 24 hours before the meeting reports emerged of a new attempt at creating a rival competition involving the continent's top clubs.

The board of Italy's Serie A league held an emergency meeting on the threatened Super League, inviting AC Milan, Juventus and Inter Milan to the discussion on Sunday.

A Serie A source told Reuters that the league had recently become aware of the plans for a breakaway project and the potential involvement of broadcaster DAZN.

DAZN said reports of its involvement were "false". 

Shortly after the Serie A meeting finished, The Times newspaper reported that five of England's top clubs had signed up to the plans for a breakaway.

The paper said Manchester United, Liverpool, Arsenal, Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur have agreed to join the new league.

The only member of the "big six" not to have signed up is Manchester City, the paper said, citing sources with knowledge of the development.

None of the six clubs or the Premier League immediately responded to requests for comment.