According to a report in The Times, clubs such as Barcelona and Manchester United are being targeted to be part of the 24-team tournament every two years in Qatar and neighbouring countries.

Four English Premier League clubs would be part of 16 permanent sides, with eight other global clubs to be invited.

If the plans, backed by the Qatari royal family, go ahead, they would seriously threaten the Champions League due to the huge financial rewards.

The DFL would be prepared to offer elite clubs 200 million euros per two-year cycle, dwarfing the 59.9 million euros awarded to Chelsea for winning Europe's elite club competition last season.

Organisers are expected to release further plans in April as Qatar continue to enjoy a growing influence in the game.

The Gulf country was controversially awarded 2022 FIFA World Cup hosting rights and investors from Qatar support Barcelona and Ligue 1 leaders Paris Saint-Germain.

The validity of the story has been questioned while there has been no response from any of football's governing bodies.