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Another season has passed us by and it’s time for all 20 clubs to analyse their stock and make adjustments going in to the new season, with another busy summer expected to take place around the World Cup.
The contract situation of several players has caught the eye, with a number of big names coming to the end of the deals with their respective clubs and preparing for a fresh start elsewhere.
Some, like Nemanja Vidic have already agreed deals to go elsewhere, while there are plenty of others who are still to discuss the possibility of an extension to remain with their current squads.
However, with the Bosman ruling still being in place, players can still talk to any clubs that show an interest, and we at Squawka have devised a team of players available on free transfers currently.
GK – Julian Speroni (Crystal Palace)
A surprise really that the cult hero of Selhurst Park is being allowed to leave Crystal palace this summer, especially after having something of a fine season between the sticks for the Eagles.
Alas, Tony Pulis does not appear to be a fan of the Argentine stopper and he will be disappearing off to pastures new and would make a decent acquisition for the majority of teams in England’s top two tiers.
Speroni kept 12 clean sheets for Palace as they surpassed all expectations of them, making 1.89 saves for every goal conceded, as Palace comfortably avoided their predicted relegation.
RB – Steven Reid (West Brom)
Years of loyal service have come to an end at the Hawthorns, as Steven Reid’s spell in the West Midlands has expired, leaving him free to seek employment elsewhere.
Reid boasts plenty of Premier League experience after a long career in the top flight, but his injury record might be the one thing that counts against him in the eyes of some people, with his fitness having been an issue for many years now.
Reid did however manage to make 16 appearances for the Baggies this season, winning 21 aerial duels at a success rate of 62% and making 27 interceptions.
CB – Rio Ferdinand (Manchester United)
It’s the end of an era at Manchester United this summer, with Ferdinand joining fellow defensive partner Nemanja Vidic in leaving the club at the end of his contract, with the former England man having opted to seek one last hurrah away from Old Trafford.
Age may have caught up with him and his knees aren’t in the condition they used to be, but one would suggest that Ferdinand still has plenty to offer potential suitors and a switch to join QPR and link up with former manager Harry Redknapp makes sense for both parties.
Ferdinand still has plenty of class to offer having not committed a single foul in any of his 14 appearances, while he won 62% of his contested tackles and made 92 clearances for the Red Devils.
CB – Joleon Lescott (Manchester City)
After growing tired of kicking his heels on the Manchester City bench, Lescott has decided to exercise his option to leave the club at the end of his contract, potentially making him one of the most appealing free transfers out there.
With two Premier League winners’ medals in tow, Lescott brings a wealth of experience at the top level and the right move could yet allow him to re-establish in the England squad once more.
Lescott was limited to just ten appearances for City as Vincent Kompany and Martin Demichelis proved to be first choice at the back, but won 70% of his aerial duels and made 17 interceptions to occasionally show glimpses of what he’s still capable of.
LB – Ashley Cole (Chelsea)
Ashley Cole will be possibly the most sought after person over the course of the summer despite being snubbed by England, and there’s little doubt that he will have a number of offers with which to choose his next move.
No agreement between Chelsea and Cole could be reached to allow Cole to take a free transfer and he is not short of suitors, with the likes of Liverpool and Real Madrid to name two linked with a move for the veteran full-back.
Cole still won 27 tackles in his 17 league appearances for Chelsea this season and claimed two assists as well, having created 17 chances for the Blues.
CM – Gareth Barry (Manchester City)
A successful loan spell at Everton clearly hasn’t been enough to convince the people at Manchester City that Gareth Barry is still capable of doing a job, and somebody will feel the gain from that as he leaves on a free.
Barry was in exceptional form as Everton came so very close to breaking in to the top four, with his form going as far as to cause some murmurs that a return to the national set-up could be on the cards.
Barry assisted four goals for Everton in his 32 appearances for the Toffees this season, while he won 67 tackles and made 51 interceptions, as he provided a fantastic screen for the defence.
CM – Steve Sidwell (Fulham)
In a miserable campaign for the Cottagers, Steve Sidwell was one of the few to emerge from the other side with any credit, and at a perfect time too, with the end of his contract giving him the opportunity to find a new club in the top flight.
Sidwell scored several important goals for the Cottagers to at least give them a fighting chance of survival, netting seven in total with a conversion rate of 19.4%.
The former Arsenal midfielder also claimed two assists from the 21 chances he created for Fulham, whilst he won 93 tackles as well in an impressive season that will surely see him stay in the Premier League.
AM – Frank Lampard (Chelsea)
Talks are still ongoing between club and player over a potential one-year deal for the veteran midfielder, but with no agreement in place, Frank Lampard is currently available on a free transfer and still capable of playing at the top level.
Reuniting with his uncle Harry Redknapp at QPR has been mentioned in passing, despite the common belief being that he will up stick to join the MLS contingent in the USA and Lampard doesn’t seem like he’s done in the Premier League yet, given his displays for Chelsea this season.
Lampard still managed to score six times for the Blues and claim three assists from the 33 chances he created this season, while he still managed to win 34 tackles in the 26 appearances he made for the Blues.
AM – Joe Cole (West Ham)
You get the feeling that his best days are behind him, but it was only two seasons ago that Joe Cole enjoyed a successful loan spell with Lille and he could still provide a service in a team that tries to play football yet.
They say form is temporary and class is permanent and one could suggest that with the right manager, in the right set-up, Cole could unlock the talent that lurks inside of him once again.
Cole did only manage to create three chances for teammates in his 20 (mainly substitute) appearances for West Ham this season, but he did score three goals of his own from just 15 shots on goal.
AM – Matthew Etherington (Stoke City)
Clubs in the bottom half looking for a player with a wealth of Premier League experience to boost their survival hopes should look no further than Matty Etherington this summer, with the former Stoke man still possessing the qualities to be a danger.
The winger was perhaps unfortunate to be the man to suffer upon the arrival of Mark Hughes at the club, but he is still capable of doing a job in the Premier League and newly-promoted clubs could do a lot worse than recruit Etherington for their first crack at the top flight.
Etherington managed to created ten chances in the 11 appearances he was afforded by the Potters this season, while the former Spurs and West Ham man also managed to win 70% of his attempted tackles.
CF – Samuel Eto’o (Chelsea)
It’s not been a graceful exit from Stamford Bridge for Samuel Eto’o, with his verbal assault on Jose Mourinho a cause for concern for managers worried about upsetting dressing room morale, but it could be worth it given the obvious qualities the striker possesses.
Eto’o is unlikely to provide you spectacular strikes, given given the service, the Cameroon forward will guarantee goals, having been one of the most natural finishers in the game for some time now.
Eto’o managed to net nine times for the Blues in his 21 appearances for the club, converting 20.5% of his shots on goal, while he also claimed two assists from the 22 chances he carved out for teammates as well, as there is still plenty of life in the old dog yet.
