The upcoming summer transfer window will be awash with players attempting to find new clubs following the expiration of their existing deals.
Around 150 players are expected to be on the hunt for pastures new in the coming months, as sides in the second-tier rejig the squads ahead of the 2026/27 campaign.
A handful of teams have already announced which players they will be granting free transfers to, and a host of others will soon follow suit.
Typically, announcements are made just a few days after the final day of the regular season, however, there has been an unusual lack of clarity this time around, with the vast majority of clubs yet to announce who they are retaining and who they are opting to let go.
We find out why this is and explain details of the deadline that Championship clubs have to abide by in regard to submitting their lists to the EFL.
When do Championship clubs have to submit their retained lists?
All clubs in the Championship have until this Saturday to submit their retained lists to the EFL.
Football League rules stipulate that sides in the second tier must confirm details of who they will be releasing by the third Saturday in May, which this year falls on May 16.
The only exceptions to this rule are the four clubs competing in the end-of-season play-offs, meaning Millwall, Southampton, Middlesbrough and Hull City have been granted an extension.
Why have so few Championship clubs announced their retained lists this summer?
It's understood that clubs in the Championship have held off from announcing their retained lists as they await details on whether the EFL will overhaul financial rules for the league next season.
The second tier currently operates using a profit and sustainability rule which essentially limits club losses to £41.5 million over a rolling three-year period.
However, there is talk that the league could revamp the format to match that of the Premier League, who opted to switch to a squad cost ration (SCR) system back in November.
That would mean that clubs would instead be able to spend 85 percent of revenue on transfers and wages, which would seemingly offer clubs who possess greater income additional firepower in the market.
It's believed that a hearing where Championship club owners will vote on the proposed change will take place imminently.
