Are Contract Extensions Headline News?

This morning, I checked BBC Sport to see that Michael Essien has signed a new five-year contract with Chelsea, running to 2013.

This afternoon, I checked BBC Sport to see that Michael Essien has signed a new five-year contract with Chelsea, running to 2013.

Now, at 2345 in the night, BBC Sport's main football headline is STILL that Michael Essien has signed a new five-year contract with Chelsea, running to 2013.

I cannot bemoan BBC Football for a slow news day, after all it is not their fault that this summer's transfer activity has been... well it's been dead. My query is with regard to whether Michael Essien's contract extension is really headline news.

Football is in the midst of a large battle. On one hand, you have a select few that believe that the modern day footballer is a slave, trapped by their contract, unable to move freely within the footballing world. Unfortunately these people are the people with power. That's the European Union, Sepp Blatter, and the players. On the other hand, you have the rest of the footballing world, correction, the rest of the world, that believe that 'player power' is at an incredulous height.

"If they are slaves, what the hell are the rest of us?" Wigan Manager, Steve Bruce

In contrast, Roy Keane has come out in support of 'player power'. Recently retired Sunderland Manager Keane says “If you can go on to bigger and better things then bloody do it… people question players’ loyalty, I always question clubs’ loyalty, it’s like a business to them, when they’ve had enough of you, you’re out the door”.

All of this stems from the Cristiano Ronaldo affair, and his apparent demand to leave Manchester United for Real Madrid. The same Ronaldo whom, 18 months ago signed a new contract until 2012. So I ask you, is a contract extension headline news when the majority of them do not last the distance?

Or does this just truly highlight how slow the football summer has been?