Cavani, Ibrahimovic and football's 2020 free agents facing contract limbo amid coronavirus chaos
Stars like Zlatan Ibrahimovic face uncertain futures with Europe's top five leagues postponed and contract expiry dates drawing closer.
Published : Mar 17, 2020 04:00 IST
The coronavirus crisis continues to challenge decision-makers in football's corridors of power and could soon leave some of the game's biggest clubs facing contract conundrums.
Manchester United, Milan and Paris Saint-Germain are among the major European outfits who are due to farewell high-profile players when free agency comes into force on June 30.
Domestic leagues across the world appear increasingly likely to run beyond that deadline, meaning sides up and down the divisions could be forced to renegotiate deals beyond the typical expiry date.
It remains to be seen how governing bodies will approach the unfamiliar territory but Edinson Cavani, Mario Gotze and Zlatan Ibrahimovic will be watching closely like dozens more across Europe's top five leagues.
These are the stars and solid supporting cast members whose contract situations are worth monitoring in England, France, Germany, Italy and Spain.
La Liga Athletic Bilbao: Aritz Aduriz (retiring), Benat, Mikel San Jose Atletico Madrid: Antonio Adan Espanyol: Ander Iturraspe Granada: Roberto Soldado Real Valladolid: Hatem Ben Arfa Sevilla: Ever Banega (joining Al Shabab at end of contract), Nolito Valencia: Ezequiel Garay Villarreal: Santi Cazorla
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Premier League
Bournemouth: Ryan Fraser Burnley: Joe Hart Chelsea: Olivier Giroud, Pedro, Willian Liverpool: Adam Lallana, Nathaniel Clyne Manchester City: David Silva (confirmed he will leave at end of contract) Manchester United: Nemanja Matic, Timothy Fosu-Mensah, Odion Ighalo (loan ends) Newcastle United: Matty Longstaff Tottenham: Jan Vertonghen, Japhet Tanganga
Serie A
Atalanta: Jose Luis Palomino Hellas Verona: Fabio Borini Inter: Ashley Young Juventus: Gianluigi Buffon Milan: Lucas Biglia, Giacomo Bonaventura, Zlatan Ibrahimovic Napoli: Jose Callejon, Dries Mertens
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Bundesliga
Bayer Leverkusen: Charles Aranguiz Borussia Dortmund: Mario Gotze, Lukasz Piszczek Hertha Berlin: Salomon Kalou Schalke: Benjamin Stambouli Wolfsburg: Robin Knoche
Ligue 1
Lille: Loic Remy Monaco: Jemerson Nice: Walter Benitez, Arnaud Lusamba Paris Saint-Germain: Edinson Cavani, Thomas Meunier, Tanguy Kouassi, Layvin Kurzawa, Thiago Silva