Top 10 players who can sign a pre-contract in January 2015

If there's one thing clubs and managers hate when it comes to player transfers, it is their players unwilling to sign a new contract and penning a pre-contract with another club midway through a season.Players who are in their final year of the contract can leave for free on a Bosman transfer when their contract expires. It is one thing clubs try to avoid at all costs by either extending their contract with higher wages or selling the player in January to make some sort of profit if they can’t reach a decision.Whatever the case, it is a bargaining chip used by many players to get a more lucrative contract – either at their current club or at a new club willing to secure their services. A case in point would be Robert Lewandowski signing a pre-contract in January 2014 to join rivals Bayern Munich while he was still at Borussia Dortmund.We take a look at 10 players who are free to sign a pre-contract in January before their current deals expires at the end of the 2014/15 season.

#1 John Terry - Chelsea

The ever-present centre back in the Chelsea backline for almost two decades now, former England captain John Terry signed a one-year extension in May this year to stay at Stamford Bridge for one more season.

And even in his 17th season with the Blues, their captain has stood strong and delivered. Having retired from international duty two years ago, the 33-year-old has focused solely on his club career. Under Jose Mourinho, he has marshalled his troops to take them to the top of the Premier League table with currently the second best defensive record after 11 games.

The Blues have a policy of offering only one-year deals to players who are above the age of 30. Although Terry was looking for a two-year deal, he agreed to sign a one-year contract with wages in the thereabouts of £175,000 per week.

If the Blues do not extend his contract, he will be available for free in May 2015 and will be a good buy for any top club. Terry still has at least two more years left in him.

#2 Michael Carrick - Manchester United

The England international has been at Manchester United since July 2006 and has won a number of trophies including five Premier League titles and a Champions League title.

The midfielder last extended his contract in 2013 that would see him stay at the club until June 2015.

The 33-year-old was the calming influence in the centre of the park during Sir Alex Ferguson’s reign at the club and is a versatile player who has also slotted in at centre back when the need arose.

Carrick can still play at the top level for another two years. He may look for a move away from Old Trafford this summer with the Red Devils having signed younger players like Ander Herrera and Daley Blind to slot into midfield with Angel Di Maria and Wayne Rooney.

#3 James Milner - Manchester City

The 28-year-old midfielder is one of the most underrated players in England. A hard worker who puts in a superb shift in every game he plays, the Englishman has been benched a number of times, usually coming on as a substitute.

Although he made more than 30 appearances for the Citizens in the EPL last season, he made only 12 starts; a poor return for a player who cost close to £30 when he was signed in 2010.

Milner has been in talks with City over a new deal and has also voiced his frustrations on not getting enough time on the pitch – something that even hurt his England chances in the past.

“We've been in talks with the club,” Milner said in October. “We've talked about it and hopefully it can get sorted sometime soon.

“I don't want to be paid to sit and watch. You want to feel like you're contributing and enjoy your football as much as you can.”

#4 Sami Khedira - Real Madrid

The German World Cup winner has found it hard to break into the starting XI after new signings Toni Kroos and James Rodriguez signed for the club to play with Luka Modric in midfield.

The 27-year-old midfielder was set for a move to the Premier League before the season commenced. But Xabi Alonso’s move to Bayern Munich put a hold on his transfer and he is now currently in the final year of his contract.

With Khedira not committing to a new deal yet, the La Liga giants may sell him for a fee in the region of £10 million in January rather than risk losing him for free in May.

But the Germany international also said last week that he would not leave in the winter transfer wondow: “As of now, I see no reason to leave the club in the winter.

“Real Madrid are a great destination, and I have locked this club in my heart. There is no grounds for me to say that I want or that I have to leave.”

“Moreover, I rate the coach [Carlo Ancelotti] highly because of his knowledge and his way of handling things. He gives me the feeling that I am needed.”

#5 Dani Alves - Barcelona

The Barcelona left back last put pen to paper in 2011 that would see him stay at Barcelona til 2015.

The Brazilian defender had joined the Catalan giants from Sevilla for £25million six years ago and has helped the club win four La Liga titles, two Champions League trophies and two Copa del Rey titles. Quite simply put, he has nothing left to prove at Barcelona.

The 31-year-old is currently negotiating a new contract to extend his stay at the Camp Nou, but the Barca bosses want him to take a wage cut.

One reason Barcelona may hold on to the defender is FIFA’s transfer ban on the club for the next two windows (January 2015 and summer 2015). If they fail in their attempts to get the ban lifted, they may as well extend his contract at the club and keep him for another year at least.

#6 Giorgio Chiellini - Juventus

The Italy international made the headlines during the 2014 FIFA World Cup when he was infamously bitten by Uruguay’s Luis Suarez.

The Juventus defender has been at the club since 2005 and has since helped the Turin club win a hat-trick of Serie A titles from 2011/12 to 2013/14. He was also nominated for the 2013 UEFA Team of the Year.

With the ability to play both as a centre back and a left back, he thrived under former Juventus coach Antonio Conte’s three man defence with Leonardo Bonucci and Andrea Barzagli.

Chiellini’s contract with the Bianconeri runs out next summer. And Juventus general manager Giuseppe Marotta said that though Chiellini had the opportunity to go abroad with a lucrative contract in the summer, he chose to stay with the Serie A champions.

The 30-year-old defender will be a great, versatile signing if any club can prise him away from the Old Lady.

#7 Andr-Pierre Gignac - Marseille

The Marseille forward has got off to a blistering start this season and has already scored 10 goals in 13 Ligue 1 appearances – one less than Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Edinson Cavani combined!

Marseille are currently top of the table after he started to deliver under Marcelo Bielsa. But France’s tax structure may force players to seek a move abroad and even the club president knows it will be tough to keep hold of Gignac when other big clubs come calling.

“It’s going to happen because employer contributions and taxes have gone through the roof in France.”

“We would like to keep him, but it seems to me utopian to think that he will lower his salary to stay with us. His agent is right to say that, with his current displays, he is more likely to get better offers. But he loves the city and the club, so we’re going to talk.”

Both Arsenal and Newcastle have been linked to the striker and he could follow in the steps of other Ligue 1 strikers like Marouane Chamak and Olivier Giroud who both moved to the Premier League.

#8 Klaas-Jan Huntelaar - Schalke 04

‘The Hunter’ may be on the wrong side of 30, but the Schalke vice-captain can still punish teams who give him even an inch of space.

Known to be a good poached inside the box, the 31-year-old striker has competed with Robin van Persie for a starting spot up front in the Dutch national team. In some cases, fans have even asked for Hutelaar to be played up front instead of a Van Persie.

The Dutch international has already scored 7 goals 14 appearances in all competitions this season and is tied for third in the Bundesliga top goalscorers list. Huntelaar has always managed to score in double digits over the season in the past three seasons and Schalke are keen to extend his contract by two more years to 2017.

Schalke sporting executive Horst Heldt said: “We had good talks. Both sides have signalled their interest to continue the partnership.”

But if a top club can convince Huntelaar to join them, he may leave the Bundesliga club for one final lucrative contract before hanging up his boots.

#9 Stephan Lichtsteiner - Juventus

Lichtsteiner was a key figure in Juventus’ title winning campaigns in 2012/13 and 2013/14, racking up more than 2000 minutes of football in both seasons.

The right back, who also plays as a wing back, is known for his attacking forte and is a tireless runner down the flank – a trait that earned him the nickname ‘Forrest Gump’.

The Swiss defender is currently in his final year and reportedly wants a contract worth £2.4 million per year while the club are only ready to offer him £1.8 million per year.

If the club cannot tie him down to a new deal they risk losing the 30-year-old for free in the summer of 2015 and may look to sell him in January.

#10 Steven Gerrard - Liverpool

Gerrard was born on Merseyside, played his entire youth and senior career at Liverpool and should look to retire at at the club, right?

Not quite. The Reds captain may not get to finish his career at Anfield with Liverpool yet to be offered a contract extension. His last extension was last summer when he signed a two-year deal to stay at the club till he turned 35.

There were reports of Manuel Pellegrini wanting to bring Gerrard to Manchester City if Liverpool let him go while even former City boss Roberto Mancini wants to bring him to the Serie A to play for Inter Milan.

Gerrard had said in an interview that this would not be his last season as a player. “I won't be retiring this summer. I will play beyond this season.

“We will have to wait and see if that's at Liverpool or somewhere else. That's Liverpool's decision.”

There have been reports of the club planning to offer Gerrard a one-year extension. If they don’t come to an agreement, Gerrard is free to sign a pre-contract with any club in January.