The free transfer XI: the best players currently out of contract without a club
The first-choice centre-back duo are now fixed up with clubs and the quality is thinning out but there is still some talent in this XI of free agents all looking for new clubs…
GK: David De Gea
The 32-year-old is currently unemployed after his contract at Manchester United expired, but the Red Devils have asked De Gea to sit tight while they get their sh*t together and decide who they want in their goal next season. Which might be a cheekier request if the ex-Spain stopper had a bundle of offers. So far it seems Saudi is his best option away from Old Trafford.
RB: Matt Doherty
With Reiss Nelson finally signing a new deal at Arsenal, the right-back slot goes to a specialist in Doherty, who left Spurs following a miserable loan at Atletico Madrid. Not that it seems to have put off the Saudis.
CB: Yerry Mina
The Colombia defender has left Goodison but could stay in the Premier League with Fulham, though Granada and Lille are both said to have made offers.
CB: Daniel Amartey
Brendan Rodgers fancied a reunion with the defender at Celtic but it seems Besiktas are further down the line with Amartey, with the Turkish club hoping to seal a deal this week.
LB: Jordi Alba
The Spain defender could be part of the Barcelona reunion set to take place at Inter Miami, following Lionel Messi to Florida, possibly along with Luis Suarez and Sergio Busquets.
CM: Daler Kuzyaev
The ex-Zenit midfielder looks set to be heading for Besiktas with Amartey.
CM: Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain
The ex-Liverpool midfielder could become the first England international to take up an offer from the Saudi Pro League, unless Jesse Lingard, who is currently training with Inter Miami, beats him to it.
RM: Ainsley Maitland-Niles
The former Arsenal midfielder takes Marco Asensio after the ex-Real Madrid star followed Milan Skriniar to PSG as a free-agent. Maitland-Niles has been linked with West Ham and, inevitably, a move to Saudi Arabia with Al-Shabab.
Marco Asensio
The one-time Liverpool target left Real Madrid with three Champions league winners’ medals and as many La Liga titles. Asensio is another seemingly destined for PSG, but they’re a bit busy sorting out their soon-to-be-ex coach and a striker who might make the opposite journey if he’s prepared to take a pay-cut.
AM: Daichi Kamada
The Japan international scored 16 goals and claimed seven assists for Eintracht Frankfurt last season and looks destined to join Roma.
LM: Wilf Zaha
Zaha seems to be keeping his options upon upon the expiry of his deal at Palace. The winger could renew – the Eagles’ offer remains on the table – but he is also pondering a moneybags offer from the Gulf as well as the prospect of fulfilling his Champions League dream with either Roma or Marseille.
CF: Moussa Dembele
Now Dembele is available, the queue for his services seems to have dwindled. The striker was always lined with Manchester United, among others, while he was banging them in for Lyon but his stock has fallen, especially after a final season in Ligue 1 that saw him score only three goals while spending most of his time on the bench.
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