5 best free agents available at the moment 

These days players signing extravagant contracts for club record fees is a recurrent occurrence. Benzema recently signed a contract with a €1 billion buyout clause, Neymar was signed by PSG for 222 million euros and Saul Niguez signed a nine-year contract with Atletico Madrid.

But on the other end of the spectrum are quality players without professional contracts. Here are some of the best players without a contract at the moment.

#5 Sébastien Bassong

Sébastien Bassong was first thrust into the limelight when has was named Newcastle United's player of the season for 2008-09, his only season at St James’ Park before securing an £8 million move to Tottenham Hotspur.

At Spurs the central defender failed to make an impact and was loaned out to Premier League counterparts Wolverhampton before being sold to Norwich City. Bassong said he moved to Norwich with the purpose of reviving his professional career and that is precisely what he did.

The Cameroonian International was voted player of the season for 2012-13 and was named club captain in August 2013. Although his time at Norwich has been filled with ups and downs the 31-year-old is well loved among the fans.

Bassong's heartfelt farewell letter to Norwich fans

Norwich City released Bassong this summer leaving him on the lookout for a new club. The defender was seen training with Harry Redknapp's Birmingham City, Redknapp signed Bassong while he was at Tottenham and tried to sign the defender once again but has since been sacked by Birmingham leaving the future of Sébastien Bassong in a state of uncertainty.

#4 Jan Kirchhoff

Kirchhoff in action for FC Bayern Munich in the UEFA Champions League

Jan Kirchhoff makes this list simply because of his age. At 26, he has two Bundesliga titles and one DFB-Pokal, UEFA Super Cup and FIFA Club World Cup to his name and surely still has a lot more to offer. It can be argued that he still hasn’t reached his potential, FC Bayern Munich signed him as a youngster from Mainz 05 because their scouts felt that one day the six foot five German would command their defensive line.

But since then, his career has not gone according to plan. He was loaned out to Schalke 04 and eventually sold to Sunderland for an undisclosed fee. Last season the defender was plagued with nagging knee and hamstring problems which kept him out of action after December.

If Kirchhoff can maintain his fitness levels he would be a valuable asset to a team in need of quality defensive players. The German’s versatility in defence is what makes him such an exceptional player.

#3 José Manuel Flores Moreno (Chico)

Chico during his time with Swansea City

José Manuel Flores Moreno, better known as Chico Flores; was a part of the Swansea City squad that won the Football League Cup in 2013, the team’s first ever major trophy.

The centre-back left Wales for Doha outfit, Lekhwiya, in 2014. Chico has since gone on to win a remarkable number of trophies with the team:

· Qatar Stars League – 2014-15, 2016-17

· Qatari Super Cup – 2015, 2016

· Qatar Crown Prince Cup – 2015

· Qatar Emir Cup – 2016

Last season, the Spaniard led the defence of Lekhwiya, a team that lost only one game all season. Chico is an authoritative figure at the back although he is known to give possession away cheaply at times.

At the end of last season, the team management decided not to retain the defender for the 2017-18 campaign. It is still unknown if Chico would favour a move back to Europe or sign for another team in the Middle-East.

The 30-year-old is much loved by Danish legend and manager Michael Laudrup. Chico played under him at Mallorca before following him to Swansea and eventually Lekhwiya, now known as Al-Duhail SC. Laudrup is currently manager of another Qatari team, Al-Rayyan SC. Some might naturally presume that Chico’s next stop would be the same.

#2 Joe Ledley

Ledley turning out for Wales during a UEFA EURO 2016 qualifier

The world knows Joe Ledley for his performances with the Welsh national team during their incredible run at the 2016 UEFA European Championship where they reached the semi-finals before losing to a Portugal side led by Cristiano Ronaldo.

But even prior to this the commanding central-midfielder had made a name for himself in the United Kingdom after winning three consecutive Scottish Premierships with Celtic during what was the most successful period of his career.

The 30-year-old Welshman was released by Crystal Palace in June 2017 at the end of his contract. He spent three years with the Eagles and was highly regarded by former manager Tony Pulis.

Since then the adaptable box-to-box midfielder has been heavily linked with a move back to his boyhood club, Cardiff City. During his first spell with Cardiff, Ledley made over 230 appearances and was voted “Wales Club Player of the Year” in 2007 and 2008.

Ledley is said to be considering his options and is even open to a move abroad. His agent has received lucrative offers from clubs in China and Turkey but he is in no hurry to commit himself. For now, he is focused on training with the national team.

#1 Giuseppe Rossi

Rossi at Spanish side Villarreal CF

Once upon a time Giuseppe Rossi was considered such a prodigious talent that he was brought into Manchester United by Sir Alex Ferguson as a teenager. But after a couple of loan spells, lack of opportunities led him to move away from the English side to Villarreal CF where he performed exceptionally well scoring a respectable 54 goals in 136 appearances. Since then the Italian-American forward has plied his trade at Fiorentina who also loaned him out to Levante and Celta Vigo.

Frequent injuries to his right knee have hampered the 30-year-old throughout his career. In April this year, Rossi ruptured the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee while turning out for Celta Vigo against Eibar which will keep him out until October.

Rossi rejected a permanent contract from Celta which made him a free agent. Once the lethal striker recovers from his injury he will surely be snapped up by a top-tier club. It is too soon to write Giuseppe Rossi off.