The Championship is full of astounding talent and players. Some of the world’s best players have played in the second tier, from loanees like Harry Kane, Emiliano Martinez and Reece James, or have come through Championship team academies, like Jude Bellingham, Gareth Bale or John Stones.
Some playing today in the Championship are entering into the final months of their contract, prompting some nervous sweating from fans and club staff. Here are five such examples.
Out Of Contract Championship Players:
Player One: Kelechi Iheanacho, Leicester City, ST
Almost certainly one of those players too good for the Championship, Iheanacho has scored 42 goals at a Premier League level, after making a 25 million pound move from Manchester City to the Foxes.
This season he hasn’t set the world on fire, mind. He’s scored 5 goals and made 1 assist in 19 games, albeit he hasn’t played since leaving for the Africa Cup of Nations in January. He has also had to compete up front with Patson Daka and a resurgent Jamie Vardy.
In the winter transfer window, he was eyed up by Aston Villa, Brentford and Crystal Palace, but could easily stay if Leicester are successful at immediately bouncing back.
Player Two: Nathan Wood, Swansea, CB
One of several excellent centre-back talents in the EFL, the England youth international has been a superb part of Swansea’s defence as they remain fairly comfortably mid-table.
Swansea have the option of an extra year extension and were capable of denying Southampton when they expressed interest in Wood in the summer window.
Despite this, as Wood keeps impressing, it’s not out of the question to see him make the jump to Premier League football.
Player Three: Paddy McNair, Middlesbrough, CB/CDM
The Northern Irish defender cost an eye-watering 5 million pounds when signed from then League One side Sunderland, and quickly made himself an important part of Middlesbrough, who last season managed to reach the playoff finals.
McNair averaged a solid 6.78 rating over 30 league appearances, making 1.3 tackles and 2.1 clearances per game.
However, with Middlesbrough approaching the tense side of FFP, McNair could well be allowed to leave. He sits on a pretty 20k/w at Middlesbrough according to reports, and unless he takes a cut, it’s more than likely he could be shown the door in the summer
Player Four: Sam Field, Queens Park Rangers, CDM/CMS
Sam Field has quickly made himself an important part of Martí Cifuentes’s new-look QPR team, even registering an assist in the most audacious yet predictable win away against league leaders Leicester City.
Cifuentes will doubtless be anxious to secure his services for the longer-term rebuild, but QPR’s financial woes are well known.
Interest in the previous summer was reported, from Rangers, Burnley and even Leeds United, so keeping him in the summer could well be a tricky task.
Player Five: Aaron Connolly, Hull City, ST
Aaron Connolly was only given a one-year deal by Liam Rosenior to keep the player hungry and to earn a longer deal.
8 goals in 26 games later could potentially lead to the regret of the short-term contract, as the Irish International has found some consistency, and importantly, a respite from injury.
It seems unlikely he would leave at present, especially with his relationship with Rosenior, but the audacity is always possible.
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