Europe’s best ‘Free Agent XI’ – Will your club grab a bargain?

Follow us on Google Discover

Former Chelsea, Sunderland, Wigan Athletic, West Brom, Manchester United, and Liverpool players feature.

After Hugo Rodallega agreed to join Fulham after his release from Wigan and the entire Rangers first team squad seemingly available on a free transfer it got me wondering if a team could be made entirely of players currently available without having to pay a pesky transfer fee. Here’s a starting XI and subsequent bench of the best.

GK. Craig Gordon

DF. Jose Bosingwa

DF. Fabio Grosso

DF. Khalid Boulharouz

DF. Paul Scharner

MF. Michael Ballack

MF. Owen Hargreaves

MF. Junior Hoilett

FW. Alessandro Del Piero

FW. Michael Owen

FW. Andriy Shevchenko

SUBS. Manuel Almunia, Mikael Silvestre, Zdenek Grygera, Thomas Hitzlsperger, Steed Malbranque, Harry Kewell, Emile Heskey.

There is no denying this is a squad full of class, also no denying it is an ageing side. With players like Hargreaves, Grygera and Owen also reportedly considering retirement due to their long term injuries and lack of first class interest. But statistics don’t lie and amongst this squad you have a career stat and medal total of:

• · 923 international appearances
• · 195 international goals
• · FIFA World Cup x 2
• · UEFA Champions League x 8
• · Ballon D’Or x 2
• · FIFA Confederations Cup x 2
• · English Premier League x 9
• · FA Cup x 13
• · English League Cup x 12
• · UEFA Cup x 2
• · Serie A x 9
• · Coppa Italia x 2
• · Bundesliga x 9
• · DFB Pokal x 6

On top of this there are also 4 Portuguese league titles and 1 medal each in the Portuguese Cup, Eredivisie, Ligue 1, Coup de France and Scottish FA Cup; not to mention Craig Gordon’s wonder save against Bolton in 2010 being voted the Premier Leagues best in 20 years of action. Amongst that squad of unattached players there are a grand total of 83 winner’s medals, an incredible tally.

Even if you don’t fancy the 18 on offer above players such as Saha, Klasnic, Sarpei, Buzsaky, Grella, McFadden, Zambrotta, De Mul, Adriano, Steinsson, Fuller, Inzaghi and Drenthe all available on freebies. Surely a few teams in the Premier League would be tempted to take a punt on any one of the players mentioned. Surely someone will grab a bargain before they disappear to China, MLS or elsewhere.

Which players should your club try to snap up?

image: © jbagley