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As the transfer window comes to an abrupt halt, the spotlight tends to fall on the big-money deals that occur in and around the drama and tension of transfer deadline day. Yet, as soon as the famed bell chimes, the focus soon moves on to which players are out of contract the summer after.
Plenty of top players have left their clubs for free this window, including Sergio Aguero and David Alaba’s moves to Barcelona and Real Madrid respectively and, of course, Lionel Messi’s switch to Paris-Saint Germain.
But in a market that continues to be financially plagued by COVID-19, many clubs are struggling to afford to give certain players new contracts – meaning others could swoop in as a result.
In fact, there are arguably more players with their contracts running out than ever before – ranging from worldwide superstars to up and coming talents.
Here, Express Sport takes a look at a potential starting XI of next summer’s free agents with values estimated by transfermarkt.
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Goalkeeper: Andre Onana, £27million
The curious case of Onana is extremely rare.
The Cameroonian keeper, 25, joined Ajax from Barcelona’s La Masia academy aged 19, in a bid to find first-team football. And that he did, starting instantly for their youth team and making the step up to the first team at the aged of just 20-years-old.
Making 142 league appearances for the Dutch giants – missing just twelve out of 154 in the process – Onana quickly established himself as Europe’s most exciting young keeper.
However, in February 2021, he was banned for twelve months by UEFA after testing positive for Furosemide – a banned substance. And with his contract running down in June, it remains to be seen whether he will be kept on by Ajax despite his former heroics.
Defence:
Antonio Rudiger, £25m,
Niklas Sule, £31m
Andreas Christensen, £27m
Two Chelsea stars feature in this solid backline of players who are into the final year of their contracts.
The pair were instrumental in Chelsea’s UEFA Champions League triumph last season; with Christensen featuring in eight of their thirteen fixtures, and Rudiger starting in ten.
Both appeared alongside each other in the 1-0 win over Manchester City in the final, and Chelsea fans will be hoping the pair have their contractual issues sorted out before long.
Alongside them is Niklas Sule – who has been a mainstay in Bayern Munich’s side ever since his move from Hoffenheim in 2017, making 136 appearances in that period.
Andre Onana has sat out the last six months of football after a UEFA ban
Midfield:
Paul Pogba, £54m
Pedri, £72m
Leon Goretzka, £63m
Lorenzo Insigne, £43m
In arguably the most star-studded free agent midfield of all time, there is over £230m of talent in this quartet; and that fact is even more stunning when you take into account there are more valuable players who are left on the bench to accommodate the wide players.
In the centre are Bayern Munich’s German maestro Goretzka and Barcelona’s Spanish prodigy Pedri.
Goretzka has been one of German football’s best and most consistent footballers for the past decade; having made his Bundesliga debut for Schalke aged just 18, he went on to become a mainstay in the Konigsblauen side for five seasons, playing 147 games and scoring 19 goals in the meantime.
And, in their continued monopolisation of the league, Bayern Munich snapped him up on a free in 2018 – where he improved even more. Featuring in almost all of their games since his arrival, Goretzka would be a sorry miss for Julian Nagelsmann.
Pedri is considered to be even more of a talent than Goretzka. The diminutive midfielder was born in Tenerife, and after joining Las Palmas’ youth system at 16, was fast-tracked into their first XI at the age of just 17 – a rapid rise.
Barcelona saw his talents and made him theirs for £6million – a rare good financial deal for the Catalan club.
Having already featured in 52 games this season for Ronald Koeman’s men, whilst also playing 21 games for his country, the midfielder needs to be careful not to burn out; which may be achieved at another club should Barcelona not be able to afford his wages.
On the right-wing would be Manchester United’s assist king Paul Pogba. Despite naturally being a central midfield player, Pogba has shone out wide for United this season, picking up five assists in just two Premier League matches.
The best of the central midfielders at playing out wide, it would be rude not to include Pogba in this starting XI – and with heavy links to Paris Saint-Germain, he may be a player who stays on this list for a long time.
And finally, completing the midfield is Napoli’s Lorenzo Insigne. The tiny winger featured in all of Italy’s Euro 2020 game bar one as the Azzurri won the continental trophy.
Yet, as a one-club man for the side who play at the Diego Armando Maradona, it may be unlikely that he leaves.
Pedri was one of Barcelona’s best players over the course of last season
Attack:
Kylian Mbappe, £144m
Cristiano Ronaldo, £40m
Ansu Fati, £54m
This again is arguably the most star-studded free agent attack of all time – especially when taking into account how long Mbappe and Fati have left on their contracts.
Mbappe is the star of this team, and at the age of just 22 has plenty of years left in him. It would be a big blow to PSG to lose him on a free at such a young age; however, recent reports have suggested that Real Madrid have bid £160m for the Frenchman – making him the second and third-most expensive player ever.
Lining up on the other flank is another Barcelona starlet in Ansu Fati. Fati was born in Guinea-Bissau, making the move to Spain when he was just six and to Barcelona when he was ten.
He became the second youngest player to ever play for Barcelona at just 16 years and 298 days; and became their youngest scorer ever just a week later.
And leading the line is an obvious choice; despite those who had more value than him – such as another Barcelona talent, Ousmane Dembele – there was always going to be a space for Cristiano Ronaldo.
The Juve striker has reportedly made his intentions to leave clear to bosses of the Turin club – with Manchester City currently leading the race for the Portuguese legend. And having spent the majority of his early career at Manchester United, it remains to be seen how well that move would go down at Old Trafford; but it would certainly be controversial.