Cesc Fabregas
Cesc Fabregas was signed by Arsenal after starring at the FIFA Under-17 World Cup in 2003. [Reuters]

La Liga is reportedly planning to stop Premier League clubs signing their best young talents by modifying the minimum age at which professional footballers can be signed with release clauses.

A number of Spanish players such as Cesc Fabregas in the past have abandoned their childhood teams, tempted by the Premier league giants who offered them lucrative deals as current Spanish law states that a player must be 16 years old before he can sign a professional contract with his club.

According to Spanish newspaper Marca, La Liga chiefs are considering reducing the minimum age to 14, allowing their promising youngsters to sign professional contracts with their respective buy-out clauses and stop clubs outside Spain from swooping in.

Marca report that the aim is to avoid young talented players being siphoned off to other leagues, or at least to guarantee the Spanish clubs earn a proper compensation for their loss.

Fabregas has been the most famous case in recent years, when in 2003 he moved from Barcelona to Arsenal after catching the eye of Gunners' scouts during the 2003 Under-17 World Cup, where he was the top scorer and also the most valuable player of the tournament.

Since then, a number of Spanish superkids have followed in Fabregas footsetps like Gerard Pique, who moved to Manchester United, or Hector Bellerin and Jon Toral who made the same trip as Fabregas and are currently in Arsenal academy after excelling in La Masia.

Last summer, Julio Pleguezuelo also moved from Barcelona to Arsenal, Josimar joined Chelsea while Sergi Canos swapped La Masia for Anfield. At the same time, Pedro Chirivella abandoned Valencia to also complete a move to Liverpool.