There are rumors that clubs from Scandinavian countries, Scotland, Poland, and others might leave the Champions League and their own domestic leagues if UEFA goes ahead with the 16-team two eight-club group stages. Here is my proposal: first off, the Champions League would be expanded to 64 clubs. Secondly, it's time to create cross-border leagues. There are 53 leagues in Europe (54 countries). However, every club would have to play in the domestic cup (54 of these) of their own country (Swansea City would play in Welsh Cup, i.e.). Here would be the 32 leagues: 1) Spain with Andorran clubs in lower divisions 2) Germany with German Belgian, German Swiss , and Liechtenstein clubs in lower divisions 3) England with Welsh clubs in lower divisions (The New Saints would start in League Two) 4) Italy with San Marino and Italian Swiss clubs in lower divisions 5) Portugal 6) France with French Belgian French Swiss clubs in lower divisions; Anderlecht, Standard Liege, and Basel would play in Ligue 1 7) Russia 8) Ukraine 9) Netherlands with Dutch Belgian clubs in lower divisions 10) Turkey 11) Czech Republic + Slovakia (Czech and Slovak League) 12) Greece + Cyprus (Greater Greek Super League) 13) Romania + Moldova (Greater Romanian Super League) 14) Austria 15) Croatia + Serbia + Slovenia + Bosnia + Macedonia + Montenegro (Adriatic League) 16) Poland 17) Belarus 18) Sweden + Norway + Denmark + Finland (Royal League) 19) Israel 20) Scotland 21) Kazakhstan 22) Bulgaria 23) Hungary 24) Iceland 25) Georgia with Armenia's 7 clubs (two of which would play in top division) 26) Albania 27) Ireland + N. Ireland (Greater Ireland League) 28) Latvia + Estonia + Lithuania (Baltic League) 29) Luxembourg 30) Faroe Islands 31) Malta 32) Gibraltar CL access list: Leagues 1-5: 4 clubs Leagues 6-10: 3 clubs Leagues 11-15: 2 clubs Leagues 16-32: 1 club CL holder EL holder If either CL or EL holder already qualifies, next team in league qualifies. 16 groups of 4: top two advance to Round of 32. Round of 16 on is unseeded. EL access list: 54 cup winners (runners-up qualify in winner qualified to CL) 1 additional club per league 86 clubs (44 play in Playoff-Round) enter. 64 participate in 64-team group stage. Format same as CL.
Club Brugge was second in Belgium last season and leads this season with 8 games left. Standard Liege isn't even in the top group of six this season. If you're making a league with the best 20 clubs from France, Belgium, and Switzerland, Club Brugge should be included.
I've read about merging the Swiss and Austian leagues into an Alpenliga, and the Belgian and Dutch leagues into a Beneliga. Those could help teams to have bigger budgets and reduce the loss of players to top 5 leagues.