Premier League Clubs to Vote on Proposal Over Extending Contracts Expiring on 30 June
The Premier League will hold a vote on Monday on how to handle contracts that are due to expire at the end June. The likes of Adam Lallana, Willian, David Silva and Jan Vertonghen among the highest profile examples of players on course to become free agents in a matter of weeks.
30 June expiration dates are standard on player contracts and would ordinarily come several weeks after the end of a given season. However, with the 2019/20 campaign to be played well into July as a result of the coronavirus crisis – if it is resumed at all – this is no ordinary season.
It has been of concern how players and their clubs will be affected. Could players simply leave on 30 June, for example, even though the season is still being played?
The Athletic carries details of a proposal with three options for clubs to choose in each case.
Two of the paths are fairly obvious. Firstly, clubs can, as normal, offer any player in the final weeks of their current contract a new deal that runs until at least the end of the 2020/21 season, thereby covering this uncertain period.
Secondly, they may choose to offer no deal at all and release the player on 30 June, even though the season – assuming it actually can be restarted – will still be ongoing.
One thing to note is that a player out of contract next month and who immediately signs with a new club will not be eligible to play again this season, even though they are a free agent. There is also, as yet, no confirmation on when the summer transfer window will be opened - whether it be the day after the season is over, or earlier depending on what other European leagues do.
The third option that is unique to these strange times is a temporary contract extension that will cover the remainder of the 2019/20 season. The Athletic explains that such proposed deals will end on midnight of each club’s final game and will be on the same financial terms as existing contracts – that should at least eliminate any gameplaying on both sides of the negotiating table.
It is said those short-term extensions can include additional insurance cover, which should settle player nerves about the prospect of suffering serious injury during the extended period.
It has previously been reported that Liverpool may look to exercise this option with midfielder Lallana.
The timeframe for all such arrangements to be made, The Athletic adds, is 23 June. That means players who are let go can negotiate with new clubs from 24 June. But, as mentioned, anyone who agrees to join a new club will not be allowed to play until next season.
That rules out the possibility of pre-arranged summer signing Hakim Ziyech playing for Chelsea before the official start of 2020/21, even though his Stamford Bridge contract would have been due to begin on 1 July and the Eredivisie season with Ajax has been abandoned.
It is still possible that some players could fall the cracks if their club decides against offering even a temporary extension, perhaps in a bid to cut costs, and they are of no use to a prospective new club because they are ineligible to play.
In normal circumstances that would be the equivalent of a player getting released in March when games continue until May and not being able to play for anyone else.
If a high profile player approaching free agency has assurances of a contract from another club, refusing a temporary extension and not being permitted to play may be a trade-off they are willing to take. But if clubs have financial concerns, how many will be actively offering contracts to new players?
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