The Premier League announced on Thursday that all players out of contract this summer can negotiate extended deals for the end of the campaign.

Due to the impacts of coronavirus, the league is set to conclude during the summer months and likely beyond the common end date of top-flight contracts, the 30th of June.

However, with players now free to negotiate short-term extended deals, this affects numerous individuals at Leicester City but two specifically should really earn contracts for the 2020/21 season, too, and they are Wes Morgan and Christian Fuchs.

Experience vital

Whilst not first names on the team sheet at 36 and 34 years of age respectively, the two still bring huge experience. Morgan, skipper at the King Power Stadium since 2012, currently has 690 career appearances to his name, 310 with the Foxes. In that time, he has battled various situations such as relegation dogfights, title battles and European campaigns.

Elsewhere, popular full-back Fuchs has also racked up 428 career appearances with Leicester, Schalke 04, Mainz and more. Once again, that experience could prove extremely valuable to Brendan Rodgers’ men.

European stalwarts

Speaking of experience, one aspect that could come in particularly handy for Leicester next season is understanding of European football. Of course, with the Foxes sitting third in the Premier League table before the suspension of football in England, they looked a good bet to make their return to the UEFA Champions League.

Both Morgan and Fuchs played key roles in the club’s run to the quarter-finals of the competition during the 2016/17 season. The Austrian possesses another 27 appearances in both the Europa League and Champions League, nous that will come in crucial as the club embarks on their fifth campaign in European competition.

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Ready made options

Whilst the pairs' experience would come in extremely useful in the future, it is their abilities on the pitch that would still be tremendous for Rodgers. After all, the former Celtic man has already highlighted the Austrian’s skills on the pitch. Talking to the Daily Telegraph back in February, he said: “He knows he won’t play as much but he knows my trust in him. He knows the game, he’s very good tactically and can play a couple of positions so he offers us great cover.”

Amongst these attributes, it is Fuchs’ reading of the game and delivery of the ball that will remain vital skills as the latter stages of his career progresses. Meanwhile, Morgan’s defensive prowess and intelligence also make him an extremely capable centre-back at Premier League level as  he too edges into his late 30s.

Cost effective

Both staying would of course also save Leicester from splashing out considerable fees on what would be at best squad players. Leicester currently have one of the most settled starting XIs in the entirety of the Premier League so it would be a really tough ask for any new signings, especially at left-back and centre-back to break into the side.

Neither Fuchs and Morgan account for any of the Foxes’ highest wages so as long as the duo are happy to remain at the King Power Stadium for the 2020/21 season in that capacity, it would make complete sense for the club to extend both of their contracts for the end of the 2019/20 season, as well as 2020/21.

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