The Super League of Malawi (Sulom) has warned Super League clubs against unrealistic pricing of players during the transfer window which re-opens on September 28.

Sulom General Secretary Williams Banda said clubs should charge reasonable transfer fees for their players and avoid using exorbitant prices as a means of blocking players from joining clubs of their choice.

"Of course it's a free market and there is no way we can dictate the transfer fee for a player. It's a question of demand and supply. All we are asking is for the clubs to be fair," said Banda.

The GS said one way of making sure that players are priced fairly is to transparently grade them into various categories.

"Clubs should grade their players. The transfer fees should then be determined by which category the players belong to, not just coming up with prices anyhow," said Banda.

He said the grading of the players should be based on their performance, age, length of contract and how much the club has spent on his career developing.

Banda said Sulom would call for a stakeholders meeting before the window re-opens to discuss matters related to player transfers.

The transfer window would close on October 12. Prohibitive pricing of player is one of the major causes of wrangles between clubs during the transfer window. A number of players have found themselves victims after their clubs pegged them at prohibitive prices.

Sulom has no control over transfer fees but when there is a stand off between two clubs over a player, the body acts as an arbitrator.

Escom United, who are the biggest exporter of players, said they already take into consideration Sulom's guidelines.

"Our players are categorised based on whether they are first choice, national team, regular or on and off players at our club," says Escom General Secretary Richard Samba.

He said this explains why Escom comes up with prices as high as K6 million for players such as Ndaziona Chatsalira and Chimango Kayira who are both national team and regular players at the club.

"In fact, we have a committee that is responsible for that," said Samba.

Escom are currently in a stand-off with Bullets FC over a K6 million claim for the transfer of players Heston Munthali, Chimango Kayira and James Chilapondwa.