Potential 2019 Free Transfers XI

#11 ST - Mario Balotelli (OGC Nice)

Italy Training Session And Press Conference

Super Mario. He's gone from a controversy-plagued prodigy to one of the most consistent strikers around Europe's top five leagues, just like his early Italian years.

Mario Balotelli has repaid Nice in goals, netting a career-best 22 goals in 30 games for Lucien Favre's side last season. The club was willing to take a gamble when no one would tolerate the player's immaturity and their faith has paid off, but given the Azzurri forward's career is back on track, it might be difficult to extend his stay beyond 2019.

Last summer, the former Milan forward was heavily linked with a switch to Olympique Marseille, where he would have formed a ruthless attacking trident with Dimitri Payet and Florian Thauvin, but given his contract runs out next year, OGC Nice could still cash in on Balotelli's highly anticipated switch to the Stade Velodrome.

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Still on the subject of potential free transfers, the likes of Juan Mata and Ander Herrera (Manchester United), Mousa Dembele (Tottenham), Sami Khedira (Juventus), David Luiz (Chelsea) and Eliaquim Mangala (Man City) are expected be on the free agents catalogue next summer, but whether or not they extend their stay at their current clubs, there is an abundance of quality that suggests they'll have a little headache settling elsewhere.