Since January 1st, other clubs have been officially allowed to negotiate with players whose contracts expire in the summer of 2025. This time they include many professionals of exceptional caliber.
What do Vincent Kompany and Arne Slot have in common? Fans of appearances could point out the identical hairstyle – or non-hairstyle – at this point, but this text is not about baldness. Instead, it’s about the fact that some of their very best players may soon no longer be there. Those who are not only busy with their performance on the pitch these weeks, but also very busy with their career planning.
Big star question marks at FC Bayern and Liverpool
FC Bayern Munich and Liverpool FC are at the center of an extraordinary situation that has never been so concentrated in European football. A large number of professionals, for whom almost all clubs would lick their fingers, could change clubs for free next summer because their contracts, which run until 2025, have not yet been extended.
At Bayern, Joshua Kimmich, Manuel Neuer and Alphonso Davies are three players that Kompany definitely doesn’t want to do without, and a decision also has to be made about Leroy Sané and Thomas Müller. In Liverpool, the “phased out” trio with Mohamed Salah, Virgil van Dijk and Trent Alexander-Arnold is even more impressive in terms of sport. For them – and many others at their level – it’s now about an unimaginable amount of money, their careers and also a few endings.
Old stars have not yet decided Salah is “far away” from contract
Because this guard of players who are only tied to their clubs for a few more months also includes Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo and Neymar – a few years ago they were the three biggest football stars in the world.
Neymar plays for Al-Hilal in Saudi Arabia, but is on sick leave and his future is therefore open to questionable. Ronaldo, Neymar’s competitor at Al-Nassr, constantly emphasizes how happy he is in the desert, but there were also rumors about him returning to Europe. Paris St. Germain is said to be interested. But he will probably stay in place just like Messi did at Inter Miami – but that hasn’t been decided yet.
Things are obviously going to be a lot more exciting with Salah, who is currently unstoppable in the Premier League and is setting top scoring records – but is still without a contract. Last year, the Egyptian openly expressed his frustration that the “Reds” had not yet made him an offer, but discussions now seem to be underway. Of a new contract “But we’re still a long way away” and there would be “no progress”said Salah on “Sky Sport”.
Eberl: “Time for the decision”
Things seem to be different in Munich, where the offers seem to have already been made where they should be made. “The vacation was relaxed, but of course we had a few more conversations. Now it’s time for the decision”said sports director Max Eberl. He and sports director Christoph Freund would have “A lot of preparatory work has been done. But now the talks, whether we agree or not, are entering the decisive phase.”
Eberl and many of his colleagues are currently experiencing first-hand that the top players now have much more control. If a club changes, a new employer would transfer millions in hand money – in addition to a horrendous salary – and the existing clubs must also react to this by granting a large signing bonus. Keeping up when a Salah, Kimmich or international Jonathan David and national Jonathan Tah are on the market is very expensive.
Clubs that are giving up will be the big losers
For years, the tension in the transfer market was also about the huge transfer fees which clubs would pay for which superstars. In the next few months, the biggest topic will be which exceptional players the clubs will be able to retain or who will move as a “free agent” – without the transferring club getting a single cent.
| Player (market value according to transfermarkt.de) | Current club | Rumors about switching to |
|---|---|---|
Trent Alexander-Arnold (75 million) | Liverpool FC | real Madrid |
Mohamed Salah (55 million) | Liverpool FC | – |
Alphonso Davies (50 million) | Bayern Munich | real Madrid |
Joshua Kimmich (50 million) | Bayern Munich | – |
Jonathan David (45 million) | LOSC Lille | Bayern Munich |
Leroy Sané (45 million) | Bayern Munich | Manchester United |
Heung-min Son (38 million) | Tottenham Hotspur | FC Barcelona |
Kevin de Bruyne (35 million) | Manchester City | – |
Jonathan Tah (30 million) | Bayer Leverkusen | FC Barcelona |
Virgil van Dijk (28 million) | Liverpool FC | – |
Anyone who cares even a little about football knows that those interested have already at least had a feeling as to whether player XY might want to come to them. That’s why there were reports before the turn of the year that Tah was about to move to FC Barcelona. Since January 1st, the discussions have also been allowed to take place purely in accordance with the rules. The poker of the superstars has officially begun.