January Transfer Rumours: Top 10 European Stars Close to Contract Expiry Dates

Despite the fact that football contracts have grown to become more and more meaningless in the modern era, clubs still undoubtedly prefer their stars to have a lengthy number of years remaining on any deal with the employers.

However, depending on the policy of the side and how long they let contracts run down before offering new terms, players often run into the final months of their stays.

Although it by no means signals the end of their tenures with their respective teams, the following 10 players will certainly be mentioned in the transfer speculation in the months to come with their contracts all set to expire in 2013.

While it’s always entertaining to bear witness to a transfer with a gargantuan price-tag attached, it’s sometimes all the sweeter to see a side pick up a star for nothing, a fate that could befall any number of the following 10 candidates this summer.

Ashley Cole, Chelsea

Renowned as one of the most controversial figures in the whole of the sport, Chelsea and England stalwart, Ashley Cole, finds himself a little over six months from seeing his current deal with the Blues run out.

Recent weeks have seen the left-back linked largely with a free transfer to Manchester United in the next summer transfer window and, as Metro reports, Cole is seriously considering the move.

Patrice Evra has slipped down the ranks amongst some in the Manchester United fraternity following a disappointing dip in form, and although Alexander Büttner was signed in August, Cole would provide a much more immediate replacement.

At the age of 31, Cole is far from a spring chicken, but remains amongst the most talented of his trade whether you love him or hate him.

It’s quite possible that Roman Abramovich’s Chelsea will yet table a lucrative offer that Cole finds too hard to turn down, but it would appear as if alternative options are available for the English defender.

Fernando Llorente, Athletic Bilbao

After admitting in August that he wouldn’t be signing an extension in his current surroundings, Fernando Llorente confessed last month that he would be considering his transfer options in the New Year (via Sky Sports).

It would seem the lengthy months of being linked with moves to “bigger” clubs have finally taken their toll on the Spaniard, who is just about ready to make some more genuine challenges for silverware.

The Guardian allege that Juventus will be the ones to win the race for the Euro 2012 winner, but Arsenal are also said to have Llorente on their January radar.

Athletic Bilbao have done well to hang onto the striker’s talents as long as they have, but it would seem that 2013 is the year when Fernando Llorente will finally leave the Basque region for more prosperous pastures.

Lewis Holtby, Schalke 04

Born in western Germany but raised as an Evertonian, Lewis Holtby’s career may finally take him to the land of his father, an ex-British soldier from Liverpool, in the coming year.

As talented as Holtby is, the versatile midfielder has yet to agree to an extension with Schalke and it’s quite possible that after seeing out the remaining eight months of his deal with the Bundesliga giants, he'll complete a move to England in free agency.

Metro have reported the German international as saying that a move to the English top flight “obviously interests him” and that he will realise his dream of playing there one day, it’s merely a matter of when that will be.

Arsenal and Liverpool are the two sides most closely linked with the playmaker, and an alternative could be that Schalke decide to cash in on their 22-year-old in January, rather than risk losing his services for nothing in the summer months.

Carles Puyol, Barcelona

Probably the least likely of any candidate to actually move away from his current club regardless of how low his contract runs, that doesn’t stop the fact that Carles Puyol’s contract with Barcelona expires in June 2013.

Even in the harsh, business-like world that football has become in recent decades, when a player spends 17 years at a club, it still tends to inspire a certain amount of loyalty within a player.

Guillem Balague, one of the most respected Spanish journalists in the game, says that Puyol will sign a new deal with the club and will retire at the Camp Nou (via Sky Sports), whenever that may be.

Having grown up in his Catalan surroundings, Puyol is one of the biggest figures within Barça’s ranks and while his undying affection for the club will assuredly prevent him from moving anywhere else, it’s still fun to think about the possibility of the defender plying his trade elsewhere.

It speaks volumes that the club have allowed Puyol, such an important player for the club in the last 10 years, to run his deal so low, showing they have no worries whatsoever about losing his allegiance.

Klaas-Jan Huntelaar, Schalke 04

One of, if not the most prolific talent in all of Europe in the 2011-12 campaign, Schalke need to do everything within their reach in attempting to convince Klaas-Jan Huntelaar to extend his stay at the Veltins Arena.

Last season, the Dutchman netted an incredible 48 goals in 48 games for his club, contributing a more than respectable 16 assists in the process.

This time around, Huntelaar has scored six goals and made two assists in 12 games so far which, while not quite as spectacular, is still a tally to be respected.

As the Daily Mail suggests, Premier League sides such as Tottenham and Manchester United are already weighing up a winter move for the striker, although Schalke remain hopeful of convincing the hit man to sign a new deal.

What adds more controversy to the case is that a clause exists in Huntelaar’s contract allowing him to leave for as little as €20 million (via Independent), and should any club offer that amount, they’ll have permission to speak with the forward in January.

Theo Walcott, Arsenal

A story that continues to pop up at the Emirates Stadium, the questions still remain as to whether or not Theo Walcott will put pen to paper over a new deal with Arsenal.

The Englishman’s contract will expire next summer and considering Walcott will then be 24 years old, the Gunners will be entitled to nothing in terms of homegrown compensation.

BBC Sport suggest that the discussions will hinge on whether or not Arsene Wenger’s side allow Walcott to play in his preferred, and original position of striker, something other clubs may be able to offer.

The same story reports that the winger turned down a five-year, £75,000-a-week offer from the north London club in August, supposedly holding out for better terms.

Metro allege that the want-away forward will “lead the Arsenal exodus in January,” should he fail to agree an extension with the club before then.

Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa, Montpellier

With Montpellier’s season not going quite as successfully as the Ligue 1-winning campaign of 2011-12, it would be understandable for Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa to be tempted by the option of a move away in the New Year.

Sky Sports revealed not long after the summer transfer window closed that the French international had turned down a move to Arsenal because he was holding out for his dream switch to AC Milan.

Now with a better understanding of how Montpellier’s 2012-13 campaign will turn out, Yanga-Mbiwa may be willing to settle for a move to a club other than the Rossoneri in January, permitting the French outfit are willing to sell.

Even if Montpellier choose to hold onto their defensive starlet, Yanga-Mbiwa’s contract will expire next summer, meaning they’ll make nothing from his departure, assuming he doesn’t sign an extension.

Daniel Sturridge, Chelsea

With the Daily Mail reporting that the forward is unhappy with life at Stamford Bridge, it wouldn’t be crazy to think that Daniel Sturridge could complete a move away from Chelsea this January.

The same article says that Brendan Rodgers is weighing up a move for the England international after spending the majority of the summer months being linked with his services.

Sturridge has endured some small injuries so far this season, but has even found it hard to fit into Chelsea’s side when fully fit, losing out to the likes of Eden Hazard, Oscar and Juan Mata instead.

Should Chelsea carry on where they left off in the summer and spend big money in the new year, Sturridge could be deemed surplus to requirement and sold in order to claim a fee while the club still can.

Sebastian Kehl, Borussia Dortmund

Having spent over a decade with the Bundesliga side, it would seem Sebastian Kehl’s career as a Yellow and Black is gradually winding to its climax.

The defensive midfielder is a key player for Borussia Dortmund and has started every Bundesliga game for the club this season, but has struggled massively with injuries throughout his tenure.

Should the German champions choose not to take up the option of extending Kehl’s contract by a further year, the former German international would enter free agency, presuming the 32-year-old wouldn’t retire altogether.

Injury-prone or not, Kehl is a hugely talented anchorman when playing to his potential and would undoubtedly attract a raft of attention if available for a nominal fee.

Frank Lampard, Chelsea

A future Chelsea legend, it’s sad to see that the business-minded efficiency of the Premier League means that a player such as Frank Lampard could be picked up for nothing in 2013.

Still an England international at the age of 34 years old, Lampard remains a key player at Stamford Bridge but is allegedly yet to be offered a contract extension with the club, although that isn’t for lack of his desire to do just that.

The veteran midfielder has been linked with moves to several clubs outside of England and the Daily Mail suppose that a possible destination for Lampard could be the MLS with David Beckham’s LA Galaxy.

A similar story to arise has been the possibility of a pension package in China (via Daily Mail), a move that would follow in the footsteps of former fellow Blues, Didier Drogba and Nicolas Anelka.

It’s still quite possible that Lampard could put pen to paper over an extension with his current side, but at his age, nothing would appear certain at this point.