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« on: February 22, 2024, 01:42:47 AM »
Looking at the squad by contract expiry date removing the loanees and adding players out on loan where I know their contract length
2024. Kelly, Kipre, Mowatt, Bartley, Chalobah, Phillips, Reach and Pieters.
2025 Furlong, Townsend, Ajayi. Taylor, Molumby, Diangana, Swift, Yokuslu Griffiths, Thomas-Asante, Ashworth and Faal
2026 Dike, Maja, Grant, Wallace, and Palmer
2027 Fellows
There are a huge number of decisions to be made this summer 20 players are either out of contract or are going into their last year.
Taking each cohort in turn
2024. I would try to renew Kipre's contract. Everybody else I'm letting go regardless of the terms they will sign up to. While Mowatt has had a really good season I don't want to have him on the books in his early 30's
2025. With just one year left we have 3 options sell, let the contract run down and release or negotiate an extension. I would offer a new contract to Taylor. Given the lack of (fit) attacking options I might extend Thomas Asante by a couple of years. I would be open to offers for everybody else (fairly certain we won't have a queue of interested parties) otherwise I would let them leave at the end of the contract.
2026 Given their contract length if the club were trying to raise funds this the Group that should attract the best fees. However aside from Palmer it is hard to see a market given Wages/Age/Injury record. This is not a particular concern given the players will make a valuable contribution across the next couple of seasons. Although there is one glaring exception, Grant. What the hell to do with Grant will be the perennial problem every summer until he leaves the club I foresee another loan.
2027. The only player contracted for longer than 2 years is Fellows. He is one of the few that I would want to be contracted for that length of time. My fear is that he will be sold to pay for the mistakes of the past if we are not ruthless enough with the bulk of the squad.
Anyway you want to look at the next 2 summers are going to be busy.