I have just posted this on ea forum
---------------------------------------------
I found this out simming 2 seasons with Board difficulty as amatuer, but im not sure if any difficulty settings affect the below.
1) For players with smaller contracts say 3,000 per game, if you really need them to sign before the end of the season, offer them the max amount of money, max years on contract, and max bonus per goal (clean sheet if they are a keeper) you should only have to offer the player a max of about 1.5 times what he is currently being paid, so you might not lose too much money
2) For big player who are running out of contract, at the end of season negotiations there a list list of players out of contract, you have a tick box option whether to renew their contracts or not, however im not sure if you can edit the contract offer made to a player. However ribery had 1-2 months left on his contract and wouldnt sign one mid season, at the end of the season he came up in a list of contracts which could be renewed, i didnt edit the offer made to him (which was less than what i offered him mid season). I simply ticked the renew box and advanced, he has signed a new 2 year deal. All the other players i ticked the renew box for are also still at the club.