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Southampton and Watford set to give short-term contracts to released youth players to allow them to use club facilities and boost their chances of earning new contracts elsewhere

Premier League clubs are offering released youngsters the chance to return for the start of next season on a short-term basis to help boost their chances of finding new clubs.

A number of top-flight sides will let academy players they have decided not to hand long-term professional contracts to come back and use club facilities to train so they can stay fit and be in the best position possible to try and earn new contracts elsewhere when football resumes.

Some clubs will extend players stays by up to three months with the period beginning when training at youth level restarts having been curtailed due to the coronavirus outbreak.