5 players who will be free agents this summer

Atletico Madrid v Getafe - La Liga
Fernando Torres

The 2017-18 season has come to it's business end, and will officially end in a few weeks. It will also be the end of many players time with their current clubs, who will be moving on to face different challenges.

Whilst Yaya Toure will end his glorious eight year association with Manchester City, where he really found his feet and earned the 'legend' tag, others like Stefan de Vrij and Leon Goretzka have already found new homes, in Internazionale and Bayern Munich respectively.

On the other hand, players like Mesut Ozil and Lionel Messi have decided to continue with their present clubs, signing new contracts. A few others including Alexis Sanchez have made the switch in January.

Come the 31st of May 2018, a number of other players will be out of contract too, and some of them might prove to be massive bargains for the club they sign for. We take a look at these players and pick five of the best from the lot.


#5 Luke Shaw (Manchester United, England)

Manchester United v Burton Albion - Carabao Cup Third Round
Shaw has struggled for minutes under Mourinho.

Not long ago, Luke Shaw was regarded as the most capable man to carry forward Ashley Cole's legacy with England. The demand for him was real, and it took Manchester United a massive £30 million to secure his services from Southampton.

He was only 19 years old then, and had enjoyed a wonderful season with the Saints. Now 22, he plays deputy to Ashley Young at United, and is unlikely to even travel to the World Cup with England.

Having said that, Shaw is still very young and is hugely talented. He is a player most managers would love to work with, even if that doesn't include Jose Mourinho.

He can provide a decade of dependable defending and forward surges for the club he signs for, given that he finds his rhythm back there.

#4 Jack Wilshere (Arsenal, England)

Arsenal v Southampton - Premier League
Wilshere has cemented his place in the Arsenal eleven... again!

Jack Wilshere has had his injury issues, and plenty of them too. However, he has found some much needed stability of late, earning good minutes under his belt for Arsenal since his comeback.

The stability, though, has been limited to the pitch only. Rumours of conflict between Wilshere and the Arsenal board (regarding his wages) have been doing the rounds, and Wilshere is said to have decided to move on this summer.

At 26, he is yet to reach his prime and can be an elite midfielder for the mid-table clubs, and a great back-up for those above.

Everton are thought to be the club closest to signing him, although a contract renewal hasn't totally been ruled out.

Regardless, Wilshere will be a huge player for whichever club he signs for, if he manages to keep himself fit. A player who mixes English grit with Spanish flair.

#3 Emre Can (Liverpool, Turkey)

Manchester United v Liverpool - Premier League
Can has refused to sign a new contract at Liverpool.

Stories of Emre Can leaving Liverpool have been on the papers for almost a year now, with Juventus being the club constantly linked with the German.

Bought for only £10.80 million from Bayer Leverkusen in 2014, Can has shown great promise as a defensive midfielder, though he had started his career as a center-back. However he has questioned Liverpool's ability to acquire silverware and is thought to be determined to move on.

His biggest weakness is his inconsistency and he will be hoping to mend that at his new club, for he is tremendously talented.

Liverpool will be missing the services of a fine player, in case he does decide not to sign a new contract. He would complement the box-to-box style of Naby Keita to perfection. Perhaps, the one that got away

#2 Arjen Robben (Bayern Munich, Holland)

Bayern Muenchen Training And Press Conference
Robben's next stop might be the United States.

Now 34, Arjen Robben is obviously well past his prime. Once the third best player in the world, the Dutchman is still a fabulous player, and can still bamboozle defenses with his cut-ins and curlers.

When asked about it, Robben commented that he is yet to make a call regarding his future, with the Major League Soccer rumoured to be on his mind.

A contract extension with Bayern Munich might not be on the cards, with the Bavarians looking to end their hugely fruitful 9 year relation with the winger.

The former Chelsea and Real Madrid star will always be remembered best in Bayern colours, having established himself as a true legend of the club.

If he is to leave this summer, he might be accompanied by another Bayern legend in Franck Ribery, whose contract runs out in a couple of months too. European football might just be losing two of its most iconic players this summer.

#1 Giorgio Chiellini (Juventus, Italy)

Spal v Juventus - Serie A
Chiellini has been with Juventus for 13 years now.

Signed from Fiorentina in 2005, Chiellini has gone on to become not only a Juventus legend, but one of the best defenders of this generation too. Antonio Conte is understandably a big fan of his countryman and wants to bring him to Chelsea for free.

Having said that, Conte might not stay in Chelsea himself. Moreover Chiellini would be unwilling to make changes to the very sorted-out career he has had so far, and would be looking to continue his great association with the Old Lady.

A contract renewal is very much on the cards, and will be on the top of Beppe Marotta's to-do list once the season draws to a close. Some things are just meant to be.

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Edited by Anthony Akatugba Jr.
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