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For football fans, transfer windows are a sight to behold: elite football clubs around the world jostling to lure a superstar to their backyard, the will-he-won't-he situations, and all the deadline day drama.
Well, the best players in the world are almost always worth their weight in gold, but even good players cost an arm and a leg these days.
The idea of a talented player available for free in the transfer window is the stuff dreams are made of, but such dreams are now commonplace in the football world. This season too, quite a few players are entering the final years of their contracts and unless their parent clubs decide to extend their deals, they could be up for free next summer.
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What makes it very interesting is that the group this year includes some world class players each of whom, if going for free next summer, will be a real steal for any club.
Who are the top 10 players will be free agents in the summer of 2020? Read on to find out.
#10 Eric Bailly (Manchester United)
The Manchester United defender came to the Premier League in the summer of 2016, with straight A's in his report card . Bailly had impressed during his time in La Liga and was earmarked by Jose Mourinho to be United’s defensive rock in the future. In fact, the Ivorian was the Portuguese’s first signing after taking charge at Old Trafford.
Bailly made 38 appearances of United in his debut season, despite missing over a month of action due to a knee injury, and won the EFL Cup, the Community Shield, and the UEFA Europa League. He looked a fine addition to the team and his no-nonsense style of defending, coupled with his athleticism, made him popular with the fans.
The following season, the Ivorian started as the first choice center-back, but an ankle injury saw him sidelined for over 4 months in total. He could only amass a total of 18 appearances in all competitions for the club. Last season, Bailly made 18 appearances once again, failing to make it into Mourinho’s starting eleven at the start of the season. Even after Solskjaer’s appointment, the Ivorian’s luck did not improve and he continued to struggle for game time.
Over the summer, Bailly has had to undergo knee surgery and has not kicked a ball this season. He is currently recovering from the surgery and might not even be back before the turn of the year. Even though he’s only 25-years-old, the Ivorian could find himself as a free agent in the summer of 2020 (unless United agree to tie him down with a new deal). If that happens, he would not be short of suitors, provided he manages to keep himself fit. It was initially thought that United would extend his contract despite his injury, but there has been little progress on that front.
Also check out: Premier League Table Champions League table La liga table 2019-20
#9 Blaise Matuidi (Juventus)
The Frenchman became an omnipresent figure in the Paris Saint-Germain team since joining the Ligue 1 champions in the summer of 2011. After six fruitful seasons with PSG, Matuidi made the move to Italy to join Serie A champions Juventus in 2017. He soon became a crucial member of the team and in his very first season, managed to win the Serie A as well as the Coppa Italia.
Over the summer of 2018, Matuidi won the FIFA World Cup with France. Last season, he made 42 appearances for Juventus and scored 3 goals as the Bianconeri defended their Serie A title and also lifted the Supercoppa Italiana. A player of his experience is rarely available for free, but that is exactly what could happen next summer if Juventus do not hand him an extension contract soon.
The Frenchman is a hard worker on the pitch and a selfless team player. He will be 33 next year, which could deter a few suitors, but many would agree he still has a few good seasons left in him.
#8 Pedro Rodriguez (Chelsea)
The former Barcelona star was a consistent performer at Camp Nou, rising through the ranks at La Masia and becoming a key player under Pep Guardiola. Pedro enjoyed a stellar spell with the Catalans, winning a host of trophies before eventually leaving the club to join Chelsea in the August of 2015.
At Stamford Bridge, the Spaniard immediately became a regular feature in the first team. His speed, dribbling skills, and eye for the goal made him a household name in London. In his time at Chelsea, he has collected one Premier League title, one FA Cup, and one UEFA Europa League. Last season, he scored 13 times in 52 appearances.
This year, Pedro has seen his chances get limited after the arrival of Frank Lampard, who is preferring youth players. The Spaniard is out of contract next summer and despite the fact that he will be 33 in July, Pedro will believe that he still has some unfinished business on the pitch. With a world of experience under his belt, he could still be a vital player for quite a few teams in the world.
#7 Luka Modric (Real Madrid)
The 2018 Ballon d’Or winner did not have the best of years since winning the trophy last December. Luka Modric had a stellar 2017/18 season with Real Madrid and followed it up with a golden ball-winning performance with Croatia in the 2018 FIFA World Cup. That ensured that he created history by breaking Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo’s decade long duopoly on the Ballon d’Or last year.
Despite a season without silverware last year, Modric still managed to make 46 appearances for Madrid and scored 4 goals. His passing efficiency and drive in the middle of the field continue to be vital for the Spanish giants. This season, Modric has already featured 12 times in all competitions for Real Madrid and has also scored twice. He shows no signs of stopping, but unless Los Blancos extend his contract before the end of this season, Modric could leave for free next summer.
The Croatian will be 35 next September and while he no longer is the player that he once was, he still has the ability to perform at the highest level. A champion who has won almost everything in the beautiful game, Modric would still be an asset for many clubs in Europe next season.
#6 Thomas Meunier (PSG)
After an impressive 5-year spell with Club Brugge, Thomas Meunier made the move to Ligue 1 to join Paris Saint-Germain in the summer of 2016. He soon turned out to be a fine acquisition, even chipping in 2 goals from 36 appearances in his first season. Since then, Meunier has developed into one of the best attack-minded full-backs in the world.
The Belgian was also impressive in the 2018 FIFA World Cup, helping his nation finish third in the tournament. He was linked to a host of clubs this summer but expressed his desire to stay on at the French clun. However, Meunier has entered the final year of his stay and unless PSG agreed to extend his contract, the Belgian will become a free agent next summer.
Still only 28-years-old right now, Meunier has the ability to play at the highest level in Europe and could effortlessly slide into the starting eleven of most European clubs. It remains to be seen if PSG allow him to leave for free next summer.
#5 Toby Alderweireld (Tottenham)
It is hard to believe that despite a £25m release clause that came into effect this summer, Tottenham Hotspur still managed to keep hold of Toby Alderweireld. However, the Belgian could still be available for free next summer as he has not extended his contract with Spurs so far.
Alderweireld has been a consistent performer for the London side since joining them in July 2015. Together with his countryman Jan Vertonghen, he set up a formidable central defensive partnership that became the backbone of the Tottenham team under Mauricio Pochettino. Since the Argentinean’s departure and the subsequent arrival of Jose Mourinho, Alderweireld continues to be one of the most important members of the team. As such, it is hard to imagine that Spurs would allow him to leave for free. However, if that does happen, he will have no dearth of suitors, because at just 30 years old, Alderweireld still has quite a few good seasons left in him.
The Belgian is a very capable defender who reads the game very well and is good with the ball at his feet. He was a target for Jose Mourinho when the Portuguese was in charge of Manchester United. It now remains to be seen if Mourinho can manage to convince Alderweireld to sign an extension between now and the end of the season.
#4 Mario Gotze (Borussia Dortmund)
The boy who stopped Lionel Messi from winning the World Cup with Argentina in 2014 and was once considered as one of the brightest young talents in Europe. In the 2014 FIFA World Cup, Mario Gotze’s extra-time winner broke Argentinean hearts and helped his country lift the greatest sports prize on the planet. Since then, the German has returned to Borussia Dortmund from Bayern Munich and is now in the final year of his contract.
Last season, Gotze gathered 7 goals from 34 appearances, managing 19 starts in the Bundesliga. The former Bayern Munich winger is still only 27 years old and is a very intelligent player who is very good with the ball at his feet. He can play across the front line and is blessed with speed and dribbling abilities. Gotze was successfully deployed as a central attacking midfielder by former Dortmund coach Jurgen Klopp, where his playmaking skills attarcted eyeballs from around the world.
As such, if the Black and Yellows do allow his contract to run down, the German will not be short of options next summer. To sign a player like Gotze for free will be an opportunity few clubs would allow to pass.
#3 Willian (Chelsea)
The Brazilian joined Chelsea in August 2013 from Russian side Anzhi Makhachkala and registered 42 appearances for the Blues in his debut season, scoring 4 times. With time, Willian has developed into one of Chelsea’s most important players, managing to feature in the starting eleven consistently despite the frequent managerial changes at the club.
So far, Willian has managed to win 2 Premier League titles, one FA Cup, one EFL Cup, and one UEFA Europa League. The Brazilian’s technical ability and pace, coupled extraordinary speed and dribbling prowess, make him a huge threat on the pitch.
Despite Frank Lampard’s preference for youth, the Brazilian has managed to feature 18 times for Chelsea this season, 14 of which have been starts. However, Willian is in the final year of his contract and will be able to leave the club for free next summer unless he signs an extension soon. Even though he will turn 32 next August, the Brazilian should still have a lot of offers on the table, and the fact that he won’t cost a dime only sweetens the deal.
#2 Edinson Cavani (PSG)
The Uruguayan joined Paris Saint-Germain from Napoli in July 2013, after three impressive seasons where he amassed over 30 goals a season consistently. The Ligue 1 giants paid the big money to get him to Paris and Cavani responded on the field fervently. The Uruguayan hit the ground running and scored 25 goals in his first season, despite being behind Zlatan Ibrahimovic in the pecking order. He reached the peak of his powers in the 2016/17 season, hitting the back of the net 49 times in 50 appearances in all competitions. He followed that up with 40 goals from 47 games the next term. Last season, he managed 23 goals from 33 appearances, struggling with injuries at one point in time.
With the emergence of Kylian Mbappe and the arrival of Neymar, Cavani has seen his importance with the French champions dwindle. However, there’s no doubt that he continues to be a fantastic goalscorer who still has the ability to bang goals for fun. The Uruguayan will turn 33 next February and will be out of contract next summer. Despite his age, Cavani should generate a lot of interest from top clubs in Europe, especially since he could be available for free.
#1 Christian Eriksen (Tottenham)
The fact that Tottenham Hotspur’s woeful run this season has coincided with Christian Eriksen’s lack of form is so obvious that it cannot be ignored. The Danish playmaker was the heartbeat of Mauricio Pochettino’s team that became one of the best in Europe and even reached the final of the UEFA Champions League last season. Eriksen spoke of his desire for a fresh challenge over the summer and looks almost certain to leave the club in the near future. The fact that he is available for free also means that it could be the deal of the summer.
The Dane is one of the best playmakers in the world at the moment. His ability to churn out a chance out of nothing makes him a huge threat to the opposition and a priceless asset to have in any team. He also has the knack for scoring crucial goals, which adds further glamour to his already glowing CV. Eriksen has failed to replicate his form from last season this time, which could indicate that the Dane has his heart set on a move away. At just 27 years old, he is only entering his prime and still has quite a lot of football left in him. It is not a wonder then that top clubs around Europe are reportedly monitoring his contract situation. If Tottenham fail to extend his contract, Eriksen will most certainly be spoilt for choice next summer.
