5 best free agents top clubs can sign

With less than a month left for the season to end, all clubs have started shortlisting players they look to sign as the summer transfer window rolls around. In times where the market is so inflated the new normal price for a player starts at around £40 million. Not all clubs can shell out huge sums of money to reinforce their squads before the start of the next season.

Loads of ageing players have their contracts running out at the end of the season. Signing these seasoned veterans brings a sense of calmness to the squad as they've been there and done that. They've seen it all and more over the club can sign a player for no transfer fee at all, allowing them to possibly reinvest the money elsewhere in the team.

That being said here are the top 5 free agents heading into the summer transfer window.

#5 Vincent Kompany

Premier League royalty, he still has what it takes!

Manchester City captain and Premier League royalty, Vincent Kompany has been one of the best Premier League defenders since his arrival back in '08. He has been the constant through the ups and downs as City rose from being the noisy neighbours to be streaks ahead of their rivals both on and off the field.

Injuries have certainly taken a toll on him but Pep Guardiola has looked to his captain in crunch games this season. Impressive displays against Manchester United, Tottenham, Liverpool and the Cup final against Chelsea shows that he still has gas left in the tank.

There have been talks of City giving him a contract extension, but if not he certainly can bring a lot to any side, both on and off the field. On the verge of winning his 4th Premier League title, Vincent will always be a Mancunian even if he decides to leave this season.

#4 Olivier Giroud

His World Cup performances showed he still has it!

Olivier Giroud has established himself as one of the best target men the Premier league has ever seen. His link-up play has been used by managers at the club and national level. Having won trophies at Arsenal, Chelsea and France, Giroud would be a useful inclusion to any squad in Europe. His performances at the World Cup showed that he has so much more to provide to the team than just goals.

As his contract runs down at Chelsea, a move back home to France as the loan signing of Higuain has seen his game time reduce massively, leaving him rather frustrated. Great performances in the Europa League build a case for him to be the first choice striker at the club.

No agreement has been reached yet with any club and with Chelsea's transfer ban looming large, letting him leave on a free could be a mistake that they regret in the future. That being said, at 32, Giroud still has something to give at the very top level and could be an astute signing looking for goals coming off the bench.

#3 Diego Godin

One of the best defenders of the last decade

Diego Godin is set to leave Atletico Madrid at the end of the season after nearly a decade at the club. Seeing the club rise from a mid-table team to the only club to break the Real Madrid-Barcelona duopoly over the La Liga crown. It was Godin's goal on the last day of the season at the Camp Nou that won Atletico the crown.

Having won the Copa del Rey, the Spanish Super Cup, 2 Europa League titles and three UEFA Super Cups as well as reaching two Champions League finals, Godin has embodied Atletico's warrior spirit under Simeone and it will be the end of an era.

The Uruguayan has been heavily linked with Inter Milan as they look to pair him up with former teammate Miranda. It will help they form a solid defence to build upon going forward. Nothing is done and dusted, but it was believed that he has already rejected a move to Manchester United. The team that finally snaps him up is going to get their hands on one of the best and most reliable defenders in the world even though he might not be as mobile as earlier.

#2 Ander Herrera

A well-rounded midfielder who can do it all

Ander Herrera has been one of the very few Manchester United players to win the Manchester United Player of the Year crown apart from David de Gea in recent times. That shows on his day he one of the very best that United has to offer. This season too, Herrera has played whenever he has been fit. His presence has allowed the likes of Pogba and Lingard ditch their defensive duties and drive forward to make things happen.

Over the years, he has had many impeccable performances. His masterclass of marking Eden Hazard out of the match as his side beat Chelsea 2-0 was one to remember. He has been linked with a big money move to PSG as it is said that Manchester United isn't willing to match his wage demands. A robust, hard-working natural leader who will give it his all on the field, Manchester United will have to invest heavily to replace him.

#1 Adrien Rabiot

Only time will tell if his talents are worth his tantrums

The one transfer everyone's waiting to see. Adrien Rabiot has had a torrid end to his time in Paris. After rejecting a new contract multiple times, PSG hierarchy decided to freeze him out of the squad. Having played his last match for PSG back in December, Rabiot is desperate to leave the French capital.

It was believed that Barcelona had a deal in place to sign him but his supernumerary wage demands saw the Catalans drop interest in him and sign Ajax's Frenkie de Jong. A lot of top clubs have seen his wages as the main hurdle in gaining his signature. Real Madrid too dropped interest in him in spite of him being a fabulous midfielder. His attitude has been an issue since forever, even at PSG he had multiple disputes with managers and players.

That being said, a number of clubs are still willing to take a punt on the Frenchman as the likes of Tottenham, Arsenal, Liverpool among others are still monitoring his status. As the transfer window rolls around, be ready to experience a long transfer saga as he fights his way out of PSG