Premier League contract watch: Key decisions loom for Konate, Guehi and others

Contract talk rarely grabs headlines like transfers do, but it’s where the real power shifts happen. Quiet clauses, stalled negotiations and ticking expiry dates are already shaping how the next two windows will unfold.

Across the league, clubs are being forced into uncomfortable choices. To reward experience, cash in early, or risk losing elite talent for nothing?

From fading veterans to prime-age defenders who could redefine the market, here are all the top Premier League contracts expiring in 2026.

The veterans

For this group, ability isn’t the issue. Time, wages and squad direction are. Clubs must decide whether experience still outweighs long-term planning.

• Harry Maguire – Manchester United
  Revived under Ruben Amorim, Maguire has re-established himself as a dressing-room leader. United triggered an extension to 2026, but talks beyond that have stalled, largely due to wage-cut demands. He wants security; the club wants flexibility.
• Andrew Robertson – Liverpool
  A symbol of the Klopp era, Robertson is now 31 and facing genuine competition. With Milos Kerkez viewed internally as the long-term successor, Liverpool must decide whether their former captain remains a guaranteed starter or transitions into a high-cost rotation role.
• Casemiro – Manchester United
  One of the league’s top earners, Casemiro’s influence remains visible, but INEOS are clearly steering United toward younger profiles. A 2026 exit feels increasingly inevitable unless his role and salary dramatically change.
• Bernardo Silva – Manchester City
  Every summer brings the same question. Having signed a short extension to 2026, Silva has again hinted at a return to mainland Europe. City may finally decide this is the moment to cash in on their most tireless midfielder.

The potential bargains

These players sit in the danger zone for selling clubs. Not old enough to justify decline fears, not young enough to wait forever.

• John Stones – Manchester City
  Still one of the most technically gifted centre-backs in the game, Stones’ contract situation remains unresolved. Injuries and City’s constant evolution complicate talks, but a reduced-fee exit would set off alarms across Europe.
• Harry Wilson – Fulham
  One of the most in-form players in the entire league, right now, Harry Wilson is out of a contract in summer of 2026. Fulham are heavily reliant on Wilson’s magic, with the 28-year-old racking up 9 goal involvements in 17 appearances. He could make for a bargain grab in England and beyond.
• Marcos Senesi – Bournemouth
  Quietly excellent and increasingly complete, Senesi has become a model modern defender. With his deal running to 2026, Bournemouth face a classic dilemma: sell now or risk losing him for free as continental interest grows.

The crown jewels

If these two reach free agency, it would represent a catastrophic loss of value for their clubs.

• Ibrahima Konate – Liverpool
  Despite a dip in form and cooling interest from Real Madrid, Konate remains an elite defender who played a central role in Liverpool’s 2024/25 title win. With no extension agreed and PSG monitoring closely, Liverpool are running out of margin for error.
• Marc Guehi – Crystal Palace
  Palace blocked major bids before. Now the leverage has shifted. Guehi has reportedly indicated he will not sign a new deal, forcing Palace toward a decision they’ve long resisted. January could be their last chance to avoid losing their captain for nothing as Liverpool and other clubs circle, as per the Mirror.