Ranking the 20 Most In-Demand Free Agents in Europe This Summer
As the summer transfer window edges ever closer, teams across Europe will be finalising their plans for the market and identifying targets who can improve their XIs.
One of the first columns checked is always the free-agent one; any player who can be secured for nothing come July and save you millions in transfer fees is always going to be a popular option.
We've ranked who we believe will be the 20 most in-demand free agents in Europe come the start of the transfer window. Every player included's contract is set to expire at the end of June 2017, and they have not officially signed an extension as it stands, making them fair game for any manager looking to swoop.
16-20
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20. Benoit Tremoulinas, Sevilla
We last saw Tremoulinas take to the pitch in a competition game in May 2016, where he suffered a serious injury ahead of the Europa League final. Now almost a year on, and at 31 years of age, he'd be something of a punt, but pre-ailment, he was excellent.
19. Bacary Sagna, Manchester City
Sagna is 34 years of age but still a steady performer most of the time. One of the better right-backs from a defensive standpoint, he'll suit many a side's tactical template.
18. Jimmy Briand, Guingamp
On course for his best-ever goalscoring season (he's never hit double figures in Ligue 1), Guingamp striker Briand could have one final move in him. A mid-tier Premier League side could use his talents.
17. Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting, Schalke 04
Something of a wild card. Choupo-Moting is capable of dazzling and turning a game on its head, but he doesn't do it anywhere near enough. The talent is there, but so are the red flags.
16. Oscar Trejo, Toulouse
Toulouse's calling card this season has been their young, promising defence, but 28-year-old Oscar Trejo has impressed in the attacking-midfield line. He leads the team in assists in Ligue 1 and has improved year on year on the south of france.
11-15
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15. Jesus Navas, Manchester City
Man City fans will not look back on Navas fondly—his total lack of end product drew the ire of the terraces on a consistent basis—but he'd fit in at a club at Europa League level.
14. Valentin Eysseric, OGC Nice
Nice have so many impressive players, Eysseric gets forgotten when praise is being handed out. At 25 years of age, he's one of few in our 11-20 range who may genuinely have their better years in front of him.
13. Pablo Zabaleta, Manchester City
In many ways, Zabaleta seems "Mr. Manchester City," and it would be strange to see him pull on another domestic jersey, but the threat of him not playing at the Etihad Stadium next season as a home player is real.
12. Darijo Srna, Shakhtar Donetsk
Could Srna's time with Shakhtar Donetsk finally come to an end? He rejected Barcelona in January to stay loyal, but his contract comes up in June. He can still play top-tier football and make an impact in Europe's premier competitions.
11. Gonzalo Rodriguez, Fiorentina
Rodriguez has been a steely, reliable central-defensive presence in Florence for a long while, and although he's now 33 years old, he'd still be a smart pickup for any top side looking to add depth in the middle of the line.
10. Gael Clichy, Manchester City
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Gael Clichy's contract comes up this summer, and it's reasonable to presume Pep Guardiola will move on from him. He's rotated and changed his full-backs all season long, clearly unhappy with the results produced by many, with Clichy, in particular, struggling for form of late.
But the fact Clichy has found it tough to adapt to Guardiola's incredibly complex system—and it is particularly tough on the full-backs, as they're given a number of additional responsibilities you wouldn't get elsewhere—won't put off others. They won't ask him to do those additional things, so it follows that he might return to form in a simplified system.
He'll turn 32 in July, but there's at least another top-level season in him. Ligue 1 clubs will be clamouring to bring him home, while most of the Premier League would likely be delighted to take him on, too.
9. Fernando Torres, Atletico Madrid
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According to Marca, Fernando Torres has been "left in the dark" regarding a contract extension. He is beloved by the club and the fans, he starts the biggest of games, but apparently it's not cut-and-dry that he'll continue with the club.
It's difficult to see Torres in another shirt; he's playing with his boyhood club after leaving them for a huge fee earlier in his journey, and he's regarded as a hero. But if the club aren't interested in taking him on for another season, plenty of teams will be interested in extending his career (but maybe not Chelsea).
8. Pepe, Real Madrid
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Pepe's 2015-16 season was exceptional, and he finished the calendar year as one of the best defenders at both domestic and international level. Champions League and Euro 2016 victories paved the way for a Ballon d'Or shortlist placing.
He's battled injuries a little this season, and at 34, he might be concerned Real Madrid think his time at the top level is coming to an end. In fairness, he's looked close to the end a number of times before, only to bounce back in style.
According to the The Independent, Los Blancos want to offer him a one-year deal to fend off interest from Manchester City and the Chinese Super League. They don't want it to come to a bidding war, but it might transpire anyway.
7. Yaya Toure, Manchester City
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Yaya Toure will turn 34 next month, but that hasn't dissuaded the man himself when it comes to projecting longevity in the game. He insisted in February that he could survive another five years at the top, per the Mirror, and his form this season backs that claim up.
Since Dimitri Seluk (his agent) and Guardiola buried the hatchet, he's been a first-team player for Manchester City and played the role of physical, controlling midfielder superbly. He's got a little tired at times due to overplaying, but he made a positive impact on arguably the Premier League's third-best side.
If his pedigree doesn't attract suitors this summer, his body of work this season will.
6. Daniele De Rossi, Roma
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Unbelievably, Daniele De Rossi has not been given an extension at Roma yet. According to Football Italia, the club have offered a one-year contract, but the player wants two years, creating a worrying impasse that places the future of a club legend in jeopardy.
A true one-club man, just like Francesco Totti, it'd be incredibly strange to see the Italian warhorse in a different shirt, but clubs have tried to pry him away from the capital in the past—with Manchester City and Roberto Mancini nearly succeeding, as reported by Football Italia—and they'd jump at the chance to do it on easier terms here.
5. Iker Casillas, FC Porto
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Iker Casillas has enjoyed his time with FC Porto, and in turn, the club have enjoyed his stay. It's been two years of mutual beneficiary; the club have benefitted from a veteran, reliable presence between the sticks, and the player has rebuilt his reputation just a step or two outside the spotlight.
"San Iker" has spent his pair of seasons at the Dragao impressing spectators with wonderful saves and commanding performances. As it stands, he'll be a free agent in the summer, and that's causing FCP fans some consternation; they want him for longer and are baying for him to sign.
The 2010 FIFA World Cup winner departed Real Madrid with his stock in the toilet, but now he looks a formidable 'keeper once more. You can guarantee scouts will be aware of that.
4. Rachid Ghezzal, Lyon
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Rachid Ghezzal is not a household name in European football, but that might be because of the company he keeps at Lyon. While the world fawns over Alexandre Lacazette, Nabil Fekir and now Memphis Depay, the Algerian winger has flown under the radar somewhat.
There are top clubs out there who have spotted his talent—The Sun (via the Telegraph) linked Arsenal and Everton to him in January—but his status as Lyon's fourth-most spectacular attacker has kept him out of the spotlight for the most part.
His spindly frame may put a few off, but he's delightfully creative and can slalom between challenges in tight spaces.
3. Mario Balotelli, OGC Nice
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Mario Balotelli will always find another home. He's intensively hard work, difficult to manage and impossible to keep happy for eight straight months, but there will still be plenty of managers out there who believe he is worth the trouble.
He signed a one-year deal with OGC Nice last summer, making him an impending free agent barring an extension in the south of France. His 13 goals from 17 Ligue 1 starts has kept his stock afloat and has also helped the club's surprise title challenge tick along.
Troublesome? Yes. Risky? Absolutely. Argumentative? There will never come a time when he isn't. But you take the rough with the smooth with Balotelli, because the Italian has raw natural talent most others can only dream of.
2. Sead Kolasinac, Schalke 04
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Sead Kolasinac will be one of the most sought-after players this summer; he can expect to field calls from all five of Europe's top leagues.
Chelsea failed with a bid for him in January, according to MailOnline, who also suggested Arsenal are now interested in him. Add them to a list of suitors that includes or has included Juventus, Manchester City and Liverpool.
The Bosnia and Herzegovina international plays left-back or left-wing-back, provides a powerful and physical edge to his team, and can deputise at centre-back if need be. Given the shortage of stars in his position, it's no wonder so many top teams have registered their interest.
1. Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Manchester United
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If, for some reason, Zlatan Ibrahimovic does not take up his option to extend his Manchester United career into a second season, his agent Mino Raiola will need to order a truckload of battery packs for his phone just to keep his head above water in among all the calls he'll receive.
You get the impression it won't come to that—the Red Devils would be foolish to allow that to happen—but until the option is officially taken up, he remains a possibility and, therefore, of interest to the many clubs circling.
Zlatan's self-confessed, Benjamin Button-style career will leave him with a tonne of options. MLS and China will undoubtedly ask the question, but he's still a Champions League-level player.
All statistics via WhoScored.com
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