Check out this XI of players who are believed to be signing new deals with their clubs this summer.
Sometimes the only way for a player to end any speculation surrounding their future is to put pen to paper on a new deal with their current club. This XI of players have done just that, either agreeing or being set to agree new contracts with their clubs, either to commit their future to their current employer or to end any lingering transfer rumours that had been surrounding them.
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GK) Kasper Schmeichel (Leicester City)
Leicester City goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel put pen to paper on a new four-year deal with the newly promoted Premier League club to end speculation linking him with a move to teams such as Serie A giants AC Milan. The Danish international and son of Manchester United legend Peter joined the Foxes from Leeds United when they were under the management of Sven Goran Eriksson and has gone on to establish himself as a firm fans’ favourite at the King Power Stadium.
RB) Phillip Lahm (Bayern Munich)
German international and Bayern Munich star Phillip Lahm committed his future to the Allianz Arena club this summer by penning a new long-term deal, with the player having continued to be a vital cog for new manager Pep Guardiola, whether in his preferred full back position or in central midfield. The latter is a position that Joachim Low has started using Lahm for the national team, knowing that he guarantees intelligent displays anywhere on the park.
CB) Kenneth Omeruo (Chelsea)
Nigerian World Cup centre back Kenneth Omeruo may not have made his competitive bow for Chelsea yet, but he is highly rated enough by the staff at Stamford Bridge to have been given a new long-term deal by the club this summer. Omeruo has impressed in loan spells with ADO Den Haag and Middlesbrough and looks set to have a bright future at Chelsea as long as he is given
a chance soon.
LB) Aleksander Kolarov (Manchester City)
Manchester City full back Aleksander Kolarov has become a key part of the club’s squad since arriving from Serie A side Lazio, to the extend that boss Manuel Pellegrini was happy to give him a new deal this summer. Kolarov provides competition for first choice left back Gael Clichy whilst his versatility also allows him to operate higher up the pitch.
CM) Andrea Pirlo (Juventus)
Italian legend Andrea Pirlo hit the headlines for his imperious display as the Azzurri beat England 2-1 at the 2014 FIFA World Cup, but the veteran playmaker has been putting in those performances in Serie A all season. His displays persuaded Juventus to once again renew his contract, as Pirlo continues to look ageless with his majestic central midfield performances.
CM) Javier Mascherano (Barcelona)
Argentinian international midfielder Javier Mascherano had been tentatively linked with a move back to the Premier League this summer, but this speculation was ended when he agreed to pen a new deal with the Catalan club following the appointment of Luis Enrique as their new manager. The former Liverpool man is one of the world’s finest holding midfielders and will hope to help Argentina’s push for the World Cup trophy this summer.
ARM) Samir Nasri (Manchester City)
Samir Nasri may have missed out on the France squad for the 2014 FIFA World Cup due to a disagreement with manager Didier Deschamps, but he remains valued at Manchester City. Manager Manuel Pellegrini gave the green light for Nasri to be given a new deal this summer, as the former Arsenal star agreed to commit his future to the Premier League champions.
ACM) Ilkay Gundogan (Borussia Dortmund)
Borussia Dortmund playmaker Ilkay Gundogan was one of a number of the club’s players to miss out on huge swathes of the 2013/14 season due to injury, but he was still given a new deal to fend off reported interest from Premier League sides. Gundogan was a key part of the impressive Dortmund side that reached the 2013 Champions League final but was one of a number of Jurgen Klopp’s side to be frustrated by injury in the last campaign.
ALM) Iker Muniain (Athletic Bilbao)
Whilst it has not yet been announced by his club, it is believed that Athletic Bilbao’s silky young attacker Iker Muniain has agreed a deal to remain with the Basque club beyond the end of his current deal’s expiry in twelve months time. Having originaly shot to prominence in the Europa League under Marcelo Bielsa, Muniain is one of the latest attacking talents to be produced by the seemingly endless Spanish production line.
SC) Thomas Muller (Bayern Munich)
German goal machine Thomas Muller had been, perhaps optimistically, linked with a move to join Louis van Gaal at Manchester United this summer, but the forward ended all speculation by penning a new contract with Bayern ahead of the World Cup. He would go on to celebrate his new deal by bagging a hat-trick in Germany’s first game of the tournament as Muller eviscerated a struggling Portuguese back line.