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The Premier League face a staggering £4million bill for coronavirus testing kits. 

Medical chiefs at the 20 top-flight clubs had a lengthy video conference call on Saturday, when it was decided that players and essential staff should be tested for Covid-19 twice a week for the duration of the season, from the point when group training recommences.

The recommendation will be discussed, and potentially rubber-stamped, at Friday's Premier League shareholders' meeting.

Premier League clubs face a staggering £4million invoice for coronavirus testing kits

Players and essential staff are set to be tested for Covid-19 twice a week under the proposals

Testing kits cost in the region of £150 each. Members of staff deemed 'essential' will vary between clubs, but teams expect to administer up to 50 tests twice a week, which would cost a combined £300,000 for the 20 clubs.

With teams hopeful of resuming group training by mid-May and the season to be concluded by the end of July — a 13-week period — the total cost of providing enough testing kits could soar to as high as £4million.

Sportsmail understands the Premier League will foot the bill for the testing kits which will be crucial in ensuring football can restart as safely as possible amid concerns that one positive reading could result in another delay or even curtailment of the season.

Medical chiefs at the 20 top-flight clubs had a lengthy video conference call on Saturday

Sportsmail can reveal, though, that a number of medical staff have major ethical concerns about the regular testing of players.

With as many as 26,000 testing kits set to be purchased to ensure players and staff can have two tests a week until the end of the season, there is discomfort among many who feel the tests should be reserved for healthcare workers fighting the coronavirus on the front line.

Meanwhile, Premier League clubs are starting to brief staff that they expect football to restart by June 13.

Clubs will be allowed to make their own decisions on when to recommence group training sessions, according to social distancing guidelines. It is likely clubs will aim to begin what is essentially pre-season training by mid-May.