PREMIER LEAGUE clubs have been given until June 23 to settle the futures of their soon to be out-of-contract stars.
There are 86 top-flight players set to be available on a free transfer come June 30, but the league are desperate for fair ground rules to be implemented surrounding their futures and the integrity of the competition.
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Willian and David Silva are among the 86 PL stars set to be out of contract in June
Clubs are expected to have three options.
According to The Athletic, the first could see them hand out-of-contract stars a “season 2019-20” extension, taking them until midnight of the day that the campaign finally finishes – with no change in terms.
The second would be to make a normal offer of a multi-year extension, while the third will be to notify them that no offer is forthcoming.
High-profile stars Willian, David Silva and Jan Vertonghen are among the 86 set to be left in limbo.
While Willian has previously stated that he will definitely remain at Chelsea until the end of the season out of “loyalty”, things are less clear for others.
Silva’s departure from Manchester City after ten years of service had already been announced, however you would expect him to stick around until the end of the campaign.
Vertonghen’s Tottenham future meanwhile is very much up in the air, while fellow Spurs defender Japhet Tanganga could also depart.
Should players not be offered new terms by close of play on June 23, they would be free to talk to other clubs.
The Premier League is against improved terms being offered for temporary “2019-20” extensions, as they feel it would place too much power in the hands of out-of-contract players and agents.
Should a club lose a player because they have rejected new terms, they would then be able to register a replacement in their 25-man squad, so long as they were already contracted to the club.
This rules out new signings such as Chelsea’s Hakim Ziyech being able to play when the season eventually resumes, despite technically becoming a Blues player on July 1.
Another issue that has arisen is that of players currently out on loan.
A “2019-20 loan extension” has been mooted, much like that for out-of-contract stars – but this is where conflict between the top flight and EFL has been stirred.
The EFL are determined for Premier League clubs to be obliged to accept the loan extensions of their players currently out on loan, so long as the club in a lower division wants that to be the case.
There is a concern that key players being recalled by their parent clubs could seriously derail EFL clubs’ seasons.
One example raised is that of Brighton’s Ben White.
Currently on loan at Leeds United, White would have been a key figure in their promotion run-in should the season not have been interrupted.
But if he were to be allowed to return to Brighton, Leeds would be significantly weakened, should the Championship season finish.
Leeds would be desperate not to lose loanee Ben WhiteCredit: Rex Features
The league will also have to correspond with Fifa with regards to the transfer window.
The PL would like it to run from July 1 to September 30, while the EFL would like it opened until March next year in order to ease cash flow issues.
Prem bosses are hoping to get the season back underway at neutral venues as early as next month – with the Bundesliga in Germany having confirmed a May 16 comeback.
Germany is set to re-open every shop and restart the Bundesliga before the end of May, in new plans
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
