The summer transfer window opens early this year with a special 10-day registration period ahead of the Club World Cup, sparking excitement among ever optimistic fans.
Deals can be made from Sunday, June 1 before the window slams shut 10 days later – reopening on June 16.
With the Premier League’s Profitability and Sustainability Rules (PSR) remaining in force next season, sides will be desperate to bolster their squads for as cheap as possible.
Manchester United, who missed out on a £100million windfall after losing out on Champions League qualification, are among clubs at risk of PSR breaches and will be looking for bargain deals.
Although Trent Alexander-Arnold has already wrapped up a move to Real Madrid, and Kevin De Bruyne, one of the summer’s most exciting free agents, appears to be heading to Napoli, a host of players will hit the market when their contracts expire at the end of next month.
Some of Europe’s hottest attacking talent, an England international and Premier League winners can all be scooped up for free. Mail Sport has put together a starting XI of the best free agents who will become available in the summer.
Alexander-Arnold has already wrapped up a move to Real Madrid after 20 years at Liverpool
Kevin De Bruyne looks set to join Napoli after leaving Man City following a decade at the club
Ruben Amorim will have to spend carefully as Man United battle with Premier League PSR rules
Goalkeeper: Lukasz Fabianski
A tearful Fabianski bid farewell to West Ham after seven years of service during the Irons’ 3-1 win over Ipswich on the Premier League’s final day.
The Polish international has been a stalwart of England’s top tier since 2007, when he joined Arsene Wenger’s Arsenal.
He won the 2023 UEFA Europa Conference League title in Prague, West Ham’s first trophy in 43 years, and kept 55 clean sheets in 216 appearances for the east London side.
Despite being 40, the shot-stopper has no interest in retiring and is eyeing a move to another London club – where he could provide some much needed experience or back up.
Lukasz Fabianski has been a stalwart of England’s top tier since 2007, when he joined Arsenal
Defender: Sergio Reguilon
Reguilon was hot property when Tottenham beat Man United, Chelsea and Everton to land the left-back from Real Madrid in 2020.
The Spaniard was named LaLiga’s best left-back in the previous season during an impressive loan spell at Sevilla.
He spent two seasons at Los Blancos, having been in their academy for a decade, but failed to perform consistently after arriving in north London.
The defender was shipped out on loan, first to Atletico Madrid then to long-term admirers Man United, before joining Brentford last season.
He has only made four Premier League appearances this season and didn’t feature in Spurs’ victorious Europa League run.
But the former Spain international has an impressive CV, having played for the likes of United, Spurs and both Madrid clubs, and is still just 28.
A return to Spain has been touted and he could prove a smart option for any cost-cutting clubs.
Sergio Reguilon lifted the Europa League with Spurs but did not feature for a single minute
Defender: Victor Lindelof
The Swedish defender has stayed through turbulent times at Old Trafford and featured under Jose Mourinho, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, Ralf Rangnick, Erik ten Hag and Ruben Amorim since joining from Benfica in 2017.
In that time he won the FA Cup and League Cup, making 284 appearances, and has been one of the more successful United transfers in the post-Sir Alex Ferguson era.
Tributes poured in from former team-mates including David de Gea and Juan Mata after Lindelof’s departure was confirmed.
The centre-back is still only 30 and will be able to offer plenty of Premier League and Champions League experience to which ever club he decides upon.
Lindelof joined Manchester United in 2017 for £30m from Benfica and is leaving next month
Defender: Michael Keane
Keane will be a free agent next month after Everton opted against extending his contract.
It means he will leave after eight years and is one of a string of Toffees players who have been moved on ahead of their move to the new Hill Dickinson Stadium.
The 12-time England international graduated from Man United’s academy before moving to Burnley, where Everton scooped him for £30million.
He has been a loyal servant but has seen his game time greatly diminished in favour of James Tarkowski and Jarrad Branthwaite.
Wolves have showed interest in securing his services as well as Saudi Pro League side Al Riyad and FC Dallas.
Michael Keane is leaving Everton when his contract expires after eight years with the Toffees
Defender: Nelson Semedo
The Wolves star replaced Mario Lemina as captain midway through the season, but is set to leave the Molineux next month.
The Portuguese international joined Wolves from Barcelona in 2020, having already lifted two LaLiga titles.
He has featured 182 times for the Premier League club but looks in line to move on having filmed a farewell message to supporters earlier this month.
His departure comes as a blow to manager Vítor Pereira, who was keen to offer him a contract extension, and the defender will be a catch.
Semedo previously revealed former team Benfica were interested in him, having admitted that they will ‘always be my club’.
But Galatasaray are reportedly frontrunners in the battle to sign him.
Semedo’s departure comes as a blow to manager Vítor Pereira, who was keen to keep him
Midfielder: Thomas Partey
Partey is believed to be keen on extending his stay at Arsenal although contract negotiations have not yielded success so far.
It means the Ghanaian could leave the Emirates after a five-year spell in north London.
He has been a vital part of Arteta’s side and impressed since joining for £45m in 2020, albeit without picking up any silverware – bar the 2023 Community Shield.
Former club Atletico Madrid have shown interest in re-signing him as well as Barcelona, Juventus and a number of Saudi sides.
Partey has been a vital part of Arteta’s side since joining in 2020 but hasn’t won any silverware
Midfielder: Angel Gomes
The in-demand midfielder is leaving French side Lille after four years, with Premier League clubs reportedly circling.
Gomes was called up to England last year by Lee Carsley and made his international debut in a 2-0 win over Ireland at the Aviva Stadium
He spent 11 years at Man United’s academy and in 2017, at just 16 years and 263 days, became the youngest player to represent the Red Devils since Duncan Edwards in 1953.
The 24-year-old also became the first player born in the 2000s to appear in the Premier League.
He moved to Lille in search of more minutes and after a successful stint is being linked with multiple clubs, including Spurs and West Ham.
Angel Gomes made his senior England debut last year after being called up by Lee Carsley
Midfielder: Christian Eriksen
Eriksen has been a mainstay of the Premier League for the past 12 years, having first joined Spurs in 2013.
He spent a season at Inter Milan but returned to England with Brentford after suffering a cardiac arrest at Euro 2020.
The Dane featured 107 times for United, scoring eight times, and is leaving Old Trafford after three years.
Last year the midfielder snubbed moves to Saudi and American sides and he appears to remain intent on staying in one of Europe’s elite leagues.
‘Christian is still ambitious and has a lot to give to a bigger league. I can easily see him playing in his home country in the future, but I think for now it will only be for the national team,’ his agent recently said.
A switch to Spain appears likely, with LaLiga club Mallorca interested.
‘Christian is still ambitious and has a lot to give to a bigger league,’ his agent recently revealed
Forward: Leroy Sane
Perhaps the most exciting player on the list is former Manchester City star Leroy Sane.
The German winger played a vital role in Bayern Munich’s Bundesliga win this season, scoring 13 goals and providing six assists.
Sane, who spent four trophy-laden years at Manchester City, won two Premier League titles under Pep Guardiola and Arsenal are chasing his signature.
And his agent Pini Zahavi has reportedly been speaking with Chelsea and Tottenham over a Premier League return, according to BILD.
Sane has bags of Premier League, Champions League and international experience and has reportedly been spending time in London with his wife Candice.
The German played a key role in Bayern Munich’s Bundesliga win this season, scoring 13 times
Forward: Jonathan David
One of Europe’s most sought after strikers, David is being circled by a host of the continent’s top sides.
The red-hot forward scored 25 goals in 48 appearances this season and last month confirmed he would leave in another blow to Lille.
David joined Lille from Belgian side Gent in 2020 and has scored 109 goals in 231 games.
He won the Ligue 1 title in 2020-21, the club’s first triumph in a decade. The 25-year-old has also represented Canada 61 times, bagging 32 goals.
Both Aston Villa and Spurs are fighting for his signature, according to L’Equipe, while Napoli and Juventus are also interested.
The Canadian has previously hinted that he would prefer a move to Spain.
Speaking to the It’s Called Soccer podcast, he said: ‘I think I can adapt to every league. Every league has its differences.
‘The Premier League is a lot faster and more physical than all of the other leagues. But for me, I grew up watching a lot of LaLiga and for me, that would be my preferred league.
‘That is the league that I enjoyed watching the most so one day I would like to play there.’
As one of Europe’s most sought after strikers, David is being circled by a host of top clubs
Forward: Jamie Vardy
Vardy’s fairytale at Leicester is swiftly coming to an end with the ex-England star leaving following the club’s relegation back to the Championship.
The Foxes legend is departing after 13 years in the East Midlands with a Premier League and FA Cup in the trophy cabinet.
Although he turns 39 in January, Mail Sport understands Vardy does not plan to call it a day and has expressed belief that he can continue playing beyond his 40th birthday.
Jamie Vardy’s stint at Leicester is swiftly coming to an end after 13 years in the East Midlands
The striker had been touted with a stunning move to Wrexham but appears to be uninterested in competing in the second tier.
More recently, he has been linked with a shock switch to Spanish side Valencia.
