ISL 2017: Top 5 star footballers who could make shock ISL moves on transfer deadline day 

With the Indian Super League set to undergo a major makeover this year with the introduction of two new teams and an extended schedule, the composition of the ten teams has also undergone tweaks this year. While the domestic draft ensured that all the franchises remain on the same page as regards Indian players, foreign signings haven't been as flashy as the previous years.

However, there is still some way to go before the 2017-18 ISL kicks off on 17th November and teams still have enough time in their hands to fill their quota of eight foreign players. Until now, 49 foreign players have been roped in by ISL clubs, with 31 signings still to be completed. That said, today is the deadline for ISL clubs to sign contracted players, while the market is always open for free agents to move.

Among those 49 players signed, only a handful - Dimitar Berbatov, Robbie Keane, Wes Brown - have been stars at the absolute elite level, while most of the overseas arrivals are little-known outside the leagues they have played in.

However, all is not lost for Indian football fans who wish to see some of the best international stars strutting their stuff on Indian pitches and here are the five star foreign players who could still end up being part of the ISL next season and could even join before today's deadline.

#1 Diego Forlan

The Uruguayan former World Cup Golden Ball winner was a real joy to watch last season as he guided Mumbai City FC to their first semi-final appearance in the ISL last season. The 38-year-old might seem a spent force, but his five goals in ISL 2016 were as important to Mumbai City as his five goals at the 2010 World Cup for Uruguay.

Forlan has been linked with a return to India this summer amid reports of him moving to Sandefjord in Norway. Mumbai City were believed to gazump the Norwegian club's offer but nothing has materialised so far, with Sandefjord now out of the race. Whether the former Manchester United man returns to India for a second spell is anyone's guess, but talks are definitely going on behind the scenes.

#2 Julio Baptista

Baptista is a former Brazil international

Baptista has been off the radar for quite a while now after his glorious days at Arsenal, Real Madrid and AS Roma but he is now back in the mainstream as far as Indian football is concerned. The 35-year-old was heavily linked to Kerala Blasters earlier this month as reports of the Berbatov deal falling through emerged, but it is the Brazilian who has gone unsigned after the Bulgarian was announced last month.

Given that talks with Baptista were at an advanced stage as reported, the Sao Paolo Academy graduate will have interested other ISL clubs. While reaching a deal with Baptista is still some way off, we could still see him knock in the goals come November. Like Forlan, Baptista is a free agent and the transfer deadline doesn't apply to him.

#3 Shay Given

Given is a Premier League legend

The veteran of more than 450 Premier League appearances, Given is in the twilight of his career and much like his former Ireland teammate Robbie Keane, he wouldn't count out a move to India this year yet. Given was quoted by the Irish Mirror earlier this month as saying: "It [moving to India] definitely wouldn’t be a door I’d shut. I said I’d speak to them [ATK] a bit later because that season doesn’t start until October. Robbie has just signed up so there would be somebody out there I’d know."

ATK have been linked to the former Manchester City and Newcastle United 'keeper, but having already roped in Keane for big money, it is unlikely they will offer big wages to another Irish legend, that too a 41-year-old. But Given has already expressed an interest and it remains to be seen which club the free agent ends up joining.

#2 Rickie Lambert

Lambert has played for Liverpool in the past

The former Liverpool striker left English Championship outfit Cardiff City earlier this summer and has been unattached since. He was linked with a move to Kerala Blasters a fortnight ago but the Kochi-based club have gone on to rope in Berbatov since. Whether the Men in Yellow retain an interest in the former England international is up for debate but Lambert will be a welcome addition to any ISL club.

At 35, Lambert is relatively young compared to the likes of Berbatov and Keane and given the skirmish for signing players in England during deadline day, any interested ISL club might take a punt on him before the window slams shut.

#1 Joleon Lescott

Lescott has won the Premier League with Manchester City twice

ATK were believed to be hot on the heels of the two-time Premier league winner at one point during the summer, as per sources close to the player, but the noise has now settled down after the two-time ISL champions roped in three new players in Keane, Zequinha and Conor Thomas. However, Lescott is still without a club and the chance to work under Teddy Sheringham and Ashley Westwood in the cash-rich ISL is a prospect he'd be foolish to let pass.

Still only 34, Lescott could bring in elite level pedigree and experience to any ISL team. ATK are still believed to be pursuing Lescott and we could even see an announcement later today, although that looks highly unlikely.