Bosman XI: The best players available for free next summer | OneFootball

In this football world of inflated fees and ever-increasing contracts, it may seem like it’s impossible to find a proper bargain.

Well, clubs of Europe, thank us later for putting together this XI of the best free transfers next summer.

Goalkeeper: David De Gea (Manchester United)

It’s astonishing that Manchester United have allowed David De Gea’s contract to get into the final six months and yet here we are, in the home straight, with the Red Devils staring down the barrel and seemingly willing to let their best player go for free.

Can you hear that noise? It’s Juventus very vigorously rubbing their hands together.

Defence: Diego Godin (Atlético Madrid)

Another world-class player weighing up his options for the future. Diego Godin has been one of the best centre-backs for the past few years and his current deal expires next summer.

Atlético Madrid are believed to be confident they can keep the Uruguayan for another few seasons but there’s sure to be other huge clubs all over Europe looking to tempt this warrior away from the Wanda.

Defence: Toby Alderweireld (Tottenham)

It looked for all the world as if Toby Alderweireld would be leaving Tottenham last summer and heading up the M1 to Manchester.

It didn’t quite pan out like that, however, with Spurs holding firm on their €50m valuation and the big-wigs at Old Trafford unwilling to pay that kind of money for someone whose deal was 12 months away from expiring.

The Belgian isn’t technically out of contract this summer as the Lilywhites have the option to extend it for a further year, but doing so will trigger a €30m release clause that can be activated before the final two weeks of the 2019 summer transfer window.

José Mourinho is likely to reignite his interest in the defender at the end of the season, if not before.

Defence: Victor Ruiz (Villarreal)

Victor Ruiz seems to have been around forever but still only 29 and the towering centre-back would be a great option for any club looking for a commanding presence in defence.

Midfield: Héctor Herrera (Porto)

One of the stars of Mexico’s World Cup campaign and a stalwart for Porto over the past five seasons, Héctor Herrera is one of the best free transfer available anywhere this summer and is likely to have clubs queuing round the block for his services.

There’s already been rumours of interest from Arsenal and Juventus, and we can see why – his all-action, tough-tackling style would suit any league in Europe.

Midfield: Aaron Ramsey (Arsenal)

Arsenal have done little wrong since waving goodbye to Arsène Wenger and saying hello to Unai Emery. Their signings have, for the most part, been superb and their new brand of pressing football has impressed.

But the way they’ve gone about Aaron Ramsey’s contract non-renewal has been nothing short of embarrassing. The midfielder thought he was getting a renewal, then the offer was rescinded, and now another side is going to get him for nothing.

Midfield: Adrien Rabiot (PSG)

Talk about the never ending story.

There have been reports that the 23-year-old has rejected six separate offers from PSG over the past few months, looking for ever-increasing terms.

The French giants are believed to be desperate to keep the youngster but are willing to draw the line as his agent looks for terms almost equal with Kylian Mbappé.

AC Milan and Barcelona are reported to be ready to swoop.

Midfield: Mousa Dembélé (Tottenham)

A video did the round on social media last season where every Tottenham player was asked who was the best in the squad.

To a man, they all said the same thing.

It seems that it’s the player himself that’s looking to leave Spurs, rather than not being offered a new deal but wherever the Belgium international goes, one club could be about to get the bargain of the century.

Attack: Yacine Brahimi (Porto)

The 28-year-old has been with Porto for the past four seasons and was instrumental in their Liga NOS win last term.

Despite the offer of a new deal, the Algerian looks set to leave Portugal come the end of the campaign and seemingly has his eye set on a switch to the Premier League.

Here’s hoping he’s more Riyad Mahrez than Islam Slimani.

Attack: Anthony Martial (Manchester United)

Probably Manchester United’s best player in recent weeks, Anthony Martial has overcome the stinging criticism he received from José Mourinho earlier in the season and has re-emerged as their most potent attacking weapon.

With the Portuguese tactician still at Old Trafford and likely to be their for the foreseeable, it looks as if Martial’s time in the north west could be coming to an end.

Attack: Olivier Giroud (Chelsea)

Olivier Giroud is likely to leave Stamford Bridge at the end of the campaign with coach Maurizio Sarri not really warming to his back-to-goal style of centre-forward play.

It’s a shame, as Blues fans seem to have really warmed to the Frenchman, but some club, somewhere, will be getting a decent striker and World-Cup winner for peanuts.