Team formation of the Jamshedpur Football Club (JFC) for the Indian Super League (ISL) is on tracks as the Tata Steel-owned franchise is set to announce the entire squad in less than a month’s time.

The cash-rich ISL is expected to unfold in November and JFC wants the squad to be in place and begin preparations in earnest, with the Covid pandemic already affecting preparations.

The JFC management is in contact with both Indian and foreign footballers but most contracts are yet to be finalised.

Barring Spaniards Aitor Monroy and David Grande, and some Indian players, contracts with other foreign players have ended.

Sources in the JFC team management revealed that most of the Indian players have already signed the contracts and they were in touch with foreign footballers to complete the formality of team formation.

“Monroy and Grande are already part of the squad for the upcoming ISL and we are in touch with some foreign players but contracts have not been signed as yet,” said a source at the JFC team on condition of anonymity.

“So far, we have kept foreign players in the loop as signing contracts with them would mean we have to make them our team members and also pay them the agreed contract money. Depending on the situation, we may not sign the player up. Same is the case with some Indian players,” he said.

JFC chief executive officer Mukul Choudhari said team formation is on track.

“We will be fielding a strong unit,” he said.

Speaking to The Telegraph Online, Choudhari added that it was not necessary to sign Spanish players only and they were also looking beyond Spain.

“We are in talks with the Spanish and some players from other countries. Selection of foreign players would depend on recommendations of the head coach,” the JFC CEO said.

Spaniards Antonio Iriondo and his predecessor Cesar Ferrando, who were part of JFC as head coach in the last two seasons, played a key role in the selection of foreign players and their focus was on Spanish footballers.

Iriondo is virtually out of JFC’s scheme of things and is all set to be replaced by a new face.

JFC has already shortlisted four candidates and is in advanced talks with them.

“We have studied the track record of the candidates and the best would get the job,” a member of the team management said.

Due to the Covid pandemic, ISL will be played either in Kerala or Goa behind closed doors.