Ranking the 5 greatest players who can sign a pre-contract agreement in January

Gone are the days in club football when clubs had all the power in their hands exclusively in terms of transfers. Professional players had no autonomy over their contracts for a long time. While they could negotiate and make new demands, players were only allowed to leave when their parent clubs felt like doing so.

But things changed with the Bosman ruling, and suddenly, footballers had complete control over their contract situation. After the ruling, footballers could decide between renewing their contracts or not. Clubs have also started to become proactive with contract renewals and listening to player demands.

With the ability to control contracts came the trend of signing pre-contracts. A pre-contract is a preliminary contract that a footballer can sign with a new club at any point within the remaining six months of his existing contract. Once a pre-contract is signed, the footballer moves to a new club after the expiry of his previous contract.

From the purchasing club's point of view, they secure a player for little cost without getting into a bidding war. For the player, it's insurance that he will have a new professional contract once his current one expires. Some of the biggest names in world football can sign pre-contracts in January 2022.

#5 Franck Kessie

Come January 2022, clubs will be lining up to snap up AC Milan midfielder Franck Kessie. It would not be any surprise if such a talent at only 24 can be potentially snapped up as a free transfer.

With Kessie's contract running out in June 2022, AC Milan will hope to find a resolution as soon as possible. But as things stand, Kessie is destined for a new club, which can be decided as early as the end of next month.

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Kessie is a wonderful midfield player who excels at offensive and defensive abilities. He is well-known for covering large spaces on the field and winning balls to shield the defense. Kessie will be a treasured signing, and it now remains to be seen which club can land his prized signature.

#4 Angel Di Maria

Uruguay v Argentina - FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Qualifier

Angel Di Maria is 33-years old, but the Argentine has been a champion of many battles. The pacy wide man has played for some of the biggest clubs globally and is an important figure in French powerhouse Paris Saint-Germain. However, with the top-heavy squad of the Parisian club and with increasing age, it seems highly likely that Di Maria is headed to new waters.

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While he is on the wrong side of the 30, Di Maria has not lost his touch and abilities. His minutes have dwindled slightly, but he has still racked up more than 1000 minutes in the current campaign.

There have been quite a few occasions where Di Maria's brilliant displays have helped PSG escape a troublesome situation. The Argentine still has enough gas left in his tank, and there are some great clubs where he could have a role in the future. By signing him on a pre-contract, clubs will have a world-class footballer of proven pedigree at minimum cost.

#3 Paul Pogba

Manchester United v Liverpool - Premier League

At any given point, Paul Pogba can be the world-class player he is, but on an off-day, he disappears. Much to Manchester United's sorrows, the off-days have been more frequent than the days he turned up.

However, Pogba has shown glimpses of his genius, more so for France, where he pairs up with N'Golo Kante. Manchester United are still trying to sort out his contract issues. However, Pogba will likely be leaving Old Trafford in the coming summer.

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There is no doubt that several big clubs will try to secure his signing as a free agent. It will be quite pertinent for any club to sign him on a pre-contract to avoid a potential bidding war in the summer. However, there will be more doubts about his fitness than his form.

When Pogba has played, he has played well in the current campaign. He made seven assists in four games in the Premier League but hasn't made an assist since. He has spent a significant amount of time on the sidelines with a major injury.

#2 Antonio Rudiger

Antonio Rudiger's rise under Thomas Tuchel has been meteoric since the German manager took over the reins at Chelsea in 2021. Rudiger has been one of the most trusted figures in defense. With that, he has suddenly become a highly sought-after commodity in the football world. Rudiger is still negotiating with Chelsea, but his reportedly astronomical wage demands are seemingly the cause of the current disagreement.

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Rudiger is 28, which is not a strange age for a defender. His high-pressing, tackling and aerial ability are sure to attract suitors. With a contract expiring in June 2022, clubs will try to sign him to a pre-contract to avoid paying more in the summer.

Meanwhile, the entire situation of his contract and wage demand is at an interesting point. It remains to be seen if Chelsea can ultimately convince Rudiger to extend his Stamford Bridge stay.

#1 Kylian Mbappe

Manchester City v Paris Saint-Germain: Group A - UEFA Champions League

If a player like Kylian Mbappe is available as a potential free agent, which club would not like to acquire him on a pre-contract? The talented Frenchman has already become a global superstar at a very young age. He is yet to win the Champions League but has won league titles in France and the prestigious FIFA World Cup. Last summer, Mbappe was heavily linked with Real Madrid in a bumper deal that ultimately didn't materialize.

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Once January starts, Real Madrid will face competition as Mbappe is yet to renew his current contract with PSG. While Real will be the favorites, others like Manchester United, Manchester City and Liverpool are said to be admirers of the Frenchman. Mbappe's pre-contract signing may turn into one of the most exciting transfer sagas of all time.

Edited by Aditya Singh