Here is the plain text result:
The latest winter transfer window is here, which means some of the world’s best footballers are now just six months away from the expiration of their current contracts.
Thanks to the 1995 Bosman ruling, clubs in other countries can now officially begin discussions with those soon-to-be-free-agents with a view to a pre-contract agreement. This allows the player to join the interested club when their present deal runs out without sign-off from his existing employers.
With so many elite players at leading clubs around Europe yet to agree their next contract, The Athletic has identified 12 of the most prominent players currently set to be available for free in the summer window.
In case you haven’t heard, Trent Alexander-Arnold’s contract expires in the summer.
Liverpool’s vice-captain has had an excellent first half of the season under new coach Arne Slot, with the Anfield club primed to compete for trophies domestically and in Europe. So far, the 26-year-old has made five assists, including two in the 3-3 draw against Newcastle United in early December, and recorded his first goal of the season in the 5-0 win at West Ham last weekend.
Kevin De Bruyne is arguably the greatest player ever to pull on a Manchester City shirt, but this year has been far from his best since joining them from Germany’s Wolfsburg in 2015.
After starting the season impressively, including scoring a goal in a 4-1 win against Ipswich Town, De Bruyne has found himself in and out of Pep Guardiola’s starting XI due to a combination of injury issues and a lack of form. He appeared to re-discover his devastating final-third quality in a 3-0 win over Nottingham Forest in December, but has struggled to maintain that level consistently.
Alphonso Davies’ electric pace and attacking quality have long made him one of the most coveted defenders in European football, and there’s no wonder many of the continent’s biggest clubs are interested in getting his signature on a contract.
Angel Gomes popped back up on the radars of many English fans after England interim manager Lee Carsley handed him his first call-up to the senior national team in September while filling in following the departure of Gareth Southgate.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin looked set to become one of England’s most in-demand forwards just a few seasons ago but injuries stalled his progression.
Neymar remains one of the world’s most famous and gifted players, but his move to Saudi Arabia has not been a success.
The 32-year-old Brazilian was the headline act in the mass superstar exodus to the Saudi Pro League in 2023, joining Al Hilal after a six-year stint at Paris Saint-Germain. After just five games for his new club, Neymar suffered an ACL knee injury with Brazil in October 2023. He finally returned after more than a year out but soon picked up a hamstring problem, which has kept him out of action since.
While considered one of Germany’s brightest prospects in central defence, Jonathan Tah’s reputation for being mistake-prone was traditionally among the primary reasons he had not yet joined a bigger club. If he could iron out those mistakes, Tah, an elite athlete who is composed in possession, seemed set for an upward move.
Source link
