Several of the Premiership's leading players will be in a position to walk away from their clubs this summer by exploiting a clause in Fifa-adopted European Union law.

Article 17 of the regulations for the status and transfer of players allows the likes of Frank Lampard and John Terry to buy out their contracts at Chelsea and then negotiate a move elsewhere.

The former Heart of Midlothian defender Andy Webster made history by terminating his contract at the end of last season. Fifa ratified Webster's move to Wigan on September 4, seemingly creating a legal precedent for the conduct of international football transfers. The ruling utilised suggests that Hearts would only be entitled to an amount equal to Webster's salary for the remainder of his contract as compensation.