Indians are planning a multi-million pound football league on the lines of the mega rich Indian Premier League.

They want to launch a two-month league within three years using big international names who are at the end of their contracts.

Three well-known football dealmakers, Pini Zahavi, Chris Nathaniel and Kia Joorabchian will help establish the competition.

A number of Indians have been linked with takeovers at English Premier League clubs but will now invest at home and bring players to them.

Football's IPL is part of a wider strategy geared to bidding for the 2026 or 2030 World Cup. Moves are being made to attract top clubs for friendly cups over the next two years.

"It's a very exciting concept. If players are out of contract there will be nothing to stop them coming," The Sun quoted an Indian source, as saying.

"India saw how Major League Soccer got David Beckham. This would be on a much bigger scale," the source added. (ANI)