The Premier League has agreed that player contracts ending on 30 June can be extended to the end of the 2019-20 season, whenever that may be, solving one of the biggest complications regarding the coronavirus-hit season.

The competition’s new chief executive Richard Masters said that the impetus was to ensure “clubs complete the season with the same squad they had prior to the suspension” in mid-March.

A proposal on the situation was put forward in Monday’s videoconference, which all clubs subsequently agreed on. The various parties must just agree to any contract changes by 23 June.

The situation had previously proven a headache because it meant that up to a fifth of the Premier League’s players could have been out of contract – and thereby free agents – in the middle of a possible run-in, placing them in limbo. While the contracts remain subject to actual agreement between clubs and players, the proposal at least makes that possible.

In a video press conference shortly after the Premier League meeting, however, Masters revealed that it had finally been resolved.

“What we decided today – obviously this issue has been highlighted and we’ve discussed it at the last two meetings – but we’ve been working as far as possible to ensure that clubs complete the season with the same squad they had prior to the suspension,” Masters said.

“What was agreed today is that players can extend their contracts beyond June 30 until the end of the season but it must be agreed by both parties and a later date can be scheduled for that; no later than June 23.”

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