Competition in the major European leagues have now ended and for football fans, it marks the period when they watch their favourite clubs sign or sell players during the summer transfer window and there are a good number of quality football stars who will be available for absolutely free – and five of them are Champions League winners.
In a market which has witnessed transfer fees increase exponentially following the signing of Brazil superstar, Neymar, by Paris Saint-Germain from Barcelona in the summer of 2017 for only £198 million – a figure which made the 26-year-old forward the world’s most expensive footballer.
But your club does not need to spend a dime to get one or more quality players in this summer’s transfer market seeing as a number of them will become free agents when their current contracts expires at their respective clubs.
The 10 best free transfers available for your favourite clubs to make this summer are:
1 Juan Mata
The 31-year-old Manchester United midfielder’s future has been subject to speculation this year considering the Red Devils have yet to offer him a new contract amid extensions handed to other players including Ashley Young, Phil Jones and Chris Smalling.
Mata, who made 16 starts in the Premier League in 2018/19 and scored six goals, has been linked with a return to Spain where he was part of an exciting Valencia team which also had David Silva, though, there are hopes among fans he would remain at Old Trafford beyond 2019 after he was featured in the social media unveil for next season’s kit reveal.
The reveal of United’s new kit, inspired by the heroic team of 1999 which became the first and still only English team to win the treble, also featured midfield stars Paul Pogba and Scott McTominay, as well as England striker, Marcus Rashford.
Whether he stays or leaves at the end of June when his contract expires, Mata would make for an excellent player to have in many teams thanks to the creativity he offers and great experience that comes from the years and made him have a number of major honours to his name including one Champions League, the 2010 World Cup, 2012 European Championship, two Europa League titles, and two FA Cups.
2 Adrien Rabiot
The France international has endured a torrid end to his time at Paris Saint-Germain where his refusal to agree terms of the club’s contract extension led to him getting dropped from the first-team squad, with his agent and mother once likening his situation with the club to that of being imprisoned.
Rabiot’s last start for PSG came in the Ligue 1 against Strasbourg back in December 2018, with a potential move to Barcelona in January falling through while the possibility of the midfielder joining the Camp Nou outfit this summer now looks unlikely as Barca decided to reach a pre-contract agreement with Ajax in January to sign Frenkie de Jong for close to £70 million.
That makes Rabiot, who has won six league titles with PSG, a prime target for other big clubs around Europe in need of a midfielder with quality.
3 Daniel Sturridge
The English striker is currently basking in the euphoria of a second European title following Liverpool’s Champions League title on June 1, but having seen himself fall even further down the pecking order at Anfield behind Divock Origi, who scored important goals for the Reds in the last few games of the season, 29-year-old Sturridge could be keen to find a new stomping ground where he would get more game time.
Sturridge has spent six-and-a-half years at Anfield, scoring 67 goals in 160 appearances for the Reds as he struggled with injuries over the years. However, having made 25 appearances and scored three goals for Liverpool this past season, Sturridge would be confident he can remain fit over a stretch of time – whether at Anfield or, most likely, at a new club.
4 Mario Balotelli
Many may not remember but Balotelli was part of Jose Mourinho’s Inter Milan side that conquered Europe in 2010 before contributing 13 goals in 23 league appearances in Manchester City’s dramatic Premier League title-winning campaign in 2012.
These days, after various controversies, the Italy international has been in France where he scored eight goals in 12 Ligue 1 matches for Olympique Marseille after joining the club from domestic rivals, OGC Nice, in January and proving he can still be a potent goalscorer to any of the clubs that would be interested in signing him for free this summer.
5 Danny Welbeck
The England striker of Ghanaian descent will leave Arsenal at the end of June after five years at the club which he helped to the 2017 FA Cup, while he was an unused substitute in the 2019 Europa League final loss to Chelsea on May 29.
Having recovered from a long-term ankle injury that kept him out of action for half of the just concluded season, the one-time Champions League winner will now be looking to find himself a new club and add to the 69 goals he has scored in 304 career appearances the Gunners, Manchester United, Sunderland and Preston North End.
6 Ander Herrera
The Manchester United midfielder revealed he would be leaving Old Trafford in an emotional message to the club’s fans in April amid speculation he is set for a move to Paris Saint-Germain where it is reported he would reportedly be paid north of £300,000 per week.
A goodbye message from @AnderHerrera. ? #MUFC pic.twitter.com/z56bmBwXa9
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) May 11, 2019
Herrera joined United from Athletic Bilbao for £30 million and spent five years at the Red Devils, helping the club to the 2016 FA Cup as well as three major titles in 2017, including the Europa League and League Cup.
7 Alberto Moreno
The emergence of Andy Robertson at Liverpool has seen Moreno lose his place in Jurgen Klopp’s first team as the Spanish left-back looks set to leave Anfield after five years and 141 appearances in all competitions at the club, with Fenerbahce linked with a move for him.
In that time, Moreno was part of the Liverpool team that lost in three major finals – the 2016 League Cup and Europa League, as well as the 2018 Champions League – before playing just one match as the Reds were crowned 2019 European champions.
8 Nacho Monreal
Following six years at Arsenal, the Spanish defender looks set to bring an end to his time at the Emirates Stadium where he won the FA Cup and Community Shield three times each, while also playing a role in the Premier League club’s run to the Europa League final before suffering a 4-1 loss to London rivals, Chelsea, on May 29 in Baku.
Monreal, who began his career at Osasuna, could remain at Arsenal beyond 2019 although, Turkish giants Fenerbahce as well as La Liga side, Real Sociedad, have been rumoured to be interested in signing him when his contract expires at the end of June.
9 Hatem Ben Arfa
The hugely talented but controversial and outspoken Ben Arfa is set to leave his current club, Stade Rennais, when his contract expires at the end of June amid speculation linking him with a free transfer to Spain.
32-year-old Ben Arfa, who previously featured for PSG, Newcastle United, Olympique Marseille, OGC Nice and Olympique Lyonnais, would make a great free signing, and would leave Rennes after helping the club to a 10th place finish in Ligue 1 along with a shock Coupe de France title triumph at the expense of PSG.
10 Samir Nasri
The 31-year-old French midfielder is among the players confirmed to be heading out of Premier League club, West Ham, with his contract set to expire at the end of June.
Nasri made six appearances for the Hammers after signing for the club in December 2018 at the end of an 18-month ban for a doping violation, with the former Arsenal man providing two assists in the league including one against the Gunners in a 1-0 win for West Ham.
Which of these players would make a great signing for your favourite club? Share your views with us in the comments section.