As the new year arrives, there are some hugely successful Premier League players with expiring contracts – We examine a team of the best potential free transfers for 2017
Several Premier League stars are heading towards the end of their contracts, with quite possibly many a free-transfer bargain to be had in the summer of 2017.
Our ‘out of contract’ XI should create plenty of interest from fellow Premier League clubs, in addition to offers from across the globe.
Here’s the best potential set of players with soon to be expired Premier League contracts:
Goalkeepers
Manchester City’s Willy Caballero and Chelsea’s Eduardo are both out of contract in the summer of 2017, as are veterans Shay Given of Stoke City and Paul Robinson of Burnley.
West Ham United’s Adrian has a contract that expires at the end of the season, but the club has a 2 year option that is likely to be taken.
Consequently, Wales international stopper Wayne Hennessey, whose Crystal Palace contract has half-a-season to run, makes our selection as the number one, ‘Number 1’ choice as the best potential free transfer between the sticks.
Defenders
There is a plethora of Premier League defenders with outstanding calibre at the top level – with plenty still to offer.
Manchester United’s Antonio Valencia, Stoke’s Glen Johnson and Hull City’s Andrew Robertson all have extension options on their upcoming contract expirations – and could well remain at their current clubs post 2017.
However, many Premier League winning defenders may well be available. At Chelsea, Branislav Ivanovic, Kenedy and John Terry have expiring deals; and Manchester City’s defensive trio of Bacary Sagna, Gael Clichy and Pablo Zabaleta may all leave the club under Pep Guardiola’s reshuffle, considering that their contracts also expire at the end of the 2016-17 campaign.
Other defenders for consideration include Arsenal’s German international Per Meresacker, Crystal Palace’s Martin Kelly, Zeki Fryers and Damien Delaney, Robertson’s Hull team mate Harry Maguire, Sunderland’s Jan Kirchoff and Tyias Browing at Everton.
Midfielders
The most high-profile Premier League midfield players with dwindling contracts include, City’s Yaya Toure (the star most likely to depart their club in 2017 after being frozen out by Guardiola for much of the season), his Etihad team mate Jesus Navas, Chelsea’s John Mikel Obi and Arsenal’s Santi Cazorla.
Despite being eager to sign an extension, Cazorla is yet to be offered a longer stay at Arsenal – with the likes of Juventus and AC Milan reportedly ready with a contract (Calcio Mercato) for the playmaker.
In a similar situation is Liverpool’s Lucas Leiva, still only 29, who could be seen as an shrewd free transfer signing for several clubs.
Some other Premier League midfielders out of contract in 2017 include Hull pair Jake Livermore and Robert Snodgrass (although the club have one year options on both), the Stoke trio of Ibrahim Afellay, Stephen Ireland and Charlie Adam, Palace’s Joe Ledley, Manchester United’s Michael Carrick and Middlesbrough captain Grant Leadbitter.
Forwards
Whilst the Premier League has numerous defenders and midfielders reaching the end of their current contracts, the same cannot be said for the goal-getters of England’s top flight.
Crystal Palace have Frazier Campbell‘s contract situation to address – but after just 5 goals in 36 Premier League appearances for the Eagles, it would come as little surprise if the former Manchester United academy graduate was allowed to depart Selhurst Park in 2017.
Current Manchester United ace Zlatan Ibrahimovic signed a one-year deal upon joining the Old Trafford Club last summer.
However, with 11 goals in 16 Premier League games thus far, the 35-year-old may well extend his stay amongst Jose Mourinho’s United evolution.
One forward almost certain to depart his Premier League club in 2017 is West Bromwich Albion’s Saido Berahino.
In previous transfer windows, after prolonged haggling with Tottenham Hotspur chairman Daniel Levy over a transfer fee, and rejecting bids from Stoke City and Crystal Palace, West Brom retained a disaffected Berahino – who displayed his unhappiness at the Hawthorns via an infamous tweet about chairman Jeremy Peace.
Berahino has made little impact since, with reports suggesting that the 23-year-old will see out his contract and leave on a free in 2017.
Here’s our selected ‘out-of-contract’ XI in full:
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
