URGENT CRISIS! Leicester City’s CONTRACT NIGHTMARE EXPLODES – 5 BOMBSHELL QUESTIONS UNANSWERED & TIME’S RUNNING OUT… Fans in PANIC MODE!
Harry Winks and Ricardo Pereira headline a group of five Leicester City players nearing the end of their contracts, with key decisions on their futures unlikely to be made anytime soon.
Leicester City manager Marti Cifuentes has stressed that the club will stay proactive when it comes to player contract decisions, ensuring that expiring deals are addressed well before the final weeks of the season.
However, given the unpredictable nature of the Championship and the vast financial and sporting gap between England’s second tier and the Premier League, Cifuentes admits that some choices may ultimately need to wait until the end of the campaign.
Several City players are entering the final year of their contracts, but five stand out due to their regular involvement under Cifuentes this season: Harry Winks, Ricardo Pereira, Boubakary Soumare, Jordan Ayew, and Patson Daka.
Their futures, however, seem to hinge largely on whether Leicester achieve promotion back to the Premier League.
If the Foxes fail to go up, financial realities may prevent them from retaining these senior figures, as another year in the Championship would mean operating on a much tighter budget.
Equally, some of these players may not wish to stay in the division, given their experience and ambitions to play top-flight football again.
On the other hand, promotion would pose a different kind of challenge. Rewarding the players who help secure a Premier League return would seem logical and fair, offering continuity and stability heading into the top flight.
It would also allow Cifuentes to maintain a core group already familiar with his system and standards—assuming he remains in charge.
Yet, questions will inevitably arise about whether those performing at a high level in the Championship can handle the increased demands of the Premier League.
That jump has arguably never been tougher, and the club will need to balance loyalty and pragmatism carefully.
Complicating matters further is the lingering perception among some supporters that many of these players were part of the side that suffered relegation.
Even if they earn promotion, a portion of the fanbase may feel that a fresh start with new personnel would better signal a new era.
Another risk is offering lengthy new contracts to players who might again struggle in the Premier League, potentially leaving Leicester saddled with expensive deals if they are relegated once more.
Ricardo Pereira may be the exception in this debate—his performances and professionalism have maintained his strong reputation.
Alongside Winks, he remains one of the squad’s most technically gifted players, but his age and history of injuries present understandable concerns.
Still, his leadership qualities and influence in the dressing room could make him worth retaining despite those risks.
Ultimately, Leicester’s contract decisions are tangled in uncertainty and may only become clearer in the months ahead.
A major complication looms in January, when all five players will be free to negotiate pre-contract agreements with overseas clubs.
Should any choose to do so, Leicester could find key decisions taken out of their hands before they even have the chance to make their final call.
