Every season, clubs and players come at the crossroads as to whether to renew their terms of contract as the season withers on, and this season is no exception.
Many top African stars will be out of contract with their clubs as we zoom into 2018 and, while some of the clubs are making frantic efforts to extend the contracts, others are reluctant either to renew or extend.
With just 39 days left before the turn of the year, a few African stars, including some of the biggest names in the English Premier League, the Serie A, La Liga, Ligue 1 and most of the top Africa leagues including the Premier Soccer League, Egypt Premier League etc are yet to commit their future beyond this season.
If they don't agree to an extension with their current clubs, they would be allowed to sign a pre-contract with any interested suitor in January.
Toure signed a one-year extension with Manchester City despite falling out with Pep Guardiola last season. However, the Ivorian has made only five appearances for City in 2017/18, and it does not look like he will stay beyond this season, with rumours suggesting he could even leave in the January transfer window.
Napoli left back Faouzi Ghoulam is also on the list, and the 26-year-old could leave the Serie A side on a free deal in June 2018. He was linked with City, but a long-term knee injury has put his future in limbo.
Juventus wing-back Kwadwo Asamoah is another big African name whose contract expires at the end of the season, and the 28-year-old could be keen on a new challenge given his lack of game time with the Serie A giants.
In the South African PSL, Billiat's situation at Mamelodi Sundowns remains under a cloud of doubt as the player and his club have not made much progress in their latest negotiations. The latest reports linked the Zimbabwean with a move to Lebogang Manyama’s Konyaspor.
Kaizer Chiefs star Siphiwe Tshabalala's current deal also expires in June 2018, although the club are understood to have an option of another year with the 33-year-old.
Source: soccerladuma