According to the Daily Mirror, the two Premier League stars (one is an England international) believe “the time is right” to come out.
A source told the newspaper that the “stigma of being gay had completely gone.”
They added: “At this level of football, being gay is almost the final frontier.
“It has always been such a macho game and, unfortunately, perhaps more than in any other sport, there can be an aggressive mob mentality in the stands.
“But finally the tide is turning and more and more sports people are openly gay.”
The players have told friends and family that the are ready to “come out” in public and are being helped by their clubs and the Football Association.
The duo plan on making their announcement before the start of next season and if they do, they would become the first players to publicly announce they are gay while performing in the Premier League.
In 1990 former Norwich City and Nottingham Forest striker Justin Fashanu became Britain’s first openly gay footballer.
During that era, Fashanu was vilified by opposing players and fans alike, and sadly took his own life in 1998.
Since then only a handful of players have come out as gay.
In 2013 former Leeds United winger Robbie Rogers revealed he was gay and retired from football.
Rogers, who later reversed his decision to retire and now plays for LA Galaxy, said he quit the game to “avoid the pressure and scrutiny from the press and fans”.
Former Aston Villa, West Ham United and Everton midfielder Thomas Hitzlsperger waited until he hung up his boots in 2014 before coming out.
At the time, the former Germany international claimed football had “a long way to go” before there will be an openly gay man playing in a top league.
Will the fact that two players currently playing in the Premier League are coming out encourage others to do the same? Are you surprised it has taken this long for Premier League players to come out? Leave your opinions in the comment section.