With the contracts of a number of great players, including Kylian Mbappe, Paul Pogba and Cristiano Ronaldo, expiring in June 2022, here are some top stars who are now in the final years of their current deals!
Every year, there are clubs that fail to tie their biggest stars down to new contracts and find themselves panicking to finalise extensions before January, from when players in the last six months of their deals are free to negotiate pre-contracts with other teams.
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Due to COVID-19's impact on most club's finances, many cannot afford to offer these footballers bumper new contracts, leaving the players in a powerful position where they can demand big wages or leave as free agents a few months later.
Scroll through the gallery above to see some top players who are now in the final year of their current contracts
France star Mbappe has reportedly asked to leave Paris Saint-Germain, and is said to have rejected a contract extension from the club. The Ligue 1 giants have not given up yet, but they may just be forced to sell the 22-year-old before January.
The French forward signed for Les Parisiens for a reported €180 million (R3 billion) in 2017, but could reportedly leave for less than €100 million (R3 billion) in this transfer window or for free at the end of next season.
His international teammate Paul Pogba has been linked with an exit from Old Trafford for the past three seasons but his admirers have seemingly not been able to pay Manchester United's desired fee.
As a result, this window might be his best chance to finally leave at a relatively low price, or wait until January and then negotiate his next destination.
Cristiano Ronaldo, meanwhile, is in the latter stages of his career, but still remains one of the best players in the sport. He, too, is now in the final year of his current deal.
His former club Manchester United and PSG are both widely reported to be interested in taking the five-time Ballon d'Or winner to their respective clubs, especially with Juventus said to be in financial trouble.
Barcelona trio Sergi Roberto, Pedri Gonzalez and Ousmane Dembele have also entered the final years of their contracts, while the same can be said for the Real Madrid duo of Raphael Varane and Dani Carvajal – scroll through the gallery above to see more top stars who could be out of contract at the end of the 2021/22 season!