The 2022 transfer window has come and gone, with an estimated €1.2 billion spent across Europe’s top leagues. The players of the future are making their mark on today’s game – here is a look at who will be worth watching next season..
The “Paulo Dybala” is a player that has been linked with a move to Manchester United. However, the transfer window for transfers in European football will close on September 2nd, 2022.
In little over two months, the winter transfer market will open, and some of football’s greatest names will reach the last six months of their contracts, allowing them to commit to deals with teams outside their own leagues beginning January 1.
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Kylian Mbappe, Paul Pogba, Antonio Rudiger, and Paulo Dybala are all set to become free agents next summer, with Jesse Lingard, Angel Di Maria, Luis Suarez, and Alexandre Lacazette all having the option to do so in the coming months.
In today’s sport, there is no such thing as a “free transfer,” with out-of-contract players demanding massive earnings and signing-on fees, and teams facing potentially large payments to the players’ agents for completing a transaction.
There are a handful of excellent players available in every position who might be recruited on a free next summer for those teams willing to comb the market for free agents and spend no money on transfer fees. In a 4-1-2-3 shape, ESPN has chosen the finest free XI among those players whose contracts expire in June 2022.
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After nine years at Spurs, World Cup-winning France captain Lloris has yet to agree to a new contract, although his future might become clearer with Antonio Conte’s appointment as coach earlier this month. Lloris will be 35 in December, and ESPN has learned that the former Lyon goalkeeper is considering a free agency transfer to Major League Soccer when his contract expires. However, given his background and reputation, he will be inundated with offers.
Andre Onana of Ajax, whose nine-month doping violation penalty expired on Nov. 4, is another goalkeeper on the verge of becoming a free agency next summer, with Sergio Asenjo of Villarreal also reaching the conclusion of his current deal.
Arsenal and Leeds United are both keeping an eye on Mazraoui’s status at Ajax, with the Moroccan right-back eligible to negotiate a January transfer to a non-Dutch team.
The 23-year-old, who has been at Ajax since he was eight years old, has had a strong start to the season, scoring four goals and providing three assists for Erik ten Hag’s side. Cesar Azpilicueta of Chelsea is a more experienced free agent at right-back, while Serge Aurier’s one-year contract with Villarreal expires in June.
Chelsea’s Antonio Rudiger is a cornerback.
Bayern Munich and Real Madrid are both interested in the Germany international. The 28-year-old has re-established himself at Chelsea under Thomas Tuchel after falling out of favor with previous manager Frank Lampard. He was a vital component in the club’s Champions League victory last season. However, he has yet to commit to a new contract, and major teams are already lined up to attempt to get him on a free transfer.
Bayern’s interest in Rudiger is driven in part by the uncertainty surrounding the future of Germany international Sule, who has refused to extend his contract beyond next summer. Sule, who is 26 years old, would be considered a high-value free agent owing to his capacity to play at the highest level over the duration of a four- or five-year deal.
Chelsea’s Andreas Christensen, Lyon’s Jason Denayer, and Borussia Monchengladbach’s Matthias Ginter are all in the last six months of their contracts.
Marcelo, Real Madrid, LB
Marcelo, 33, might quit Real Madrid when his contract ends in June after 15 years at the Santiago Bernabeu. Some teams may be put off by the Brazil international’s age, and his wages are unlikely to be cheap, but he still has the pedigree of one of the best left-backs in the world.
Reinildo Mandava of Lille, Marcel Halstenberg of RB Leipzig, and Aihen Munoz of Real Sociedad are all younger and less costly options who may leave in the summer.
Manchester United have made buying a defensive midfielder a priority for next summer, according to ESPN sources, and the good news for the Old Trafford scouts is that there is plenty of potential value on the market.
Brozovic, an Inter midfielder, is undoubtedly the most sought-after free agent, with the Croatian already linked with a transfer to Spurs to reunite with former manager Conte. Boubacar Kamara of Marseille, Denis Zakaria of Monchengladbach, and Axel Witsel of Borussia Dortmund are all expected to be free agents next summer.
Mark Ogden, senior writer for ESPN FC, has all the latest news and reactions.
Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester United have both been connected with AC Milan midfielder Kessie, who will be 25 next month and will likely provide outstanding long-term value as a free agent next summer.
The Ivory Coast international has turned down Milan’s efforts to re-sign him, and it’s possible that a club may pay a price for Kessie in January in order to persuade the Milan management before the summer window opens. But, if he sticks to his guns and finishes his deal, Kessie will be one of the most sought-after free agents after the season.
FW: Juventus’ Paulo Dybala
Despite reports that Dybala is close to signing a new deal with Juventus during the season, the Argentina international has yet to sign anything. From January onwards, the 27-year-old will be able to arrange a free summer transfer to a non-Italian team, a danger that Juve has so far been unable to resist.
Dybala came close to joining Tottenham Hotspur in 2020, and given his scoring prowess, there will be Premier League interest as well as possibilities in France and Spain for the striker.
When his current contract at PSG ends in June, Kylian Mbappe has showed no indications of committing to a new term. What is he going to do next? image alliance/Robert Michael courtesy of Getty Images
FW: Paris Saint-Kylian Germain’s Mbappe
PSG striker Kylian Mbappe tried to push a move to Real Madrid in the last days of the summer transfer season, but a deal fell through, and he will now be expected to finish his contract in Paris. Despite the fact that a transfer to Real Madrid seems to be the most probable conclusion for the France international, PSG are desperate to reach an agreement with him.
Real Madrid is also up against Premier League competition, with Liverpool and Manchester City being long-time admirers and possible competitors if Mbappe leaves.
Dembele, 24, has had an injury-plagued career at Barcelona since joining for €105 million from Borussia Dortmund in 2017. In nearly four years at Camp Nou, he has only made 119 appearances in all competitions. Despite his fitness difficulties, Dembele is still young enough to pique the curiosity of big European teams, and he may be an intriguing risk for a top team next summer.
Lorenzo Insigne (Napoli), Angel Di Maria (PSG), Jesse Lingard (Manchester United), Alexandre Lacazette (Arsenal), and Luis Suarez (Atletico Madrid) are all potential summer signings for clubs.
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