An England player was embroiled in a £30,000 blackmail plot after sleeping with a transgender escort during lockdown, according to reports.

The Premier League star is said to have contacted the pre-op woman after coming across her profile on an escorting website.

As reported by the

The player, reported as being a household name, was obviously hoping the clandestine trysts would remain under wraps.

However, the escort reportedly recorded him without his knowledge, saved his text messages and took photos of him in his car outside her flat. 

She then used that material to blackmail him to the tune of £30,000, which the player then paid her in cash, it is claimed.

He then reportedly went to the police and the women, who has surgical enhancements, was then arrested in June on suspicion of blackmail and questioned about their meetings.

But the player refused to give a statement, and the probe was left on file.

His club were reportedly informed about the allegations after some questioned whether his lifestyle off the pitch were affecting his performances on it. 

A Sun source said: 'No one knows if the player knew the woman was transgender, but he was desperate to keep her quiet once she to expose him. 

'He handed over the cash on a few occasions before realising that the only way of stopping the situation was by going to the police. They were keen to gather evidence because blackmail is a serious crime.

'But the footballer was really worried his name would come out and it would lead to him being abused by fans.

'He just wanted to bury it so despite the efforts of officers, he refused to co-operate, which left them investigating a blackmail plot without a victim.

'They needed to see his mobile phone messages and also bank transfers, so they had no choice but to reluctantly drop the case.'