Region’s clubs set for key decisions with out-of-contract stars
ACROSS YORKSHIRE, the future of a host of players who are out of contract at the end of the season remains in limbo amid the coronavirus pandemic which has closed down football.
It remains to be seen when the season does end, with FIFA reportedly set to confirm an indefinite extension to 2019-20 across the globe shortly, allowing each country’s football authority to determine when domestic campaigns can finish.
Reports also suggest that the game’s world governing body will also alter the dates of the summer transfer window and permit extensions for players whose deals end on June 30.
For the struggling duo of Middlesbrough and Sheffield Wednesday, the end of the season is likely to be a time when a number of high-earning senior players will leave the club.
There is also likely to be a big squad turnover at the likes of Hull City and Bradford City when the season does conclude.
Here is a full club-by-club breakdown of senior players, including loan signings, who are out of contract.
■ Barnsley: Daniel Pinillos, Kenny Dougall, Mamadou Thiam, Alex Mowatt – the club have a one-year option to retain Mowatt. Killian Ludewig will return to his parent club.
■ Bradford City: Richard O’Donnell, Adam Henley, Kelvin Mellor, Joe Riley, Hope Akpan, Jake Reeves, Jermaine Anderson, Danny Devine, Zeli Ismail, Chris Taylor, Jordan Gibson, Shay McCartan, Clayton Donaldson, Dylan Mottley-Henry. Glen Middleton, Jamie Devitt, Callum Cooke, Luke McGee and Dylan Connolly will return to their parent clubs.
■ Doncaster Rovers: Alex Baptiste, Devante Cole, James Coppinger, Alex Kiwomya, Kieran Sadlier, Matty Blair, Danny Amos,
Shane Blaney, AJ Greaves. Loan returns include Jason Lokilo, Niall Ennis, Cameron John, Jacob Ramsey.
■ Huddersfield Town: Collin Quaner, Danny Simpson. The club also have an option to
extend the contracts of Joel Coleman, Ryan Schofield, Demeaco Duhaney and JonGorenc Stankovic. Loan returns: Kamil Grabara, Jonas Lossl, Trevoh Chalobah, Emile SmithRowe, Andy King, Chris Willock.
■ Hull City: Angus MacDonald, Nobert Balogh, Nouha Dicko, Markus Henriksen. The club have one-year options on Eric Lichaj, Jackson Irvine, Dan Batty, Robbie McKenzie, Jon Toral, Kevin Stewart and Stephen Kingsley. Loan returns are Herbie Kane, Matt Pennington, Josh Bowler. The club have options to buy Mallik Wilks and Marcus Maddison.
■ Leeds United: Gaetano Berardi, Will Huffer, Kamil Miazek. Loan returns: JeanKevin Augustin, Ben White. Leeds have options to buy Jack Harrison and Illan Meslier.
■ Middlesbrough: Jonny Howson, Ryan Shotton, Daniel Ayala, Rudy Gestede, Marvin Johnson, George Friend, Adam Clayton. Harold Moukodi, Lukas Nmecha, Patrick Roberts and Ravel Morrison will return to their parent clubs.
■ Rotherham United: Lewis Price, Billy Jones, Laurence Bilboe. Hakeeb Adelakun, Daniel
Iversen, Josh Koroma and Dan Barlaser will all return to their parent clubs.
■ Sheffield United: Jack Rodwell, Kieron Freeman, Phil Jagielka, Leon Clarke, Ravel Morrison, Ricky Holmes. For the Premier League side, Mark Duffy, Jake Eastwood, Ben Heneghan and Nathan Thomas see their deals expire after returning from loans. Loan returns include Dean Henderson, Muhamed Besic. United have options to buy Panos Retsos and Richairo Zivkovic permanently.
■ Sheffield Wednesday:
Sam Hutchinson, Steven Fletcher, Morgan Fox, Fernando Forestieri, Joey Pelupessy, Kieran Lee, Atdhe Nuhiu, Sam Winnall, Jack Stobbs, Matt Penney. Meanwhile, David Bates, Jacob Murphy, Josh Windass and Conor Wickham will all return to their parent clubs, with the Owls also having an option to purchase Alessio Da Cruz on a permanent basis.