PREMIER LEAGUE players who are out of contract at the end of the season are within their rights to walk away from the club on July 1, a leading sports lawyer has warned.
A host of top-flight players see their current contracts expire on June 30 – with initial reports stating they may be asked to stay on until the conclusion of the current season.
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The Premier League’s out-of-contract XI, includes Willian and Ceballos
A host of big names like Dani Ceballos, Odion Ighalo and Willian could quit the club on July 1, even if the season is still going
But with coronavirus wreaking havoc on the schedule Nick De Marco QC told Sky Sports no one can force players to work beyond their contract date.
The same rule appears to apply to players currently at their clubs on loan, such as Arsenal ace Dani Ceballos.
We’ve taken a look at which players – and which clubs – are affected by the new ruling, with Chelsea set to lose some first-team stars.
ARSENAL
Number of players: 3
THE Gunners have two loan players on their books at present – Pablo Mari and Dani Ceballos.
Mari as an option in his deal to make the move permanent, while Ceballos does not – although the latter could be used as a makeweight in a deal that would see Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang head to Real Madrid.
Matt Macey is the only other player affected.
ASTON VILLA
Number of players: 5
THE Villans have two players in on loan deals this season, in Danny Drinkwater and Pepe Reina.
Three other players – Borja Baston, Matija Sarkic and Keinan Davis – are out of contract this summer.
BOURNEMOUTH
Number of players: 7
A WHOLE host of Cherries stars – some big names at that – are set to be hit by the new ruling, including Ryan Fraser, Jordon Ibe and Artur Boruc.
Simon Francis, Andrew Surman, Charlie Daniels and Jack Simpson could also quit before the end of this potentially extended season.
Dani Ceballos is set to return to Real Madrid on July 1Credit: Getty Images – Getty
Olivier Giroud and Willian are among the Chelsea stars out of contract in the summerCredit: REUTERS/Eddie Keogh
BRIGHTON
Number of players: 2
JUST two Seagulls stars will be hit by the news.
Ezequiel Schelotto and Beram Kayal are both expected to be gone by July 1.
BURNLEY
Number of players: 6
HALF a dozen Turf Moor stars are expected to walk out by the summer, including former England internationals Joe Hart and Aaron Lennon.
Robbie Brady, Phil Bardsley, Adam Legzdins and Jeff Hendrick could also quit earlier than planned.
CHELSEA
Number of players: 5
PLENTY has been made about the big names set to see their contracts run out this summer, including Willian and Pedro.
But Willy Caballero, Olivier Giroud and forgotten man Marco van Ginkel will all be potentially on the move before the end of the 2019-20 campaign.
CRYSTAL PALACE
Number of players: 2
JUST the two players hit here, with veteran defender Scott Dann the headliner.
Stephen Henderson could also be on the way out early doors.
EVERTON
Number of players: 5
CLUB legend Leighton Baines may leave the club midway through the season.
Maarten Stekelenburg, Cuco Martina, Oumar Niasse and loanee Djibril Sidibe are also affected.
LEICESTER
Number of players: 4
FOUR players will be hit by the new ruling, including some of the 2015-16 Premier League-winning squad – with Wes Morgan and Christian Fuchs out of contract.
Eldin Jakupovic and Nampalys Mendy also have their contracts expire on June 30.
David Silva is out of contract at Man City at the end of this seasonCredit: Rex Features
Matty Longstaff is a free summer transfer target for ArsenalCredit: PA:Empics Sport
LIVERPOOL
Number of players: 3
TWO former Southampton players could now leave Anfield before the season’s end – with Adam Lallana and Nathaniel Clyne on the hunt for first-team action.
Emergency signing Andy Lonergan is the only other Reds star affected.
MAN CITY
Number of players: 3
AFTER a trophy-laden stint at the Etihad, David Silva may quit the club before the season is done and dusted.
Elsewhere, loanee Scott Carson and back-up stopper Claudio Bravo are set to be hit by the news.
MAN UTD
Number of players: 2
AT one stage this number would have been much higher, but for a spate of new contracts dished out under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
Only red-hot loan star Odion Ighalo and forgotten defender Timothy Fosu-Mensah are set to be affected by the decision.
NEWCASTLE
Number of players: 10
ONE of two clubs to hit double figures, Steve Bruce has something of a decision to make between now and the summer – with Matty Longstaff the biggest name.
Rob Elliot, Andy Carroll, Danny Rose, Jack Colback, Jetro Willems, Javier Manquillo, Valentino Lazaro, Nabil Bentaleb and Jamie Sterry are also affected.
NORWICH
Number of players: 1
JUST the sole player to worry about for the Canaries.
That man is midfield loanee Ondrej Duda.
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SHEFF UTD
Number of players: 10
JOINING the Toon in having ten players affected by the news, amongst those stars are Dean Henderson and Phil Jagielka.
Leon Clarke, Jack Rodwell, Ricky Holmes, Kieron Freeman, John Lundstram, Richairo Zivkovic, Panagiotis Retsos and Mo Besic are the other eight.
SOUTHAMPTON
Number of players: 3
OF the three players affected at St Mary’s, just one is a permanent player – Shane Long.
The other two are loanees: Kyle Walker-Peters and Kevin Danso.
TOTTENHAM
Number of players: 3
A MIXED bag for Spurs, the club will be hoping young prospect Japhet Tanganga won’t walk away.
Michel Vorm and Jan Vertonghen – long tipped to sign a new deal – are the other two names.
Jan Vertonghen may now be forced to stick around at Spurs for longerCredit: Reuters
Pablo Zabaleta will now have to stay at the London Stadium into the summerCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
WATFORD
Number of players: 4
WITH an average age of 36, the Hornets are set to lose four veterans on June 30 – with first-team goalkeepers Ben Foster and Heurelho Gomes amongst them.
Adrian Mariappa and Jose Holebas are the other two.
WEST HAM
Number of players: 3
VETERAN duo Pablo Zabaleta and Carlos Sanchez are now expected to leave on July 1.
Loanee Tomas Soucek is the other from the London Stadium.
WOLVES
Number of players: 5
THE Midlands club look set to keep their core in tact for next season, with only fringe players like John Ruddy expected to leave.
The goalkeeper is joined by Bright Enobakhare, Phil Ofosu-Ayeh, Max Kilman and Enzo Loiodice in being out of contract on June 30.
Everton ace Oumar Niasse slammed by police for disobeying UK’s coronavirus lockdown
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
