'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Cesc Fabregas and Angel Di Maria are only a part of a long list of top players from Europe's best leagues who see their contract running out of fuel next June. A renewal of their contract has yet to come and this means they could be available for free in the next summer transfer window.
Some are determined to leave their club, some have not convinced theirs to offer them a new contract and some of them have already agreed but the official announcement is yet to come. The future of these 25 great players may spark quite a few controversies in the upcoming transfer windows as they can begin negotiations with other clubs by January.
Here, is a squad of the most notable players whose future may change in the upcoming summer:
Goalkeeper: Alphonse Areola
Buffon's summer arrival at the Parc des Princes has increased the competition among the goalkeepers. In fact, the one that has been affected the most is Areola who featured only in one starting line-up so far while in the other two games he was either on the bench or was excluded from the match squad.
The Frenchman's career at Paris has been called into question. In the past season, Areola managed to 'beat' Kevin Trapp as he was preferred in 34 League 1 games and 8 Champions League matches. However, with the arrival of the legendary Buffon, he ought to compete now with the German for the reserves.
Despite these facts, the world-champion with France had uttered that he will soon renew his contract as he sees Buffon not as a threat but as a role idol. It needs to be mentioned that Areola will be the starter in at least the 3 first Champions League matches for PSG as the Italian has been banned from UEFA.
The 25-year-old was one step away from joining AS Roma in July but the deal fell through and the Italians acquired Robin Olsen instead.
Right Back: Dani Alves
The experienced defender signed for Pari Saint-Germain last July and he has since featured in 41 games for the French club scoring 5 times while providing 10 assists. Uncertainty surrounds his future as his current contract runs until June 2019. The Brazilian has been out of action since May and given his age (35) PSG hasn't been convinced yet to offer him a new contract.
Dani Alves hasn't ruled out a return to Barcelona while French reports argue that PSG is about to offer to him a role of liaison between the players and the administration if he decides to retire.
Left Back: Luke Shaw
The 23-year-old defender has struggled with injuries since he joined Manchester United in 2014. In fact, since his arrival at the Theater of Dreams, Shaw has missed 93 games due to injuries. As a result, the Red Devils have not offered to him a new contract yet, despite his great performances so far in the Premier League.
According to Mirror, Shaw has been heavily targeted by German club Wolfsburg, however, his desire is to remain at Old Trafford.
Center Back: Diego Godin
A cornerstone of Atletico Madrid's recent successes in Spain and Europe, Diego Godin has only one year left in his contract with the Rojiblancos. Nevertheless, the fearsome defender rejected offers from Manchester United and Juventus while Marca argues that he has already said yes to a new contract keeping him in Madrid until 2021.
Godin has won seven titles with Atletico and it seems that the two parties will continue together.
Center Back: David Luiz
Luiz has so far started in all Chelsea's games in the Premier League.
The Brazilian had admitted that he would probably quit Chelsea if Antonio Conte remained. The Italian left and Mauricio Sarri arrived who so far seems to have the utmost confidence in Luiz's abilities. In fact, the 31-year-old has been a starter in the Premier League this season despite only one year remaining at his contract.
Moreover, Luiz has recently declared that he loves Sarri's philosophy and that he aims to stick around. It remains to be seen if Chelsea will offer him a new contract as no negotiations between the two parties have taken place yet.
The Brazilian wanted a third chance to prove himself with the Blues after he was in exile under Antonio Conte. Sarri has provided it and Luiz must grasp it to ensure he remains at Chelsea for the foreseeable future.
Midfielder: Adrien Rabiot
The 23-year-old midfielder has yet to agree to a new contract with Pari Saint-Germain with Tomas Tuchel admitting he is not sure about Rabiot staying with the club. With one year remaining at his current one, the French club has reportedly given an ultimatum to Rabiot to accept an improved contract offer. The Frenchman has been linked with a move to Barcelona and Manchester City, however, the uncertainty about his future remains.
Midfielder: Sami Khedira
Despite the arrival of Emre Can in the summer, Sami Khedira has featured in the starting line-ups of both Juventus's Serie A games. With one year remaining at his contract with the Bianconeri, the German midfielder has hinted about a possible move to Premier League while the MLS remains among his choices.
However, Juventus reportedly is about to propose to him a new contract after they rejected an offer from PSG in the summer.
Midfielder: Cesc Fabregas
Fabregas joined Chelsea from Barcelona in 2014 and he has since featured in 183 games for the Blues, scoring 21 times and providing 55 assists. The 31-year-old has yet to feature to a Chelsea squad due to a knee injury he picked during pre-season. It remains to be seen if he can convince Mauricio Sarri to give him a role in the squad.
Even though his contract ends in June 2019, no contract renewal negotiations have taken place yet.
Right Winger: Arjen Robben
The highly experienced, prolific forward extended his contract with Bayern for a further year last May. The Dutchman has argued that he has no plans for retiring yet but the German club hasn't offered him a new contract so far.
Kingsley Coman has been ruled out for the rest of the season and this might affect the future of Robben. In fact, the 34-year-old came in for the injured Coman and sealed Bayern's win over Hoffenheim with a late goal. Given the fact that his last contract renewal was signed only last May, Bayern's and Robben's relationship might not be facing a dead-end.
Left Winger: Angel Di Maria
Although the Argentinian appears happy at Paris, there has been nothing concrete on his contract being renewed. French newspaper Le Parisien noted that Di Maria wants to stay at PSG, however, an official agreement has yet to come.
The 30-year-old has made 137 appearances for Pari Saint-Germain, scoring 52 goals and providing 53 assists. Despite the arrival of Kylian Mbappe and Neymar last summer, Di Maria stayed and helped his club win the domestic treble by scoring two goals in the win against Monaco in the French Super Cup.
Striker: Olivier Giroud
Giroud ended his average last season with a poor World Cup show where he failed to manage a single shot on target. His future at London remains uncertain, however, some weeks ago, the Frenchman admitted that he had rejected a move to Marseille.
In fact, Mirror reports that Giroud has decided to fight for his place in the Chelsea squad even though his contract expires in June 2019. The physically talented striker arrived at Stamford Bridge last January and managed to score 5 times since.
Substitutions
Goalkeeper
Petr Cech (Arsenal)
Defenders:
Jan Vertonghen (Tottenham), Chris Smalling (Manchester United), Vincent Kompany (Manchester City), Filipe Luis (Atletico Madrid)
Midfielders
Aaron Ramsey (Arsenal), Juan Mata (Manchester United), Daniele De Rossi (Roma), Ander Herrera (Manchester United), James Milner (Liverpool)
Forwards:
Yacine Brahimi (Porto), Max Cruse (Werder Bremen), Franck Ribery (Bayern Munich), Danny Welbeck (Arsenal)
*Note: David De Gea and Toby Alderweireld were not included as their contracts, ending in June 2019, contain a further year extension clause which can be triggered by their clubs at any moment.
