Fabian Delph and 20 Potential Bosman Transfers in 2015
Despite the summer transfer window having only recently slammed shut for business for the year, managers across the continent will already be turning their attention towards possible new signings for 2015.
However, why splash the cash when you can pick up the likes of highly rated Aston Villa midfielder Fabian Delph and these 20 star players for nothing on a Bosman transfer in less than 12 months’ time…?
*All stats are taken from www.transfermarkt.co.uk
Fabian Delph (Aston Villa)
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In-form Aston Villa central midfielder Fabian Delph is currently playing the best football of his eight-year career to date, so much so in fact that the 24-year-old was even recently called up to the England national team for the very first time.
And Delph subsequently went on to make his full debut for manager Roy Hodgson in the Three Lions’ 2-0 win against Switzerland in a Euro 2016 qualifier earlier this month, with the player not looking out of place at all among the stellar cast at St Jakob-Park.
As a result, you can be sure that there will be plenty of interest in Delph’s services next summer, especially if the youngster produces a similar campaign this season to how he performed last time out when finding the back of the net on four occasions in 36 matches in all competitions, his best goalscoring return since moving to Villa Park five years ago.
Giorgio Chiellini (Juventus)
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Versatile Juventus defender Giorgio Chiellini has been one of the best players in his position on the continent for the past decade now, during which time the rugged Italy international has won a whole host of domestic honours with the Old Lady of Italian Football, as well as plenty of plaudits too for his no-nonsense approach to the game.
And that means you can bet your bottom dollar there will be a queue the size of the Nile keen to lure the centre-back away from Turin when Chiellini’s contract at Juve runs out at the end of June 2015, and none more so than in the Premier League, where the 30-year-old’s attributes would be ideally suited to the English top flight.
After all, the hugely experienced central defender-cum-left-back has been capped 72 times by the Azzurri since making his international debut a decade ago, while the player has also featured in 265 league games for the likes of Livorno, Fiorentina and Juventus since the turn of the century, winning three Serie A titles with the latter in the process.
Yevhen Konoplyanka (Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk)
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Skilful Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk winger Yevhen Konoplyanka is a man in demand according to John Cross at the Mirror, with last season’s Premier League runners-up Liverpool chasing the 24-year-old since the January transfer window at the turn of the year.
However, with the Reds unable to reach an agreement over a suitable transfer fee with the player’s employers, Konoplyanka remained in Ukraine, although the scramble for his signature will only intensify next summer when the wide man becomes available on a Bosman free.
And given that the tricky Ukraine international would be rewarded with both a massive signing-on fee and a huge weekly wage packet were he to run down his current deal with Dnipro, it would be a major surprise were Konoplyanka to not now leave his club for nothing in July 2015.
Stephan Lichtsteiner (Juventus)
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Marauding full-back Stephan Lichtsteiner has been bombing up and down the right flank for the likes of Grasshoppers, Lille, Lazio and Juventus since 2001, with the ever-reliable 30-year-old now surely one of the most in-demand right-backs in European football.
And with one last big contract left in the Switzerland international, you get the feeling that Lichtsteiner is going to have some tough decisions to make during the first half of next year when it comes to choosing where to end his playing days.
However, one thing's for sure: After shining in each of his first three seasons so far with the Old Lady of Italian Football, winning Serie A in every one of them, Lichtsteiner’s will be one of the most sought-after signatures of all the Bosman free transfers in the summer of 2015.
James Milner (Manchester City)
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After turning in a man-of-the-match display in Premier League champions Manchester City’s 1-1 draw with title rivals Chelsea at Eastlands on Sunday afternoon, midfielder James Milner will only have added yet more potential suitors to the list of those interested in landing the player on a Bosman free when his current deal in the north-west expires next summer.
Milner is often praised for his hard-working approach to games, but that is damning the always consistent 28-year-old—who can operate as both a central midfielder and out on the wings as well—with faint praise.
In fact, you do not win 50 caps for the senior England side and 46 for their under-21 team solely by having great stamina and desire. City boss Manuel Pellegrini’s decision to start with Milner against the Blues ahead of so many other big-name players at his disposal says much about how highly the experienced Chilean trainer rates him.
And that will become all the more evident as the identity of those heavyweight clubs desperate to lure Milner from the City of Manchester Stadium on a Bosman free next year are revealed.
Andrea Ranocchia (Inter Milan)
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Imposing Inter Milan centre-back Andrea Ranocchia has been attracting admiring glances from a number of big-name Premier League clubs during the course of the past 12 months after turning in a series of impressive performances at the back for the Nerazzurri, reports The Independent.
However, the likes of Chelsea, Arsenal and Manchester United will all surely be joined in the race to land the Italy international by a whole host of other heavyweight clubs on the continent, with Ranocchia’s current deal at San Siro due to run out next year.
And with high-quality young central defenders at such a premium around Europe at present, expect there to be one almighty fight to sign Ranocchia on a Bosman free next summer.
Klaas-Jan Huntelaar (Schalke 04)
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The agent of prolific Schalke 04 striker Klaas-Jan Huntelaar is sure to be a busy man when his client’s contract at the Veltins-Arena runs out next summer, even more so when you consider the Netherlands international will be available for nothing on a Bosman free transfer.
This is, after all, a frontman who not only found the back of the net for his country at the recent FIFA World Cup finals in Brazil, but who has also hit the target on 278 occasions in total in 434 matches for some of Europe’s biggest teams during the course of the past 12 years, including the likes of Ajax, Real Madrid and AC Milan.
And with any number of big-name Premier League outfits having been consistently linked with the 31-year-old of late, per Ben Jefferson at the Express, that interest will really start to hot up as early as January 1 2015 when Huntelaar can start negotiating with foreign clubs over a possible move for next season.
Glen Johnson (Liverpool)
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Liverpool have yet to reach an agreement with versatile full-back Glen Johnson about extending the England international’s stay at Anfield beyond the end of his current deal on Merseyside, which runs out at the end of June 2015.
The Reds' owners—the Fenway Sports Group—have so far only been prepared to offer the player a new 12-month contract, with Johnson having turned 30 in August.
However, with the attack-minded right-back still holding out for a longer deal beyond 2016 according to the Guardian, the two parties have now reached an impasse, meaning that as things stand Johnson is set to walk away from the club on a lucrative Bosman free transfer next summer.
And this latest development has alerted the likes of Serie A champions Juventus, according to the Daily Mirror (h/t Simon Rice at The Independent), who themselves are also set to lose their own right-back Stephan Lichtsteiner for nothing next year.
Nigel de Jong (AC Milan)
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With Premier League heavyweights Manchester United having been linked by Starsport (h/t Rhys Turrell at the Daily Star) with highly experienced AC Milan midfielder Nigel de Jong during the recent transfer window, it would be no surprise at all were the Red Devils to then follow up that interest by making a move for the player when his contract runs out at San Siro next summer.
Netherlands international De Jong and United’s new Dutch head coach Louis van Gaal know each other well, of course, with the pair having worked together at the recent FIFA World Cup finals in Brazil.
And with the 29-year-old also having English top-flight experience under his belt from the three successful years that he spent sitting in front of Manchester City’s back four, Van Gaal will no doubt already be eyeing up a free-transfer swoop for his compatriot in 2015.
Emmanuel Adebayor (Tottenham Hotspur)
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In spite of all the negative publicity that invariably follows Emmanuel Adebayor wherever the lanky Tottenham Hotspur forward seems to go, that will still not stop a plethora of likely suitors from expressing their interest in the player’s services when his current deal at White Hart Lane expires in less than 12 months’ time.
And that is because, despite possessing an unwanted entourage and attitude, the 30-year-old will bring with him big-match experience built up over more than a decade leading the line for some of Europe’s most recognisable clubs, including the likes of AS Monaco, Arsenal, Manchester City and Real Madrid.
With one last big contract still left in the Togo international after his time in north London draws to a close next summer, it will be intriguing to see just where free-agent Adebayor ends up in 2015.
Ignazio Abate (AC Milan)
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Ignazio Abate has been Serie A giants AC Milan’s regular right-back now since the 2009-10 season, while he has also been capped 21 times by the Italian national side, during which time the player has featured at both the 2012 UEFA European Championship and the 2014 FIFA World Cup for the Azzurri.
However, with the highly rated 27-year-old set to become a free agent when his present contract at San Siro runs out at the end of June 2015, there is likely to be a line as long as the Amazon of clubs interested in landing the attacking full-back on an attractive-looking Bosman deal next year.
Let’s face it, we are talking about the first-choice Rossoneri and Italy right-back who played in the final of Euro 2012, who comes with a mountain of UEFA Champions League experience and is set to be available for nothing in less than 12 months’ time.
Ron Vlaar (Aston Villa)
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After starring as part of a three-man back line during the Netherlands’ run all the way to the semi-finals at last summer’s FIFA World Cup, Aston Villa central defender Ron Vlaar’s reputation could not be much higher across the continent at present.
Consequently, there is going to be one almighty scramble for the 29-year-old Villa skipper’s signature when his current deal at Villa Park runs out at the end of June 2015, especially given Vlaar’s rock-solid defensive displays in the Premier League since arriving in the west Midlands from Eredivisie giants Feyenoord two years ago.
Andre-Pierre Gignac (Marseille)
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Marseille forward Andre-Pierre Gignac enjoyed his best-ever campaign in front of goal for the Ligue 1 heavyweights last season, with the France international netting an impressive 22 times in only 44 matches in all competitions, including 16 strikes in just 35 top-flight encounters.
In fact, that was Gignac’s highest goals return for five years, and with the player having carried on in a similar vein of attacking form in the South of France at the beginning of this campaign—netting four times in five league outings—you get the feeling that his signature will be much in demand come next summer.
And that is because Gignac will be just 29 when his current deal at the Stade Velodrome expires on June 30 2015, making the striker one of the most attractive-looking free-transfer targets of next year.
Fabian Schar (Basel)
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Versatile Basel defender Fabian Schar is currently one of the most sought-after players on the continent after turning in a number of eye-catching displays at the back for the Swiss champions during the past two years.
So much so, in fact, that the Switzerland international has been linked with a number of big-name clubs in Europe by Paul Brown of the Daily Star, including the likes of Arsenal, Tottenham Hotspur, Borussia Dortmund and Inter Milan.
And after impressing once again at the heart of his country’s back four at this summer’s FIFA World Cup in Brazil, Schar is now set to be one of the most in-demand free-transfer captures of 2015 when the 22-year-old’s present deal at St Jakob-Park runs out at the end of June.
Younes Kaboul (Tottenham Hotspur)
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While Tottenham Hotspur defender Younes Kaboul has had his critics since first arriving at Premier League outfit Portsmouth from Ligue 1 team Auxerre six years ago, one would still expect there to be plenty of interest in the occasional France international when his present deal at White Hart Lane expires next summer.
Kaboul, capped five times by Les Bleus since making his international debut in June 2011, has appeared in five top-flight contests and one UEFA Europa League tie for the north London club under new head coach Mauricio Pochettino so far in this campaign.
But despite Spurs recently making the 28-year-old their new captain, should he not be offered a new contract in 2015, then the inconsistent player will be available on a tempting Bosman free transfer in less than 12 months’ time for any clubs willing to take a gamble on the injury-prone central defender-cum full-back.
John Terry (Chelsea)
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Influential Chelsea captain John Terry has recently agreed a new 12-month contract to remain at Stamford Bridge until June 2015.
However, with the former England international turning 34 in December, it seems highly likely that next summer the west Londoners will also adopt a similar policy to that which saw Frank Lampard and Ashley Cole both leave the Blues at the end of the previous campaign, after the veteran duo were not offered new deals by the club.
And that opens up the fascinating possibility of Terry—who on the evidence of Sunday afternoon at Eastlands is clearly still one of the best centre-backs in the Premier League—joining one of Chelsea’s top-flight rivals on a Bosman free for the 2015-16 campaign, as his compatriot Lampard also did when recently joining City on a short-term basis from new parent club New York City FC.
Michael Carrick (Manchester United)
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One of the most interesting battles next summer will undoubtedly be for the services of experienced Manchester United midfielder Michael Carrick, whose current deal at Old Trafford runs out at the end of June 2015.
And even though the Red Devils do have the option to keep hold of the sometime England international for a further 12 months should they so wish, the fact that Carrick has not featured at all so far this season under new boss Louis van Gaal due to an ankle injury sustained in training in July does not bode well for the player.
In fact, with Carrick turning 34 next July and United having recently bought versatile Netherlands international Daley Blind to cover for the holding midfielder in his enforced absence, those clubs keen to land him on a Bosman free next year are most likely already planning on how best to make their moves.
Winston Reid (West Ham United)
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It looks very much as if highly rated West Ham United centre-back Winston Reid will not be putting pen to paper on a new deal at Upton Park, with the New Zealand international now having less than 12 months left to run on his current contract in east London.
Reid is no doubt more than aware of all the interest in his services of late, with Premier League giants Arsenal having reportedly weighed up making a bid for the player during the summer transfer window, per Metro.
But it seems the Gunners thought better of forking out £8 million on Reid when they can get the 26-year-old for nothing in less than a year's time, while the central defender knows that he will be in line for a bumper signing-on fee and a huge salary hike too if he now runs down the remaining months on his deal and then leaves on a Bosman free in 2015.
Rafael van der Vaart (Hamburg)
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Some may be surprised to learn that Hamburg playmaker Rafael van der Vaart is still just 31, meaning that there will surely be a stampede of big-name clubs across Europe desperate to land the hugely experienced Netherlands international when his present deal at the Imtech Arena runs out at the end of June 2015.
Van der Vaart has featured for continental giants the size of Ajax, Real Madrid and Tottenham Hotspur since making his debut for the former in the 1999-2000 campaign. The technically accomplished attacking midfielder has also been capped on 109 occasions by his country in a glittering 14-year international career to date.
In fact, the only reason that the player did not feature for the Oranje at the recent FIFA World Cup finals in Brazil was that the Dutchman suffered an injury on the eve of the tournament.
However, do not be surprised at all were Van der Vaart to seal one last dream move on a Bosman free next summer to bring down the curtain on his illustrious career.
Anderson (Manchester United)
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When Anderson’s current deal at Manchester United expires next summer, there will still be a queue of clubs interested in signing the Brazil international midfielder on a Bosman free transfer, despite his recent travails in the north-west.
This is, do not forget, a player who the Red Devils’ then-European scout Martin Ferguson described as being “better than [Wayne] Rooney” during his time at Porto. Since moving to the Theatre of Dreams for £26 million in May 2007, Anderson has gone on to make 181 first-team appearances for the Premier League giants.
And that also includes taking a successful penalty during the shootout of the 2008 UEFA Champions League final against Chelsea, as well as starting the following year’s final against Barcelona in Rome.
So while there will naturally be more than a few raised eyebrows at the prospect, aged just 26, Anderson should have little difficulty finding himself a new home in 2015…
Sami Khedira (Real Madrid)
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It seems strange that La Liga giants Real Madrid have allowed key holding midfielder Sami Khedira to run down his current contract at the Santiago Bernabeu, with less than 12 months remaining on his deal in the Spanish capital, especially given that Los Blancos also offloaded fellow water carrier Xabi Alonso to Bayern Munich this summer.
However, despite the fact that Khedira was a key member of the Germany squad that won the FIFA World Cup just a few short months ago, it appears that, as with Claude Makelele’s controversial exit from the club in 2003, Madrid president Florentino Perez has once again failed to recognise the value of a defensive midfielder.
All of which means, as things currently stand, the much-coveted 27-year-old, who joined Real from Bundesliga outfit Stuttgart for an undisclosed fee in July 2010, will be allowed to open talks with overseas suitors about a possible free-transfer switch for next season as early as January.
