The Premier League has confirmed that players who are due to see their contracts expire at the end of June will have the opportunity to secure extensions until the end of the 2019/20 season.
A number of players in the Premier League are due to see their deals expire on June 30, which is also the end date for many loan deals, and clubs will now have the opportunity to negotiate short-term extensions.
The Premier League is keen to see matches return in mid-June and the new deals would tie the player down for the remainder of the 2019/20 season, whenever that may be.
However, there is no unilateral agreement and both parties will have to agree to an extension - which could mean some players refuse and are subsequently unavailable to feature beyond the end of June.
A statement read: “At Monday's Shareholders' meeting, Premier League clubs unanimously agreed to be allowed to renegotiate and enter into short term contract extensions with players whose deals are due to expire on 30 June of this year.
As the UK Government indicated on Monday its willingness for live sport to return behind closed doors from 1 June, the Premier League is exploring paths to resuming the 2019/20 season after this date.
Clubs were concerned over expiring player contracts and registration issues posed by the potential of the 2019/20 season extending beyond 30 June.
So, it was agreed by all Shareholders that clubs and players can mutually agree to extend their contracts beyond 30 June until the end of the season.
Richard Masters, the Premier League Chief Executive, said: "What we decided today is to ensure as far as possible that clubs complete the season with the same squad they had available prior to the suspension of the campaign.
"Players can extend their contracts beyond 30 June until the end of the season, but it must be agreed by both parties."
“Clubs and players will now have until 23 June to agree extensions.”
