Huge summer transfer deals go on hold due to Covid-19 crisis leaving stars stranded

MULTI-MILLION pound transfers are being put on hold during the coronavirus crisis, leaving many of football’s biggest names in limbo.

And with no one sure when business will restart and when the window will open, a lot of money is sitting on the table because of the uncertainty.

Leroy Sane looks set to complete his on-off £90million switch from Manchester City to Bayern Munich at some point this summer, as some of the major deals appear to be firmly in place.

Jadon Sancho still believes his next move will be to the Premier League in the close season, with Borussia Dortmund ready to spark a mega-money auction and Manchester United willing to break the bank for the England international.

That could leave Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s future uncertain, with the Arsenal striker itching for Champions League football. Barcelona want him but these kind of deals are up in the air, with Real Madrid also circling.

Barca cannot make recruitment plans when they do not know when this season will re-start or when next season will begin, putting many discussions on hold.

Basically, if talks were not well advanced when the health crisis took hold then they could fall apart amid the uncertainty.

Clubs do not know how much the crisis will cost them or how much they will have in their budget.

It is the same for agents, who have had no guidance from world governing body

FIFA over when the transfer window may open or close and, for the vast majority, they are just having to play a waiting game.

They are still making calls, still suggesting players but the familiar answer from the clubs is all planning is on the back burner.

Sane is different because Bayern are so far down the line. It was a deal which would probably have happened last summer but for his long-term knee injury.

The Germany winger was due to go to Bayern, but had to play in the Community Shield because Riyad Mahrez had taken medication for an illness. City did not want to risk him failing a dope test so called in Sane, who picked up an injury which led to the deal being called off. It is now back on again for a player with only a year left on his contract.

Dortmund are already planning for life after Sancho, who could bring in £120m-plus. United are in pole position but face competition from Paris SaintGermain. Liverpool have also been linked with him, but Old Trafford seems the likely destination on a contract of more than £250,000 a week.

Arsenal will not give up trying to persuade Aubameyang to stay, and the current crisis could perhaps help them keep their top scorer. He has only 12 months left on his deal and the Gunners must decide whether to cash in this summer.

There will also be a host of players out of contract on June 30, which leaves major questions over what lies in store for them.

The Professional Footballers’ Association is in talks with FIFA, the Premier League and EFL over trying to find a solution to extend deals and they are likely to reach a compromise.

But in the meantime, Leicester are keen on Liverpool’s Adam Lallana, a host of clubs including Arsenal want to see what happens with Bournemouth’s Ryan Fraser this summer, while Chelsea’s Pedro, Willian and Olivier Giroud are waiting on their next move.

Normally it is March when transfer talk hots up, and plans and negotiations are being made for when the campaign finishes.

But this time most deals – like the rest of life – are on hold, and no one is quite sure for how long.

Barcelona want Aubameyang but these kind of deals are up in the air

Agents have had no guidance on when the transfer window may open or close