Contracts aren't worth the paper they're written on these days, but more and more we are seeing players seeing out their deals at a club in order to garner a lucrative signing on fee at a new club. Players like Emre Can, Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Sead Kolasinac have all been happy to run down their contract at their respective clubs in order to secure a move elsewhere.
With the end of 2018 approaching clubs are starting to tie down their best players at the risk of losing them in one or two years time for bupkis. Balls takes a look at the top clubs in the Premier League and whether they have their house in order when it comes to securing their biggest assets.
Arsenal
Arsenal are resigned to losing Aaron Ramsey at the end of the season on a free transfer, with the Welshman at an impasse with the club in regards to a new deal. Danny Welbeck is another player who can leave for free in June.
The ageing Petr Cech, Nacho Monreal and Laurent Koscielny are all likely to be moved on when their deals run out with Carl Jenkinson also unlikely to resign under Unai Emery.
Aaron Ramsey - Summer 2019
Danny Welbeck - Summer 2019
Nacho Monreal - Summer 2019
Petr Cech - Summer 2019
Laurent Koscielny - Summer 2020
Carl Jenkinson - Summer 2020
Man City
Pep Guardiola will have a big decision to make regarding his captain come the summer. Vincent Kompany will be 33 in April, and while he may not me at the peak of his powers any more, he is one of the leaders at Man City which could tempt the club to grant him an extension on his current deal.
Eliaquim Mangala on the other hand will probably be let go following a disappointing spell at the club since his 2014 move from Porto. Promising youngster Brahim Diaz proved his worth recently with a brace against Fulham in the Carabao Cup. Real Madrid have been mooted with an interest in the forward, but the club may have a problem keeping hold of the 19-year-old with Sergio Aguero and Gabriel Jesus further ahead in the pecking order.
Raheem Sterling has reportedly verbally agreed to extend his stay in Manchester, but there is still uncertainty surrounding the futures of Ilkay Gundogan, Phil Foden and Fabian Delph. David Silva and Fernandinho are 32 and 33 respectively, and with both players out of contract in 2020, the pair may seek pastures new as they enter the autumn of their careers.
Eliaquim Mangala - Summer 2019
Vincent Kompany - Summer 2019
Ibrahim Diaz - Summer 2019
Raheem Sterling - Summer 2020
Ilkay Gundogan - Summer 2020
David Silva - Summer 2020
Fernandinho - Summer 2020
Fabian Delph - Summer 2020
Oleksander Zinchenko - Summer 2020
Phil Foden - Summer 2020
Claudio Bravo - Summer 2020
Man United
Where do you start? United nearly have a first eleven of players that could leave for free at the end of the 2018/19 season. Of them, the most valuable to the club are Anthony Martial and David De Gea. Ageing full backs Antonio Valencia and Ashley Young could both conceivably be let go in June while Andreas Pereira and Matteo Darmian have not made much of an impact at the club, and much maligned centre back pairing Phil Jones and Chris Smalling might also be booted out come the summer.
Onto players who's deals run out in 2020 and Marcus Rashford's name appears. United fans will be desperate to see the Mancunian extend his stay at Old Trafford.
Nemanja Matic, Lee Grant and Marouane Fellaini on the other hand will probably be considered expendable by the time 2020 rolls around. Arguably the club's best defender Eric Bailly's deal also runs out in two years, which will worry the United faithful.
Anthony Martial - Summer 2019
Juan Mata - Summer 2019
David De Gea - Summer 2019
Ander Herrera - Summer 2019
Chris Smalling - Summer 2019
Matteo Darmian - Summer 2019
Antonio Valencia - Summer 2019
Andreas Pereira - Summer 2019
Ashley Young - Summer 2019
Marcus Rashford - Summer 2020
Nemanja Matic - Summer 2020
Eric Bailly - Summer 2020
Marouane Fellaini - Summer 2020
Lee Grant - Summer 2020
Tottenham Hotspur
The source of Tottenham's excellent defence could crumble come the summer, with both Jan Vertonghen and Toby Alderweireld out of contract. Spurs do have the option to extend Vertonghen's deal at the club by a year, whereas Alderweireld has been known to want a move away from a while.
Mousa Dembele has had his fair shared of injuries over the past few seasons so Daniel Levy may not be too eager to extend the Belgian's current deal. More pressing will be his mission to tie Christian Eriksen down to a long term contract.
Toby Alderweireld - Summer 2019
Jan Vertonghen - Summer 2019
Mousa Dembele - Summer 2019
Michel Vorm - Summer 2019
Christian Eriksen - Summer 2020
Vincent Janssen - Summer 2020
Liverpool
James Milner and Daniel Sturridge are both free agents come next June. You feel that Klopp could let either of them go, though with the evergreen Milner currently in the form of his life, the German may be tempted to see if he can squeeze another season out of the robust midfielder. Sturridge has also made a strong start to the season after his persistent injury woes, though may not prove value for money with his reported £120,000 week salary.
Moving down the list Lazar Markovic is basically a persona non grata at the club and it is understood that Moreno will be on his way once the season reaches its conclusion.
Onto the summer of 2020 and we're still not in danger of losing any first teamers. Joel Matip and Nathaniel Clyne currently make excellent second choice options for the Reds, though Divock Origi is clearly wanted out of the club after an unsuccessful loan spell at Wolfsburg.
Adam Lallana's deal runs out in 2020, though the club have the right to extend his contract by another year. Probably the most valuable player on this list for Jurgen Klopp.
James Milner - Summer 2019
Daniel Sturridge - Summer 2019
Alberto Moreno - Summer 2019
Lazar Markovic - Summer 2019
Joel Matip - Summer 2020
Adam Lallana - Summer 2020 (optional additional year)
Nathaniel Clyne - Summer 2020
Divock Origi - Summer 2020
Chelsea
Chelsea have a glut of elderly statesmen potentially leaving the club in June. Cesc Fabregas, David Luiz, Olivier Giroud and Gary Cahill will all more than likely be free to find another suitor. Loan ranger Lucas Piazon will also probably be shown the door as will Willy Caballero and Rob Green.
Onto summer 2020 and Chelsea fans may be concerned to learn that three of their star forwards will be free to leave the club in two years. Eden Hazard, Pedro and Willian are all coming into the final years at Stamford Bridge and with Hazard looking to Real Madrid, Sarri may have to cash in the club's biggest asset before it is devalued.
Fan favourite Cesar Azpilicueta's deal is also out in 2020, and his contract might be the most likely to get renewed.
Cesc Fabregas - Summer 2019
David Luiz - Summer 2019
Olivier Giroud - Summer 2019
Gary Cahill - Summer 2019
Lucas Piazon - Summer 2019
Willy Caballero - Summer 2019
Rob Green - Summer 2019
Eden Hazard - Summer 2020
Willian - Summer 2020
Cesar Azpilicueta - Summer 2020
Pedro - Summer 2020
Marko Van Ginkel - Summer 2020
