Which players at the top six Premier League clubs will see their contracts expiring soon?

Making eye-catching signings to strengthen their squads is one priority for the Premier League's big six, but ensuring the contracts of their star assets don't run down has become equally important.

Due care and attention needs to be taken when it comes to contract expiry dates to ensure nobody is poached for below their market value.

With that in mind, we take a look at the players at the Premier League's top six whose contracts are due to expire either next summer or in 2020.

MANCHESTER UNITED

United remain confident that their goalkeeper David de Gea will sign a new contract but time is very much of the essence given the Spaniard's current deal expires next summer.

Back in the summer, it looked as though De Gea was poised to sign for another five years, but an impasse has been reached because he is holding out for a £350,000-a-week salary, putting him on a more equal footing with top earners Paul Pogba and Alexis Sanchez.

The Old Trafford club are also in talks with French forward Anthony Martial, whose existing contract also expires next summer.

Martial became caught in the middle of the tension between manager Jose Mourinho and executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward.

Mourinho was happy for Martial to depart in the summer window, questioning his attitude and contribution, while Woodward wants the 22-year-old forward to realise his obvious potential at United.

Though Martial's deal does expire next summer, the club do have an option to extend it for another year.

Spanish midfield duo Juan Mata and Ander Herrera both see their deals run out in 2019. Herrera wants to stay at United but has yet to agree fresh terms.

United were open to offers for Mata over the summer, having triggered a one-year extension back in January to stop him departing for nothing, but none were forthcoming.

Decisions will have to be made sharpish about the future of United's back line because the contracts of Phil Jones, Chris Smalling, Luke Shaw, Matteo Darmian, Antonio Valencia and Ashley Young all run out next summer.

Darmian and Young have contracts which include the option of a further year but there is a very high likelihood that United's search for new defensive players will become very urgent a few months from now.

There will be lots of interest in 20-year-old forward Marcus Rashford and whether he commits pen to paper in the coming months.

The England striker's existing deal expires in 2020 but there have been delays because Rashford wants assurances about his role within Mourinho's team.

These have only intensified since a bit-part role at the World Cup, while he is behind Romelu Lukaku, Alexis Sanchez and Jesse Lingard in the attacking pecking order.

Nemanja Matic, Eric Bailly and Marouane Fellaini also see their current contracts run out in 2020.

CHELSEA

Spanish midfielder Cesc Fabregas and Brazilian defender David Luiz top the list of Chelsea players whose contracts are set to expire next summer.

Both are 31 and the best they can probably hope for is a short-term extension, but while Luiz continues to play regularly at the heart of their defence, Fabregas is used much more sparingly.

Luiz fell out of favour with Antonio Conte last season but has a far better relationship with new manager Maurizio Sarri, who will likely want to keep him for longer.

Another couple of thirty-somethings, striker Olivier Giroud and defender Gary Cahill, also see their time run out next summer and while both will want to remain, the club will likely listen to offers.

But Chelsea's biggest headache is over a player whose contract doesn't expire until 2020 - their Belgian superstar Eden Hazard.

Surprisingly, there wasn't sustained interest from one of European football's elite - such as Real Madrid - following the World Cup and the incoming Sarri helped convince Hazard to stay.

But it is believed his future rests on whether Chelsea can return to the Champions League at the end of this season or whether they face a second year in the Europa League.

At 27, Hazard is at the peak of his powers and will certainly want to win Europe's main prize soon. If Chelsea can't match his ambition, he's likely to push through a move and there will be plenty of interest.

Other players at Stamford Bridge with contracts expiring in 2020 are Willian, Cesar Azpilicueta and Pedro.

LIVERPOOL

Surely it's an inevitability that James Milner will be offered another contract extension given his current deal expires next summer and he remains so important to Jurgen Klopp's side.

Although 32, Milner's tireless work rate and exemplary attitude make him the perfect presence in the dressing room, even if he does become more of a part-time presence in the team.

Striker Daniel Sturridge is one player who will surely have to prove that he deserves a new contract as his deal enters its final 12 months.

His opportunities in Liverpool's attack have been limited and another loan spell could be a possibility though he may choose to seek greater opportunities elsewhere.

Of the 2020 expirees, Adam Lallana, 30, will likely have to prove he can remain injury-free but the club do still have to option of a further year on his deal.

Renewing the deal of defender Joel Matip could prove less of a priority, likewise right-back Nathaniel Clyne.

ARSENAL

The will he, won't he saga of Aaron Ramsey's new contract at Arsenal has rumbled on for a few months now and the Gunners risk losing him to a Premier League rival in January if he doesn't sign soon.

Arsenal remain optimistic that he'll commit but Ramsey appears to be holding out for the best possible terms in much the same way Mesut Ozil did earlier this year.

Forward Danny Welbeck is another first-team player whose contract will run down at the end of the season and fans are pretty divided as to whether he should get a new one.

It would be an expensive commitment for a player who typically warms the bench and Arsenal could well entertain offers for the England striker.

Left-back Nacho Monreal and goalkeeper Petr Cech are others who have entered the final year of their deals, but with both in their thirties, Arsenal could be reluctant to extend them.

MANCHESTER CITY

City appear to be pretty relaxed about making their decision on Vincent Kompany's contract talks until next summer.

The Belgian defender may be 32 but he remains as popular and useful as ever and given his outstanding service to the club, they won't pressure him into a decision even though his contract expires in 2019.

The same probably won't apply to fellow centre-half Eliaquim Mangala, also out of contract next summer, who generally sits on the bench and is presently out injured.

But City will have to soon put some thought into extensions because 2020 sees Raheem Sterling, Sergio Aguero, Ilkay Gundogan, David Silva, Fernandinho and Fabian Delph all out of contracts.

Sterling failed to agree a new deal earlier this year and talks are ongoing with the England star, whose game has improved dramatically under Pep Guardiola.

Aguero continues to score plenty of goals but has made clear his ambitions to return home to Argentina and play for Independiente when his contract ends in 2020.

Another player whose contract expires in 2020 but whom is set to be offered a lucrative long-term deal is 18-year-old wonderkid Phil Foden, hugely admired by Guardiola.

TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR

Tottenham have done exceedingly well to secure many of their star names to long-term contracts over recent months, with Harry Kane, Dele Alli and Son Heung-min among those to sign.

But more work needs to be done if Mauricio Pochettino wants to keep the core of his team together and challenge for silverware.

Belgian defenders Toby Alderweireld and Jan Vertonghen both see their contracts expire at the end of the season.

29-year-old Alderweireld has been reluctant to sign and will be continue to be linked with a move to Manchester United or elsewhere until he does.

Vertonghen made clear this week his intention to extend his Spurs contract by another year and is optimistic the club want to keep him.

Midfielder Mousa Dembele has put off signing a new deal and could well be on his way out, while Fernando Llorente is likely to be in his final season with the London club.

That leaves star playmaker Christian Eriksen, whose contract expires in 2020, as one of the last to commit themselves to the next stage of Pochettino's revolution.

Spurs are confident that the Dane will follow the lead of Kane and Alli and sign.