The Four Best Free Agents Your Club Could Sign This Year

The summer transfer window always brings surprises. This summer is no different, with plenty of Europe’s elite looking to strengthen for next season, the window is bound to have twists and turns. 

Everybody has their eyes on the expensive transfers, looking at the likes of Jadon Sancho, Harry Kane and Neymar, but this summer it could be the complete opposite of expensive that brings the biggest surprises. 

Every year there are a number of high-profile footballers that become free agents, but this year looks a special year for the free transfer. From the Premier League to Serie A, La Liga to the Bundesliga, a range of household names could walk away from their clubs for absolutely nothing this summer.

Whilst expensive, marquee signings are the events creating the most drama and excitement during the window, it might be worth having a look at the free agents list. Better yet, clubs can start working on the deals now. Any player in the final six months of their contract can be approached now, securing a pre-contract agreement so that they can move as soon as the window opens. For some clubs, their best business could be done and dusted before the window has even opened. 

There are some fantastic players available for free this summer. Here, we will look at some of the best and what clubs they could be moving to.

The striker dubbed ‘El Matador’ has grown tired of being left out of the Paris Saint-Germain side and back in January stated his intent to leave the club. A move never materialised in the winter window, despite a move to Atletico Madrid reportedly being close, and now PSG’s all-time leading goalscorer will have his pick of the clubs in the summer. 

Cavani has spent seven years in the French capital as one of Europe’s most elite goalscorers, scoring 200 goals in his 301 appearances for the Parisians. The 33-year-old is the club's leading all-time goalscorer and boasts stats that most can't compare to, even at his age. 

Perhaps the most dangerous thing about Cavani is the fact that he has often been an afterthought during his career, shunned to the wing for the start of his PSG days, due to Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s presence, and internationally because of Luis Suarez.

As a free agent, it seems too good to turn down Cavani’s goalscoring talents, with perhaps his wage being the only issue. A move to Atletico still looks likely, if they were willing to pay for Cavani in January, you would think that the move for free now looks certain.

There have been talks that the Spanish club may now look elsewhere to boost their attack, since losing Antoine Griezmann to Barcelona. Besides, they have a pretty good track record with South American strikers and when you put the two together, it seems to fit like a glove.

Manchester United are another team mentioned, six years after initially trying to sign the Uruguayan under David Moyes. Of course, this wouldn’t be the first time that the Red Devils have given a fading PSG star a new home, and this all but seems to be their best route to elite goalscorers these days.

Despite his age, Zlatan Ibrahimovic played a big role for United, scoring 28 goals in his first season on route to the Community Shield, League Cup and Europa League trophies. Now, it seems Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is keeping a close eye on Cavani and may well bring him in on a free, similar to how Odion Ighalo temporarily stepped in.

Other clubs mentioned are the likes of Newcastle United and Inter Milan, with the former potentially able to offer Cavani a dramatic windfall to move to St. James Park.

Forever to be known as the man who won Germany the 2014 World Cup, Mario Götze will still feel he has more to prove at club level. Dubbed as the brightest star in Germany's golden years last decade, the Borussia Dortmund man was quite literally the next big thing.

After years progressing through the famous Dortmund youth system and excelling with the first team, Gotze was snapped up by Bayern Munich, before scoring the World Cup-winning goal a year later.

Since that historic night in Brazi, however, the German's career hasn’t quite panned out as planned. In fact, considering he scored the winner in the biggest match of them all at just 22, it's fair to say his expected legendary status peaked that night and has rapidly faded and snowballed into mediocracy every since.

Failing to make a proper impact at Bayern, Gotze returned to Dortmund in 2016, where he has since struggled to find his old form. It's simple, at 27, a change is needed for his sake, and Götze has already announced his intent to move on for free in the summer.

Considering he is still only 27 years old, Götze still has time to return to his best and make an impact, making him an interesting prospect as a free transfer.

The most interesting prospect as Götze’s next club is Liverpool. Liverpool are not the strongest in the attacking midfield area since losing Philippe Coutinho and prioritising their wingers instead. More importantly, however, a move would reunite Götze with his former Dortmund coach, Jurgen Klopp. The Liverpool boss was the man who gave this German star his first experiences of professional football and Klopp is one of the men responsible for such an almighty rise so quickly.

Although, if truth be told, this is merely a dream for Gotze and more of a cause for rekindling with his old boss than anything else. If previous seasons are anything to go by, the 27-year-old is far from good enough at this elite level right now and a move to a fellow German club makes sense.

The likes of AC Milan have been mentioned, whilst Bayer Leverkusen may need to replace Kai Havertz pretty soon. Don't expect a big transfer for this one.

It’s not too long ago that Ryan Fraser was considered one of the best players in the Premier League outside of the top six. His lighting pace and direct style of play meant that he often had defences across the league bamboozled. 

Unfortunately, the winger has struggled to recreate the form shown last season, where he bagged himself seven Premier League goals and an impressive 14 assists - only Eden Hazard bagged more with 15. This year, however has been quiet for Fraser, mainly due to Bournemouth's fight for relegation, rather than a top 10 finish. 

Despite this, there are no doubts about the Scot's ability. His side have struggled this year and Fraser has often cut a frustrated figure. Eddie Howe’s men have had difficulty this year recreating some of the football that has kept them in the league so far and the Scottish winger has taken the brunt of it.

Fraser still has ability in abundance though, and a new environment could bring the best out of him. Plus, should the Cherries go down, it's tough to see a man of his ability settle for the Championship when the others come in, especially as the club will get him for free.

A host of top half sides will be interested in signing Fraser, with Arsenal looking to be one of the most likely options for his next destination, just as they were last season.

Reports of interest from Arsenal in the 26-year-old have not been uncommon prior to this season, and now that he is free, those reports could gain some substance. The winger would certainly offer a direct and pacey alternative to the Gunners’ front line and won't cost a penny and potentially ease the pressure on Nicolas Pepe.

Ahead of the January window, both Liverpool and United were mentioned with his name, but the former certainly seems unlikely based on their stellar form. Fraser may end up moving to a team inside the top six, but perhaps more of a team from 10th-6th is more logical.

Finally, one of the most in-demand free agents in the market, Dries Mertens looks set to walk out on Napoli after seven seasons when his contract expires this summer. Losing the Belgian will be insurmountable for Napoli, as he is their joint-highest goalscorer of all time and still one of their key players.

Napoli’s loss will be one lucky club’s gain, however, with a host of Europe’s top clubs likely to be fighting for the Mertens' signature.

The diminutive attacker started his life in Italy as a winger but has turned into one of the best false nines in European football, making him an invaluable asset across the front line. Mertens is turning 33 before the summer, so is definitely reaching the twilight of his career.

A move to England looks the most possible after Chelsea attempted to sign the Belgian in January. The Blues have seemingly shown interest in Mertens once again and he could be an excellent addition to Frank Lampard's squad.

Willian and Pedro both look to be on their way out of Stamford Bridge in the summer as their contracts run out, and Mertens would fill the gap nicely.

It might only be for a season or two, but as Chelsea look to move back up the table, the Napoli legend could be a decent figure in the gargantuan hole left by Hazard last summer.

Mertens is 9/4 to join Chelsea with Paddy Power.