Ibrahima Konate remains at the top of this list but Marcos Senesi might actually be more in demand.
We’ve ranked – in order of value according to Transfer market – the 20 biggest stars currently due to become free agents this year.
20) Daichi Kamada (Crystal Palace)
It looked like a coup from Palace when they signed the Japanese international but he has been somewhat underwhelming. He will leave Selhurst Park this summer and Milan are among the clubs interested.
19) Mathias Jensen (Brentford)
The 30-year-old Dane will not be short of options this summer if him and the Bees do not agree to trigger a one-year extension. They surely will.
18) Yves Bissouma (Tottenham)
The good news for Bissouma is that he is back in the Premier League picture at Tottenham. The bad? Tottenham are absolutely rotten.
17) Danilho Doekhi (Union Berlin)
The Dutch centre-back is expected to rock up at Leeds United this summer.
16) Fabinho (Al-Ittahad)
The Saudi club has put all contract talks on hold and the former Liverpool midfielder (still improbably only 32) is among those in a state of limbo.
15) Arthur Avom (FC Lorient)
Sunderland are said to be in the hunt for the Cameroonian midfielder but his French club have an option of a one-year extension.
14) Malang Sarr (Lens)
There is an option for another year which will surely be triggered for the former Chelsea defender.
13) Souffian El Karouani (Utrecht)
Moroccan left-back bound for Saudi Arabia this summer.
12) Rico Henry (Brentford)
Brentford hold a one-year extension in their back pockets, which will surely be triggered for the left-back.
11) Leon Goretzka (Bayern Munich)
“Maybe it’s my last chance to go abroad. I really want to play truly competitive football again. We’ll see what opportunities come up. I’m completely relaxed about it. I’ll just let it all happen,” said Goretzka, with reports suggesting Arsenal lead the race from the Premier League.
10) John Stones (Manchester City)
Stones’ status has not diminished but City are prepared to wait while they assess entirely valid concerns about his fitness. Everton are inevitably being linked with their old boy.
9) Oscar Mingueza (Celta de Vigo)
Spanish international right-back who has already decided to join Juventus this summer.
8) Jadon Sancho (Manchester United)
That expiring contract was the reason Man Utd did not want to agree to another loan. But in the end they had no choice as Aston Villa came calling. Borussia Dortmund fancy a third bite of a free cherry.
7) Ryan Sessegnon (Fulham)
A new contract is ‘a matter of time’ said Marco Silva in November.
6) Julian Brandt (Borussia Dortmund)
The German club have announced that Brandt will leave Dortmund this summer. Aston Villa are said to be sniffing around and he feels very much like a Unai Emery signing.
5) Marcos Senesi (Bournemouth)
Manchester United, Newcastle, Juventus, Tottenham, Barcelona, Liverpool. The man is in high demand. The chances of him signing on at Bournemouth again suddenly feel very slim indeed.
4) Harry Wilson (Fulham)
There are reports Fulham are close to convincing the winger to sign a renewal. And with some excellent form in this Premier League season, Wilson has been negotiating from a position of authority. Leeds and Aston Villa are among those clubs linked.
3) Bernardo Silva (Manchester City)
“I know exactly what I’m going to do but it’s not the time to focus on it,” said the City skipper in September about the looming prospect of free agency. It’s now been confirmed that Silva will definitely leave at the end of the season, with
2) Dusan Vlahovic (Juventus)
He was very much available last summer while Juve looked to shift his salary but even with so many striker moves, Vlahovic got stuck in Turin. And now there’s talk of new contract discussions even after he missed much of this season through injury.
1) Ibrahima Konate (Liverpool)
A new deal was said to be imminent in October, but this Liverpool regime have proved to be frankly awful at closing these deals. But after months of links to Real Madrid and latterly the Premier League behemoths of Manchester City and Chelsea, it feels awfully like he might end up staying at Liverpool.
