Out of Contract: 7 Best Free Agents Available This Summer

• There is less than a week to go until players with expiring contracts in Europe become free agents
• This leaves many clubs in uncertain territory with regard to players with contracts ending in 2023
• Sports Brief has looked at the major football stars who could be arriving at new clubs this summer

Unprecedented numbers of elite football players will quit their teams unpaid this summer once their contracts expire and they become free agents.

There seems to be a growing trend among footballers to allow their contracts to expire totally.

In the first few days of the summer transfer season, genuinely extraordinary free transfers have been witnessed from Ballon d'Or winners, Lionel Messi and Karim Benzema, to new clubs.

There is undoubtedly much to be said about the flexibility free agency gives players in terms of selecting a destination.

After their contracts expire at the end of the month, a number of further stars at premier teams are anticipated to go - Sports Brief looks at some of the big names:

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Football

David de Gea

David De Gea’s future at Manchester United remains one of the longest sagas in the current transfer window, with fans and manager, Erik ten Hag, divided over whether he still cuts the mustard. According to Manchester Evening News, the Red Devils want the Spaniard to accept a pay cut in order to stay at Old Trafford, and negotiations for a potential new contract are still ongoing.

Adrien Rabiot

French midfielder, Adrien Rabiot, is seemingly linked with a move away every summer. As reported by Daily Express, the 28-year-old finally looks set to leave Turin despite Juventus being keen to hold on to him, with Man United and Atletico Madrid circling.

Ilkay Gundogan

Ilkay Gundogan, the captain of the treble-winning Manchester City, must be the biggest prize of this summer's free agency. He is currently in complete control and has already ruled out a return to Borussia Dortmund. Whether the German will sign for Arsenal, Barcelona, or Man City under a new contract is still up in the air.

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Football

Roberto Firmino

Firmino leaves Liverpool after a trophy-laden eight years at Anfield, with the Brazilian receiving a warm farewell as he played his last match for the club earlier this month. The 31-year-old is reportedly a target for Barcelona, Atletico Madrid, Real Madrid, and Inter Milan. According to the Mirror, Chelsea also could make a move to ease their problems in front of goal, amid a need to spend wisely this summer following this season's £600 million spree.

Edouard Mendy

Chelsea player, Edouard Mendy, will reportedly travel to Saudi Arabia after he agreed on personal terms with Al-Ahli until 2026. The shot-stopper, who won the AFCON title and the Champions League, joined the Blues in 2020.

Marcus Thuram

A number of teams, including Paris Saint-Germain, Juventus, Chelsea, Man United, and Inter Milan, are vying for the French World Cup star. However, after promising the attacker a key position in the lineup, AC Milan now seems to be the front-runner.