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Transfer news: 20 footballers in Europe who will become free agents in 2017

Clubs can start negotiating with these players right now ahead of free transfers this summer

Jack Portley,Evan Bartlett

Wednesday 11 January 2017 13:16 GMT

Free agents 2017: 20 footballers whose contract runs out in the summer

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1/20Free agents 2017: 20 footballers whose contract runs out in the summer

Free agents 2017: 20 footballers whose contract runs out in the summer

1. Santi Cazorla - Arsenal

The Spanish midfielder injured his Achilles in the Gunners’ 6-0 win over Ludogorets in October and had to have ankle surgery, which he is still recovering from. Cazorla also missed seven months of the previous season due to injury and it remains to be seen whether Arsenal will deem it worthwhile to tie him down for another year.

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Free agents 2017: 20 footballers whose contract runs out in the summer

2. Per Mertesacker - Arsenal

Injured since the summer, Mertesacker hasn’t featured at all for Arsenal this term. The German defender is expected to return in a few weeks but he may find it difficult to break back into the starting XI, especially after Arsene Wenger bought Shkodran Mustafi in the summer. There are also rumours he may be let out on loan until the summer.

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Free agents 2017: 20 footballers whose contract runs out in the summer

3. John Terry - Chelsea

Terry picked up an injury after initially being a part of Antonio Conte’s plans. He is available for selection now, however the Italian has opted to change his formation and Terry has been left frustrated. At the age of 36, his time at Chelsea may be over.

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Free agents 2017: 20 footballers whose contract runs out in the summer

4. Yaya Toure - Manchester City

The 33-year-old’s agent has been trying to force a move away for some time, but Toure has recently seen more game time for City. This is his sixth season with the club, and they may be looking to get him off the wage book and bring in some fresh blood.

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Free agents 2017: 20 footballers whose contract runs out in the summer

5. Zlatan Ibrahimovic - Manchester United

It is unknown whether United will use the one year option on Ibrahimovic’s contract to extend his stay at the club but the Swede has performed admirably. Questions were raised over whether he was too old to perform in the Premier League but the 35-year-old has answered his critics, scoring 18 goals in 28 appearances – including 13 in the Premier League.

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Free agents 2017: 20 footballers whose contract runs out in the summer

6. Michael Carrick - Manchester United

United are unbeaten in all competitions when the midfielder has featured this season. Despite not being favoured by Jose Mourinho in the early stages of his reign, Carrick now seems to be one of the first names on the Portuguese boss’ team sheet. But, at the age of 35, will United be looking to tie him up to another deal?

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Free agents 2017: 20 footballers whose contract runs out in the summer

7. Saido Berahino - West Bromwich Albion

The striker has been exiled from the first team since his strop back in 2015 when the Baggies rejected two bids from Tottenham. The 23-year-old took to Twitter to say he would never play for West Brom again. The club have approached him a third time about a new contract worth a reported £55,000-a-week but reports have suggested that he is refusing to sign.

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Free agents 2017: 20 footballers whose contract runs out in the summer

8. Adrian - West Ham United

The 30-year-old goalkeeper is out of contract in the summer but the club do have an option to extend it by two years. However, Adrian has recently lost his place in the team to Darren Randolph, after starting the first 11 games and conceding 20 goals.

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Free agents 2017: 20 footballers whose contract runs out in the summer

9. Jesus Navas - Manchester City

The pacey winger has received heavy criticism since moving to the Etihad for his lack of end product and has been used sparingly by Guardiola this season. It might be his last year with City.

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Free agents 2017: 20 footballers whose contract runs out in the summer

10. Taison - Shakhtar Donetsk

The 28-year-old almost joined Chelsea from Metalist Kharkiv back in 2013 but opted instead to stay in Ukraine with Shakhtar. He hasn’t been used as much as he was at the beginning of the season which could signal a possible exit in the summer.

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Free agents 2017: 20 footballers whose contract runs out in the summer

11. Arjen Robben - Bayern Munich

The Dutchman has been one of the best talents in the world over the last 10 years but his time may be drawing to an end at Bayern. His highlight in Germany was helping the club lift the Champions League after his late winner in the 2012/13 final against Borussia Dortmund. It is believed that Bayern will be hoping to tie him down to another contract.

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Free agents 2017: 20 footballers whose contract runs out in the summer

12. Fernando Torres - Liverpool

The Spanish forward’s reputation has been severely damaged since his £50m move to Chelsea. He struggled with the Blues, and AC Milan, before moving on to Atletico where he has only scored twice this term, both coming in the 5-0 drubbing of Sporting Gijon.

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Free agents 2017: 20 footballers whose contract runs out in the summer

13. Pablo Zabaleta - Manchester City

The Argentinian right-back has not been used as much under Guardiola, with the Spanish coach preferring to rotate between him and Bacary Sagna. Guardiola has said that he must prove himself under his style of football to in order to earn a new deal.

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Free agents 2017: 20 footballers whose contract runs out in the summer

14. Branislav Ivanovic - Chelsea

Ivanovic was heavily involved in the first six games of the campaign, but like Terry, fell victim to a formation change by Conte. The change of tactic and acquisition of David Luiz means that the Serbian has fallen further down the pecking order and usually features from the bench.

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Free agents 2017: 20 footballers whose contract runs out in the summer

15. Glen Johnson - Stoke City

The Stoke right-back started the season with a thigh strain and then followed that up with a hamstring injury to miss eight of the first 11 games. Since then he has been ever-present for the Potters and with the option of a year extension on his contract, it’s likely they’ll look to get him to put pen to paper.

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Free agents 2017: 20 footballers whose contract runs out in the summer

16. Lucas Leiva - Liverpool

It looked highly likely that the Brazilian would be going on loan to Inter in January but the Nerazzurri put the deal on hold while they looked to secure the signing of Roberto Gagliardini from Atalanta. The Brazilian has mainly made cameo appearances this season and after almost a decade at the club, he may be moved on.

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Free agents 2017: 20 footballers whose contract runs out in the summer

17. Bacary Sagna - Manchester City

The former Arsenal right-back has only featured in 10 Premier League games this season. As with Zabaleta, Guardiola has told him that he must perform well and adapt to his style of play if he wants to stay with the club further.

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Free agents 2017: 20 footballers whose contract runs out in the summer

18. Gael Clichy - Manchester City

Guardiola has been rotating his left-backs as well as his right-backs but at times Clichy has found himself in central midfield under the Spanish boss’ new system. Like both Sagna and Zabaleta though, he is over 30, and City believe they have youngsters who are capable of replacing them. Like Zabaleta and Sagna, Clichy has a lot to prove in the second half of the season.

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Free agents 2017: 20 footballers whose contract runs out in the summer

19. Mario Balotelli - OGC Nice

To say the Italian forward is a maverick would be somewhat of an understatement. This season, despite seeing his Nice side top Ligue 1 at the winter break, Balotelli has racked up either a booking or a goal in every game, as well as two red cards. His goalscoring record could prove vital for Nice, having netted eight times in nine outings for the league leaders.

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Free agents 2017: 20 footballers whose contract runs out in the summer

20. Daniele De Rossi - AS Roma

A stalwart for Roma and the Italian national side but will he follow in the footsteps of club great Francesco Totti? The 33-year-old is spending his 15th year in the senior team after making his way through the academy. The midfielder is a mainstay in the team and it’s expected that a new contract will be signed before this one runs its course.

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"In this moment it is not easy. It is a crazy transfer market," Antonio Conte reflected in his first press conference as Chelsea manager this season.

Despite signing N'Golo Kante and Michy Batshuayi (combined fee £63m), the Italian was left frustrated by how much clubs were asking for their talent - a sentiment echoed by many Premier League managers.

What Conte failed to highlight, of course, was that his new boss - the billionaire Roman Abramovich - led the way in inflating transfer fees when he bought Chelsea in 2003.

With Manchester City's and PSG's Middle Eastern owners following the Russian in West London, not to mention the recent addition of China's billions to the world transfer market, it's almost impossible to find a bargain without the widest of scouting networks.

But there are some hiding in plain sight. Our gallery above shows 20 players around Europe whose contracts are running out in the summer.

Your club could sign them on a free...

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