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The winter transfer window officially came to an end on 31 January. Teams can no longer make new additions to their squad and any potential deals will have to wait till the end of the season.
There were some eye-catching big-money moves last month, though. Dusan Vlahovic and Bruno Guimaraes moved to Juventus and Newcastle United respectively. However, teams do not always have to splash the cash to add reinforcements.
As Juventus and Paris Saint-Germain have shown in recent years, utilising the free agent pool is a shrewd and affordable way to bolster one's squad.
Of course, it is not every day that superstars such as Sergio Ramos and Lionel Messi are available as free agents. Nonetheless, there are several high-profile names who are currently without a club.
Despite winning trophies and putting up terrific numbers, though, most of them are now veterans in the twilight of their careers. On that note, we look at five big names who are currently free agents:
#5 Carlos Tevez
Argentina striker Carlos Tevez was one of the best in the world during the early 2010s. The 37-year-old has played for the likes of Manchester United, Manchester City, Juventus and West Ham United during his career, scoring 250 goals.
He last played for his boyhood club Boca Juniors in Argentina, and has been a free agent since July 2021. The 2021 season saw Tevez make 17 appearances, scoring four goals and providing three assists.
There were rumours that West Ham United were considering a short-term move for their former player last summer. The Hammers have only one striker in their squad, and Tevez's Premier League experience, spanning 202 games, could have come in handy.
However, nothing materialised, and a return to England for the ageing forward remains very unlikely.
#4 Ramires
Brazilian midfielder Ramires is best known for his time with Chelsea, winning the UEFA Champions League and the Premier League.
The 34-year-old has been without a club since November 2020, when he departed Brazilian side Palmeiras. In fact, the midfielder made 37 appearances in the 2020 season for the club.
With over 250 appearances for Chelsea and 50 Brazil caps, Ramires has plenty of experience.
He is adept at breaking up play, and driving up the pitch with the ball at his feet. After nearly 15 months out of action, though, it is difficult to see any top European team gambling onh im.
#3 Douglas Costa
Former Bayern Munich and Juventus winger Douglas Costa may not be a free agent for much longer. That's because, according to Fabrizio Romano, MLS club LA Galaxy are nearing an agreement to sign the Brazilian. However, the deal is yet to be confirmed.
At 31, Costa is the youngest player on our list. Known for his pace, repertoire of tricks and long-range shooting, he was among the best wingers in the world during the mid-2010s. However, Costa's frequent fitness issues and range of muscular injuries have limited his impact in recent seasons.
He played a combined 200 games for Juventus and Bayern Munich, scoring 25 goals and providing 51 assists. Costa has also earned 31 caps for Brazil. He spent the first half of the 2020-21 season with Bayern, making 20 appearances, before returning to his boyhood club Gremio in Brazil, where he played 28 games.
#2 Laurent Koscielny
Former France international and Arsenal captain Laurent Koscielny is yet to hang up his boots, despite being 36. He became a free agent only last month, and made 11 appearances for Bordeaux in the first half of the ongoing campaign.
With over 350 Arsenal appearances under his belt and 51 caps for France, Koscielny is one of the most experienced defenders of his generation. The Frenchman has been active in recent seasons, playing 51 Ligue 1 games for Bordeaux in the last two campaigns.
He joined the Gunners in 2010-11, and spent nine seasons in London, winning three FA Cups and three Community Shields.
#1 Diego Costa
At his peak, Diego Costa was one of the best strikers in the world. Fondly remembered for his time with Chelsea and Atletico Madrid, the Brazil-born forward also switched allegiances to Spain in the international arena.
He has made over 300 appearances for Atletico Madrid and Chelsea combined, scoring 141 goals and providing 60 assists. He also has ten goals in 24 games for Spain. Costa has won two Premier League titles, a League Cup, two La Liga titles and three UEFA Super Cups, among other honours.
He became a free agent last month, and most recently played for Atletico Mineiro in Brazil, scoring five times in 19 games.
At 33, Costa has a few more playing years left in him. However, his aggressive style has always revolved around his physicality. It is unlikely the striker will continue to be effective for much longer as he enters the twilight of his career.
