10 free agents who could be in demand this summer

As we enter July, a number of players across Europe are out of contract, and available on a free transfer. The transfer window is well underway, and once the World Cup is over, there is likely to be an awful lot of action.

There have been some great free transfers picked up over the years. Juventus seem to have become the masters of it, having picked up Andrea Pirlo, Paul Pogba and Dani Alves without spending a penny in recent years, and Emre Can has moved to Turin on a free transfer this summer.

We have already seen a hell of a lot of money spent this summer. Liverpool paid nearly £100 million to bring Fabinho and Naby Keita to the club, Manchester United spent over £50 million on Fred from Shakhtar Donetsk, and Leicester City have paid £50 million for James Maddison, Jonny Evans, and Ricardo Pereira.

In a time where football has become dominated by money, the value of a free transfer is not appreciated in the way it once was, yet there are a number of excellent players available.

But is there anyone this summer who can follow in the footsteps of Robert Lewandowski, Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Sami Khedira this summer? Here are 10 players who are available on a free transfer, and could attract a lot of interest.

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#1 Jack Wilshere

Wilshere has been at Arsenal his entire career, barring a couple of loan spells away, but after a meeting with new manager Unai Emery, has decided that his future lies away from North London. Wilshere is now 26, so whoever decides to take a punt on the midfielder should be getting him as he reaches the peak of his career. There have been shock links with Fenerbahce, and it wouldn't be a shock to see Wilshere move abroad.

It wasn’t too much of a surprise to see him leave Arsenal, as he has never really been able to hold down a place at the club, whether it be down to form or fitness. It is no secret that Wilshere has had horrific luck with injuries during his career, and only once in his career has he made over 30 Premier League appearances in a single season. Last year he made just 20 league appearances and scored once. He is an excellent player though, and he would fit well into a number of mid-table sides, though he may wish to test himself abroad.

#2 Bernard

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Shakhtar Donetsk have a good record of bringing through talented Brazilian players, and Bernard is just the latest. The winger has made a name for himself in Ukraine as being a fast, energetic winger, and a few years ago was seen as one of football’s hottest prospects, and was included in Brazil’s World Cup squad.

However, having started in his side’s 7-1 defeat to Germany, and seen his club career disrupted by political problems in Ukraine, his career has somewhat stalled. It is inconceivable that Bernard will join a club and immediately be the finished product. He does have the raw ability though, and in the right environment, with the right level of coaching, he could be a very shrewd signing. He had his best scoring season in Europe last season, grabbing six goals.

#3 Max Meyer

Meyer is a man who has long been linked with a move to the Premier League, and particularly Tottenham, though there doesn’t appear to be too much interest from North London now that his contract with Schalke has come to an end. He has spent his whole club career with Schalke, and has clearly decided now is the perfect time for him to leave the club.

The 22-year-old is an exceptionally gifted technical player, but despite his talent, he simply doesn’t seem to come up with the finishing product regularly enough. He has played 146 Bundesliga games in his career but has scored just 17 goals in that time. Much like Bernard, there is work to do, but if someone can unlock that potential, they will have themselves a hell of a player.

#4 Yaya Toure

By far the most experienced player on this list, Toure has proved himself as one of the best midfielders in Premier League history and won his third title with Manchester City last season. He played over 200 games in his eight years in the Premier League and scored 59 goals. He wasn't a key player for City last season though and appeared in just 10 league games.

The Ivorian is now 35, so isn’t as capable of getting up and down the pitch as much as he once was, but that doesn’t mean he is no longer a quality player. It may be that he has to be partnered with the right man in midfield, but he still has a lot to offer. He can still do a job in Europe though. He is good on the ball and can read the game better than the majority of midfielders, so the holding midfield role could be perfect for him.

#5 Milan Badelj

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Another experienced midfielder, but this time, one much closer to his prime. The fact Badelj is still included in midfield for a Croatian side that contains the likes of Luka Modric, Ivan Perisic, and Ivan Rakitic shows just how good a midfielder he is. He isn’t quite as technically gifted as those three but is still an important player in the middle of the park.

Badelj is very much an all-round player. He is capable of doing the dirty work in midfield, but he is still able to keep possession well. He has left Fiorentina after a successful four years in Italy, including playing 27 times in Serie A last season, and on a free transfer, he could be an excellent signing for a number of clubs across Europe. He probably isn’t quite at a level to play at a Champions League club, but there are sure to be a number of clubs after his signature. He is expected to remain in Italy though, with Napoli and AC Milan among the interested parties.

#6 Hatem Ben Arfa

There is no doubting that Ben Arfa is a mercurial talent. If it was based purely on ability, Ben Arfa would be considered as right up there as one of the best in the world. However, the real issue with the Frenchman has always been the attitude. The questions haven’t been about the ability, they have been about how much he wanted to be a top player.

Sadly, he hasn’t wanted it enough. This has been with him his whole career. He left his first club, Lyon, after a training ground scuffle with Sebastian Squillaci. He would face similar problems in his short loan spell with Hull, with then-manager Steve Bruce saying he didn’t know where Ben Arfa was at times during his stint there. Having left PSG at 31, this is his last chance to make something of himself. He wasn't involved in Paris at all last year and wasn't selected once. If he doesn’t do the job at his next club, he will always be remembered as a ‘what if’ player.

#7 Yohan Cabaye

It is a little bit of a surprise to see Cabaye leave Crystal Palace after his three seasons with the London club. He has been a key man at Selhurst Park, making 93 league appearances in his time there. Cabaye is 32, but he will certainly feel that he still has something to offer, especially given that pace has never really been a part of his game.

He is an exceptional passer of the ball, and despite him not being particularly mobile, would be a key player at a lot of clubs. We have seen set pieces play a massive role at the World Cup in Russia this summer, and whoever signs Cabaye, will be getting themselves one of the best deliverers of a dead ball in the world. A return to France is on the cards, with Marseille among the favourites for his signature.

#8 Alessio Cerci

Cerci’s career has sadly taken a downward spiral in recent years. When he joined Atletico Madrid in 2014 for £15 million, Cerci looked like a bit of a bargain. He was a full Italy international and had put in some excellent performances in Serie A. But things haven’t worked out for him since his move to Spain.

He spent just a few months with Atletico and made only six league appearances before he was sent out on loan to AC Milan, and after 18 months there, was loaned to Genoa. He didn’t do enough, partly due to injuries, partly due to form, to earn a contract there, and he spent last season with Hellas Verona, playing 24 games, but scoring only three times. At 30, there is still time for him to resurrect his career, and he will be hoping someone comes calling and offers him another chance.

#9 Bakary Sako

Probably the unknown quantity on this list. Sako has pace to burn, but the question with him has always been whether he has the finishing product to match. His Palace career showed much promise, but after being given opportunities out wide and up front, he didn’t do enough to earn a permanent spot in the starting XI, and he appeared just 16 times in the league last season.

Sako won’t be the sort of player who is going to be inundated with offers from a host of top clubs, but he is someone who, with his pace and power, offers something a bit different, and could be the perfect player for a newly promoted club.

#10 Robert Huth

Huth probably isn’t a name you’d expect to see on this list, but it’s worth remembering that he has won three Premier League titles, and boasts a raft of experience. Most recently, he was a star man in Leicester City’s run to the title, and even popped up with a couple of vital goals, including his double as the Foxes won 3-1 away at Manchester City.

He won’t be the best centre back on the market this summer, and due to fitness, he didn't appear in the Premier League last season. He doesn’t particularly have much pace, but many clubs would be desperate to bring in someone with his level of experience.

He could, potentially, end up doing a similar role as to what John Terry did at Aston Villa this season, coming in and acting as a leader, and Bristol City are said to be among those interested.