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With the transfer market going bonkers, the teams across Europe could do themselves a favour by looking at these players who are out of contract, come the end of this season.
We've compiled a list of 11 such players who are free agents this summer and would most definitely improve the quality of even the top clubs in the world, and as the transfer fees for players with contracts to run, sky-rocket, free transfers will soon become the norm as clubs struggle to keep up with the transfer demands that have currently hijacked the world of football.
Formation: 3-5-2
Goalkeeper
Goalkeepers are pivotal for any team that is vying for the top spots in the leagues across Europe. Their importance only increases in cup competitions.
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Few can argue that the replacement for Claudio Bravo at Manchester City, Ederson Santana de Moraes, is the driving factor behind City's surge to the summit of the Premier League, considering the rest of the team is identical to the one a season ago.
The stability that is provided by a goalkeeper enables the team to play with more freedom, knowing well that should the odd defensive lapse occur, the keeper has it covered.
Pepe Reina has always been a keeper who is under-valued, which defies logic when all you need to do is look at his exploits in world football. A staggering record between the sticks, he has 302 clean sheets in 742 professional appearances.
Mind-boggling stats. Throw in a World Cup, a couple of European Championships, an FA Cup, the Italian Cup, a Bundesliga Championship, a UEFA Supercup and an English League Cup and you've got yourself a keeper who has established himself in every top league in Europe.
All that experience for a free transfer? Nuts.
Substitute: Iker Casillas
Centre-backs
The first name in defence really picks itself. Stefan de Vrij. Standing tall at 1.90m this beast of a defender is only 26 and surely has his best days ahead of him. He is a force to be reckoned with in the air and provides defensive stability few others can match. SS Lazio count on him to win the ball back when they lose possession deep inside their own half.
A mature head on his shoulders, he's a no-nonsense centre-back who goes about his work quietly, putting in stellar performances game after game. He was a major factor in Lazio beating Juventus to win the Italian Super Cup this season and has become a constant feature in the Dutch defensive back-line.
Considering the mammoth rise in centre-back valuation in the current transfer market, Vrij will be a steal with only his wages to be taken care of.
After allowing Leonardo Bonucci to join rivals AC Milan, Juventus risk losing another defensive stalwart in Giorgio Chiellini. This towering Center back is as defensively sound as they get.
Having missed lifting the World Cup with his national side, Italy, through injury, Chiellini went on to win 6 Serie A titles and 3 Italian Cups and has been named the best defender in Italy on three separate occasions. Not bad for a league that is widely considered to be filled with the world's best defenders.
It's certain that many teams will have their eyes on him, come the summer transfer window.
Miranda was a key figure in Atletico's rise to the top in Spain. Under Diego Simeone, Miranda alongside Diego Godin formed a defensive partnership that just refused to concede goals.
The defensive solidity provided by them was the foundation upon which Atletico built their successful campaign in the 13/14 La Liga season, leaving behind Barcelona and city rivals Real Madrid, which left the world stunned.
But for anyone watching, the signs were there all along as Miranda helped the Madrid-based club in winning the Europa League in 11/12, UEFA Supercup and the Spanish Cup in 12/13 after lifting the Confederations Cup with Brazil in 2009.
Currently at Inter Milan and running out of contract in the summer, Miranda will certainly attract attention from several clubs.
Substitute: Holger Badstuber
Fullbacks
Left-back
Luke Shaw made the big money signing from Southampton to Manchester United for £37.5 million in 2014. He was already dubbed one of the best left-backs in Premier League football at the tender age of 18.
Having come up the ranks from the youth system at St. Mary's, Luke Shaw had the ability to become a constant not just for the Red Devils, but also the England National Team.
The former Saint lost his way a little after making the big move up and was riddled with a string of injuries. Struggling with confidence, Mourinho made things worse for Shaw as he publicly condemned his performances, in the few matches he did get picked.
But the perseverance was there for all to see as Luke Shaw started putting in solid performances and made the manager eat his words. Only recently the Portuguese made a U-turn, dubbing him one of the best left-backs in the world.
It will be interesting to see if Shaw makes the manager sweat before putting pen to paper on that contract extension. One thing is for certain, United will have to fend off interest, from a hoard of suitors, to get the left-back's signature.
Right-back
Juan Francisco Torres Belén is as steady a right back as they come. The consistency of his game has been a feature throughout his career. The Spaniard is defensively solid at the back and provides impetus further up the pitch as well.
He regularly gets to the by-line and puts decent deliveries into the box, which strikers of the likes of Sergio Aguero, Fernando Torres, Diego Forlan, Diego Costa and Antoine Griezmann have all benefitted from, during their time together at Atletico Madrid.
The former Osasuna man is no stranger to success. Having moved to Madrid in 2011, he has lifted many trophies with the Los Rojiblancos.
With a Spanish League Championship, Europa League, Spanish Cup, UEFA Supercup each with Atleti, and a European Championship with Spain, in his locker, what the right-back lacks in speed, he more than makes up with experience.
Despite heading into the twilight zone of his career, having turned 33 in January, there is no doubt that he still has a lot of gas left in his tank and could certainly improve the quality of most teams in Europe.
Substitute: Rafinha
Midfielders
Emre Can has steadily grown into one of the most dependable players in the middle of the park, currently plying their trade in the Premier League. Having turned only 24 in January, Can's calm demeanour on the pitch comes across as that of someone far beyond his age.
The German is one of the first names on the team sheet for Jurgen Klopp's Liverpool, and his solid performances for the Reds has seen him make his way into the national side as well.
The former Bayern and Leverkusen man has also come up with important goals for The Merseyside club. It's hard to see Liverpool not extending the midfielder's contract but should that happen, many teams will be lining up for the German's signature.
England's prodigy, Jack Wilshere, has been very unfortunate with injuries throughout his career. It is by sheer willpower and the obvious talent he possesses, that everytime you think the England International is done, he forces his way back into contention.
Only a season ago he was sidelined with an injury and shipped off to Bournemouth, and talks of him having to play in the second league with Birmingham started to do the rounds. A year on, he is a constant in the Arsenal starting line-up.
Wilshere is a proper ball playing midfielder, who can not only go past defenders with ease but can also play that killer pass. Of course, he's also got a sweet left foot, and if he connects with it, the ball stays hit.
But possibly the best aspect of the 26-year-old is his ability to raise his game against the bigger sides. Just ask the Arsenal fans, who do not understand how their number 10 hasn't been offered an extension yet.
European under-21 champion, German under-19 Bundesliga champion and a silver medal at the Rio Olympics. Not a bad way to start off your career, is it? Only 22, and it seems like the world is already at the feet of Max Meyer.
The German U21 International is the perfect modern-day midfielder, good with the ball at his feet, economical in possession, not afraid to get into a tackle, can drop deep to pick the ball up and spray it out wide to the flanks and has a decent return in terms of goals scored.
Having captained the German National team at the U21 level and led his team to victory on many occasions, I think it's fair to say that Meyer is a confident lad, who is ready to take the next step up in his footballing career. FC Schalke have missed a trick in not tying down the young and exuberant German who is only going to get better with age.
Therefore interest from the likes of Arsenal and Barcelona to get him to sign pre-agreement terms comes as no surprise, considering he's likely to cost as much as almost nothing.
Substitute: Santi Cazorla
Strikers
Do not be fooled by the antics of the Italian. When on form and focused, Mario Balotelli is as devastating as any striker out there. And if you can snap him up on a free transfer, the decision is so much easier, like OGC Nice found out. The former Liverpool and City man has paid huge dividends for the French side scoring 19 goals in 25 appearances.
A grand total of 141 career goals with 32 assists in 339 matches isn't a record to scoff at. He has had success most strikers can only dream of.
Three-time top scorer in Italy and with the Euro 2012 competition, 3 Italian Championships, Premier League, FA Cup, Italian Cup and a Champion League Winner's medal to his credit, Mario Balotelli ought to be hot property at the end of the season.
Zlatan play ball. Zlatan score. Zlatan win.
Few strikers in world football are as feared as the Swede. The goalscoring machine makes football look easy. Skyhigh confidence in himself with the staggering ability to boot, Ibrahimovic has ruled world football for the past two decades.
The United Striker has played under the best managers in the world and for the best teams in the world and has always been the main man on any pitch he has walked onto.
If somehow you aren't convinced by this pick, here are the numbers:
* 5-time league top scorer
* 11-time League Champion
* 13-time Super Cup Winner
* 12-time Footballer of the year
* 403 goals, 159 assists in 683 professional appearances
We decided to not include any players above the age of 33 in this list, a criterion keeping out the likes of Yaya Toure, Franck Ribery and Arjen Robben. But clearly, Zlatan Ibrahimovic isn't bound by restrictions that apply to us mere mortals. Also, I'm not gonna be the one to tell him he isn't on a Dream XI list, are you?
Substitute: Fernando Torres
