THE New Year means plenty of players are entering the final six months of their contracts.
And that means they can sign pre-contract agreements to move for free in the summer.
Willian, Mario Gotze, Christian Eriksen and Blaiuse Matuidi are all out of contract in the summer
Bosman deals have been around since 1995 with Edgar Davids the first high-profile player to benefit from the ruling when he joined AC Milan in 1996.
Three years later, Steve McManaman transferred from Liverpool to Real Madrid using the same method.
Here, SunSport rounds up 20 of the biggest names who could move for nothing at the end of this season…
Willian
The Chelsea winger looked to be off when Barcelona showed interest but stayed put at Stamford Bridge.
He is yet to put pen to paper on a new deal with the two parties struggling to agree on the length of the contract and Barca could make another swoop.
But in Frank Lampard’s first season in charge, Willian has shown he still has the quality – and much-needed experience in the young squad – to play a major role for the Blues.
Christian Eriksen
The ongoing saga is still not over. Eriksen was a long-term target for Jose Mourinho at Manchester United but stayed with Tottenham, the club he joined in 2013.
But after losing the Champions League final, the Dane threw his future into doubt by claiming he is ready for a new challenge.
According to Mourinho’s close friend Eladio Parames, Eriksen is “practically certain” to leave White Hart Lane for nothing – the big question is where will he go? Manchester United or Real Madrid seem the likely destinations.
Luka Modric
Just 12 months ago, Modric had broken the duopoly of Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi by winning the Ballon d’Or after winning the Champions League and helping Croatia reach the World Cup final.
A year on, though, he is not guaranteed a starting spot under Zinedine Zidane at Real Madrid due to the form of Federico Valverde.
Modric was wanted by Inter Milan last summer but a move failed to materialise, meaning the 34-year-old could be allowed to leave for free in 2020.
Luka Modric is struggling to keep his place in the starting XI at Real MadridCredit: Getty Images – Getty
Mario Gotze
Like Modric, Gotze has struggled to hit the heights since his World Cup heroics – although his came way back in 2014 when he scored the winner against Argentina in the final for Germany.
Despite winning three Bundesligas, his time at Bayern Munich did not quite go to plan personally and he rejoined Borussia Dortmund in 2016 before being diagnosed with myopathy, a muscular disorder.
Still only 27, Gotze is undoubtedly a talent with plenty to offer – if Dortmund opt against renewing his contract.
Eric Bailly
Bailly came through at Espanyol’s academy before moving to Villarreal in 2015 and Manchester United a year later for £30million.
He played a key role in his first season at Old Trafford, winning the Europa League and Carabao Cup.
But since then his time at the club has been hampered by injuries and the signing of Harry Maguire – as well as Axel Tuanzebe’s development – have threatened his future at United.
But the club do have the option to trigger an extension.
Edinson Cavani
Cavani made a name for himself in Italy with Palermo and Napoli before signing for Paris Saint-Germain in 2013.
His impressive record of 196 goals in 289 appearances by the end of 2019 made him one of the most consistent strikers in Europe.
But with Neymar and Kylian Mbappe ahead in the pecking order, PSG may be willing to let Cavani go – with Atletico Madrid ready to pounce.
Dries Mertens
The Belgian forward was one of many players to feel the full wrath of Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis.
Now Arsenal, Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund are reportedly looking at Mertens, who could move for a cut-price £8.5m in January or for nothing in the summer.
Ryan Fraser
Bournemouth signed Fraser from Aberdeen in 2013 and he has developed into one of the key players in Eddie Howe’s side.
Fraser was linked to Arsenal for £30m last summer after registering 14 Premier League assists last term, second only to Eden Hazard who grabbed 15.
But he is continuing to “keep his options open” and is yet to commit his long-term future to the Cherries.
Edinson Cavani still knows exactly where the back of the net is and looks on course to join Atletico MadridCredit: AFP or licensors
Ryan Fraser was linked with a £30m move last summer but could leave for free in 2020Credit: Reuters
Pedro
Like Willian, Pedro is another Chelsea winger out of contract in the summer. But unlike his team-mate, his time looks close to being over with just four Premier League starts by the New Year this season.
He has dropped behind Callum Hudson-Odoi, Mason Mount and Christian Pulisic in the pecking order and it looks as though his only chance of regular football is by leaving the West London side.
A shock return to Barcelona is reportedly on the cards – and the Spanish winger would unsurprisingly jump at the chance to go back to the Nou Camp.
Blaise Matuidi
The Frenchman won the World Cup last year and is still playing an important role in the middle of the Juventus side as they look for a ninth Serie A title in a row.
Matuidi signed a three-year deal in Turin in 2017 but is yet to agree an extension, opening the door for another side to try and land the 32-year-old.
Nemanja Matic
Matic was brought in at Manchester United under Mourinho but is seen as part of the old guard by Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
Scott McTominay has taken his place in the team and Fred’s improvement this season means Matic is unlikely to be offered a new deal at Old Trafford.
Inter Milan and Atletico Madrid have both been linked, while Spurs fans are worried Jose will want a third spell with the Serbian midfielder.
Nacho
One La Liga crown, the Copa del Rey, four Champions Leagues and four Club World Cups make Nacho one of the most successful defenders of his generation.
Yet he has always played second fiddle to the likes of Sergio Ramos and Raphael Varane and has struggled to ever nail down a starting spot.
Turning 29 in January, the defender and club may be ready to go their separate ways.
Ever Banega
A mainstay in the midfields at Valencia, Sevilla and Inter Milan over the last decade, Banega is still only 31.
And with 65 caps for Argentina to his name, he would certainly add some quality and experience to plenty of sides – if Sevilla decide to let him go again. Arsenal were linked in the past.
Thomas Meunier
Meunier has won two league titles in his three full seasons at Paris Saint-Germain since arriving from Club Brugge and reached the World Cup semi-finals with Belgium.
His four-year stay could be coming to an end next summer, though, and the right-back will no doubt be wanted by plenty of sides.
Thiago Silva
Arguably one of the best central defenders of the decade, Thiago Silva excelled at AC Milan and then at PSG since 2012.
He has notched up more than 500 club appearances in his career and 88 international caps for Brazil.
Now 35, he is certainly coming towards the end of his career and would be on big wages – but he surely has the talent to earn another decent move.
Jan Vertonghen
Toby Alderweireld committed his future to Spurs by signing a new three-and-a-half-year deal in December.
At the time of writing, Vertonghen is yet to follow suit and therefore is out of contract at the end of the season.
The Belgian, 32, has proven he is still a top-class operator and Mourinho will no doubt be keen to keep him at White Hart Lane.
Giacomo Bonaventura
The Italian central midfielder has spent his entire career in Italy with the likes of Pergolettese, Padova, Atalanta and more recently AC Milan.
A move to England seems unlikely but he still has something to offer despite entering his 30s last summer.
Layvin Kurwaza
PSG are at risk of losing two full-backs for nothing in 2020 with Kurwaza also out of contract.
The left-back is generally the understudy to Juan Bernat under Thomas Tuchel this season.
But with Danny Rose set to leave Spurs when his contract expires, Mourinho has been linked with bringing Kurwaza in for free.
Jarrod Bowen
The Hull forward has been in red-hot form for the Tigers this season, bagging a staggering 16 goals in 25 games before the turn of the year.
Bowen turned 23 in December which makes things a little trickier – he can still agree a free transfer in January for the end of the season but a compensation fee would need to be agreed between the two clubs, or by a tribunal.
Thiago Silva will be desperate to earn one more big contract to extend his playing careerCredit: Getty Images – Getty
Spurs fans will surely be hoping Jan Vertonghen follows Toby Alderweireld’s lead by signing a new contractCredit: Reuters
Olivier Giroud
The Chelsea striker looked set to take centre stage with Alvaro Morata and Gonzalo Higuain not around at Stamford Bridge this season.
But Tammy Abraham’s performances and the impressive cameos from Michy Batshuayi mean the French World Cup winner is barely making the bench, let alone the pitch.
West Ham, Juventus, Bordeaux, Inter Milan, Atletico Madrid and Rangers have all been linked with handing Giroud, 33, a lifeline.
Jarrod Bowen is smashing in the goals for Hull this season but is out of contract in the summerCredit: Getty Images – Getty
Olivier Giroud’s time at Chelsea looks to be nearly over but he will have no shortage of clubs chasing his signatureCredit: Reuters
Five forwards Man Utd could go for in transfer window after missing out on Haaland
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
