Transfer Centre

Best out-of-contract XI including Edinson Cavani, Willian, Giorgio Chiellini

By Darren Plant, Senior Reporter | 17 March 2020

With plenty of high-profile names having less than four months left on their contract, Sports Mole puts together a team of players who are set to become free agents.

With the current uncertainty surrounding the coronavirus outbreak and what it means for world football, it remains unclear when the next transfer window will open and close.

However, UEFA and FIFA also have to deal with the minefield of contracts, especially of players who are due to become free agents on July 1.

As it stands, the domestic and European campaigns are unlikely to reach a conclusion by that date, leaving open the possibility of players continuing to represent their current clubs at a time when they are technically able to leave for a new challenge as and when they choose.

Below, Sports Mole puts together a team of players who currently have less than four months remaining on their existing deals, putting them in a position where they can already hold discussions with foreign clubs.

Although Joe Hart has been restricted to just three appearances in cup competitions this season, the former England number one will attract plenty of offers when he departs Burnley at the end of the season.

As far as the defence and central midfield is concerned, we have tried to juggle experience with combativeness, leading to us feeling comfortable with pairing Paris Saint-Germain and Juventus veterans Thiago Silva and Giorgio Chiellini in the middle of the backline.

Given their age, they would naturally sit deeper than most players in their position, but it would allow Thomas Meunier and Layvin Kurzawa more licence to make headway from their full-back roles.

With that in mind, we would look to use Charles Aranguiz in a defensive role in front of Silva and Chiellini, with the Chile international having grown into that role during his five years at Bayer Leverkusen.

Although Giacomo Bonaventura has only been used as a squad member at AC Milan this season, the 30-year-old has the qualities which would complement Aranguiz in the centre of the pitch.

As well as experience, we also need some fresher legs in our side, and 24-year-old Viktor Kovalenko is the perfect fit in the number 10 role as he prepares to end his long-term association with Shakhtar Donetsk.

Given the array of attacking talent currently due to become available, we feel obliged to move Dries Mertens out to the right, rather than keep the experienced Napoli frontman in his preferred role down the middle.

Although the 32-year-old has 12 goals in Serie A and the Champions League, Edinson Cavani trumps the Belgian with his proven track record for PSG.

Despite his preference being to work from the right, we would have Chelsea's Willian on the opposite flank, with the licence to cut inside and provide inswinging deliveries for Cavani.