Six-Sub Shake-Up? Premier League Giants Quietly Back Plan to Ease Player Load

Here we go again: a fresh tweak to the laws that could reshape matchday tactics in the Premier League. Leading clubs have quietly floated the idea of moving from five to six substitutions per game, with player welfare front and centre — and the spectre of strike action looming if nothing changes.

What’s on the table?

According to talkSPORT, informal discussions at a gathering in Rome — tied to the recent general assembly of European Football Clubs — saw representatives from heavyweights including Manchester City, Manchester United, Liverpool and Arsenal chew over a move to six in-game changes per team. The talks were private, but the direction of travel is clear: more flexibility on the bench to help manage a relentless schedule.

For context, the Premier League made the five-sub rule permanent from the 2022/23 season after its COVID-era trial. The proposed step to six is an evolution rather than a revolution, but a significant one nonetheless.

Why now? Player welfare and a bloated calendar

Fixtures are piling up like rush-hour traffic. Domestic and European commitments already stretch squads, and the expanded 2025 Club World Cup adds yet another layer of mileage for the elite. The Professional Footballers’ Association has warned FIFA that players could consider strike action if the load keeps rising unchecked. Per talkSPORT’s reporting, the belief among some clubs is that an extra sub could shave minutes off tired legs and reduce injury risk.

Will six subs change the game?

In a word: yes. Managers would gain added scope to flip a match on its head — fresher presses late on, more specialist cameos, and greater protection for stars returning from knocks. We’ve already seen in cup ties that go to extra-time how an additional change can alter the flow. Give top coaches another card to play and they’ll find a way to squeeze every drop of advantage out of it.

But here’s the rub: more substitutions tend to favour the big squads. The likes of City and Arsenal can unleash a bench that would start for half the league, while smaller clubs may find the gap widening when the game becomes a chess match of high-quality reinforcements. That said, with injuries up and the intensity unforgiving, even the bottom half could welcome a bit more breathing space.

One lingering concern is rhythm and potential time-wasting. Officials will need to be strict on stoppages, and managers sensible with clustering changes, to avoid turning the final 15 minutes into a procession of pauses.

28-man squads: solution or window dressing?

The chatter also extended to lifting the registered squad cap from 25 to 28. On paper, that’s extra cover across the season. In practice, the PFA is reportedly wary: enlarge the squad and you may simply have more players travelling, training and sitting unused, which doesn’t solve fatigue for those carrying the heaviest minutes. An expanded list helps selection headaches, but it doesn’t automatically share the load unless managers truly rotate.

What has to happen next

Any formal tweak would need to be recommended by the International Football Association Board (IFAB) before the Premier League could implement it. Given the temperature of the dressing room and the fixture list, it’s hard to imagine widespread resistance to an extra sub — though the finer points, like how to police stoppages and whether the change arrives alongside a squad-cap bump, will be debated.

Bottom line: player welfare is finally steering the conversation, and six subs looks a pragmatic next step while the game grapples with an inflated calendar. If you’re tracking how this might ripple through tactics, injuries and market odds, our best betting sites hub is a handy jumping-off point.

Pundit’s verdict

Make no mistake, this isn’t a silver bullet — but it’s sensible. Managers will embrace the extra flexibility, sports scientists will sleep a touch easier, and stars might avoid that needless 90th-minute strain. The downside is competitive balance: the richer your bench, the sharper your late-game edge. It’s over to IFAB and the clubs now; if common sense prevails, expect six to become the new five before too long.