PREMIER LEAGUE clubs will be allowed to sign players on temporary contracts if the season continues beyond the end of their current deals, according to reports.
Hundreds of players including stars at Chelsea and Tottenham have contracts that expire this summer.
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Willian’s contract is up on June 30 while Jan Vertonghen’s deal expires the day after on July 1
The Premier League is currently suspended until April 4 with the EFL on hold until April 3.
However, there are fears both will have to extend their delays further as football attempts to combat the spread of coronavirus.
Euro 2020 was postponed by a year on Tuesday to allow domestic seasons to be completed over the summer if possible.
But this may lead to a contractual nightmare with many players further down the pyramid fearing for their livelihoods.
In a bid to combat such a situation, football authorities like the FA, Premier League, EFL and PFA are expected to be flexible and allow temporary deals in order to complete the season, according to the Telegraph.
It quotes one Football League official who said: “It’s pretty easy for all the football authorities to get together and agree that clubs can give players temporary contracts to take them to the end of any extended season, should that happen.
“The transfer windows and things can also be altered accordingly.
“But it will be a scary time for many players towards the bottom end who have mortgages to pay and will have decisions about their livelihood and futures delayed until clubs get clarity over when football might be played again and the real financial impact.”
While this approach may offer security to those at the top of the football pyramid, clubs further down the ladder are unlikely to offer any new deals while their financial future remains so unstable.
At Chelsea, Willian, Pedro, Olivier Giroud and Willy Caballero all have contracts that expire on June 30.
Manchester United have acted swiftly to extend Nemanja Matic’s deal beyond the end of this season.
But July 1 will see Tottenham’s Jan Vertonghen and Newcastle’s Andy Carroll out of contract.
That date also sees Watford trio Ben Foster, Herurelho Gomes and Adrian Mariappa become free agents.
As well as Ryan Fraser and Simon Francis at Bournemouth, Southampton striker Shane Long and Burnley players Ashley Westwood, Jeff Hendrick and Aaron Lennon.
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Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
