Sign up to FREE email alerts from Football London - Chelsea Subscribe Thank you for subscribing See our privacy notice Invalid Email

Players who are out of contract on June 30 would need to sign new deals to represent their current clubs should the coronavirus-delayed campaign run into July, adding another logistical problem after the Premier League and EFL confirmed a suspension of all fixtures until at least the first weekend of April.

Loanees may be given an option to sign extension waivers should games still be played in mid-summer, while pre-contract agreements and transfers already agreed are still expected to be completed on July 1.

A number of agents have told football.london that the player contract situation will represent a "nightmare" and present clubs with "very difficult" decisions.

Video Loading Video Unavailable Click to play Tap to play The video will start in 8 Cancel Play now

That could have serious consequences at Chelsea, where the front three in last Sunday's 4-0 win over Everton are all out of contract at the end of June.

"From a straight contractual perspective, away from loans, if a player's contract expires on 30th June, I can't see anything being enforceable to make him stay beyond that," one representative said.

"I can't see that anything could legally override players from saying 'I'm not staying beyond 30th June.' Or clubs from saying 'We don't want this guy after 30th June.'"

Players who are also entitled to pay rises on July 1, which is common for those who have signed long-term deals, will be likely unaffected should the season stretch into July.

There are a number of complications, though, including the possibility that clubs may argue that they should not be required to pay loan players while the league is suspended – presenting additional legal challenges.

Transfers such as Hakim Ziyech's move from Ajax to Chelsea will go ahead as scheduled but there also remains a possibility that Fifa, Uefa and the major leagues could seek to make emergency changes to transfer window dates.

While the majority of Premier League and EFL clubs are keen for the campaign to conclude, a minority would be satisfied with the campaign being made null and void.

In those circumstances, one agent said, all loan deals would be cancelled with immediate effect but permanent contracts would not be impacted.