A revamped Champions League could open the door for multiple Premiership sides to reach the group stage with a tennis influenced proposal on the table.
In the wake of the European Super League fiasco, UEFA have told a working group from European Club Association that a proposed two teams reaching the group stage based on their historical coefficient record.
While that remains on the table the set-up looks set to add four extra places to be added to the group stage in a format similar to a Grand Slam tennis tournament, according to a report.
ESPN state that from the 2024-25 season, the group stage will be expanded from 32 teams to 36 with eight games taking place over 10 weeks.
A rankings system will likely be used that factors in clubs' record over the previous five years to decide the initial group stage.
However, country protection is to be scrapped after the group stage, meaning any club could be able to face each other in the early knockout rounds.
The report also adds that all clubs who progress into the knockout stages of the competition will have their route right through to the final seeded and pre-drawn, based largely upon their group ranking. This is similar to the system used at Wimbledon.
From next season, Scotland will have a representative in the group stage of the Champions League with Celtic going straight into the tournament.
Rangers have also impressed in the Europa League this season adding to Scotland's coefficent.
However, should that tally drop before the 2024-25 season, with a place set to be safeguard for the highest ranked league without an automatic qualifier.
