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A closer look at 10 free agents still on the market

sportsmole.co.uk, 11 July 2023, 11:34
The summer transfer window is in full swing and the cash has already been splashed by a number of high-profile clubs as they endeavour to bolster their squads ahead of the 2023-24 campaign.

While some clubs have broken their transfer record to recruit top targets, others continue to scout the globe for the latest bargain deal.

Indeed, a plethora of notable stars are still waiting to be snapped up by other clubs and are weighing up their options after becoming free agents at the end of last month.

The likes of Lionel Messi, Karim Benzema, N'Golo Kante, Milan Skriniar and Roberto Firmino have all completed moves to new clubs on free transfers this summer, and here, Sports Mole picks out 10 out-of-contract players who are still searching for a new home ahead of the new season.

David de Gea

Just over a week after becoming a free agent, goalkeeper David de Gea confirmed last Saturday that he will be ending his 12-year association with Manchester United, where he kept a club-record 190 clean sheets in 545 games and won a plethora of trophies and personal accolades to earn legendary status at Old Trafford.

The 32-year-old, still in the prime years of his career, has stated that now is the "right time to undertake a new challenge" in "new surroundings", leading to speculation that he will continue his career away from the Premier League.

De Gea has recently been linked with Turkish giants Fenerbahce and the big spenders of Saudi Arabia, including Cristiano Ronaldo's Al-Nassr, while the Spaniard could swap positions with Inter Milan's Andre Onana, who has been identified by Man United boss Erik ten Hag as his primary goalkeeper target.

Sergio Ramos

Fellow Spaniard Sergio Ramos was a first-team regular with Ligue 1 champions Paris Saint-Germain last season, starting 42 games in all competitions, but the veteran defender is now searching for a new club after ending his two-year spell at the Parc des Princes.

The 37-year-old, widely regarded as one of the best defenders of his generations, has won 25 trophies at club level during his illustrious playing career in Europe, but a potential transfer away from the continent could be on the cards for the Real Madrid legend.

Indeed, Ramos has been tipped to link up with former PSG teammate Lionel Messi at MLS outfit Inter Miami, while clubs in Saudi Arabia have also been credited with an interest in the 2010 World Cup winner.

Eden Hazard

Eden Hazard's injury-hit four-year spell with Real Madrid has come to an end after the winger mutually agreed to terminate his contract with the club at the beginning of last month.

The 32-year-old, who scored just seven goals in 76 games for Los Blancos, was a shadow of the player that excelled in the Premier League with Chelsea, and there have been suggestions that the Belgian may consider retirement from football.

However, Hazard has been tipped to continue his career in the USA with Inter Miami, while a possible return to Belgium to link up with brother Kylian Hazard at RWD Molenbeek has also been mooted via journalist Sacha Tavolieri.

Daichi Kamada

Arguably one of the most sought-after free agents on the market is Japanese playmaker Daichi Kamada who has bid farewell to Eintracht Frankfurt after five seasons in the Bundesliga.

The 26-year-old has caught the eye of a host of European clubs after scoring 40 goals and providing 33 assists in 179 appearances for Frankfurt, including 16 strikes and seven assists in 47 games last season.

90min claims that AC Milan have ended their interest in Kamada, but the likes of Liverpool, Newcastle United, Tottenham Hotspur, Napoli, Inter Milan, Roma, Borussia Dortmund, Atletico Madrid and Benfica are all said to be closely monitoring his situation.

Wilfried Zaha

Wilfried Zaha's future at Crystal Palace has been called into question for a number of years and it remains unknown as to whether the attacker will continue with the Eagles after seeing his contract expire last month.

Palace remain hopeful of keeping hold of their star man and they are understood to have offered the 30-year-old a club-record £200,000-a-week salary to extend his stay with the club, where he has scored a total of 90 goals in 458 appearances across two spells at Selhurst Park.

However, Zaha is still weighing up his options ahead of the new season after allegedly agreeing personal terms with Lazio, Fenerbahce and Al-Nassr, the former of whom can offer Champions League football as can Napoli and PSG who have also been linked with the Ivory Coast international.

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain has joined James Milner and Naby Keita in heading for the exit door at Liverpool after injuries plagued the midfielder's development during his six-year spell at Anfield, where he scored 18 goals and provided 15 assists in 146 appearances.

While Milner and Keita have already found themselves new clubs, joining Brighton & Hove Albion and Werder Bremen respectively, Oxlade-Chamberlain is still waiting for the phone to ring, and the 29-year-old will feel that he still has a lot to offer in the prime years of his career.

Aston Villa were allegedly in talks with the former Arsenal man last month, but discussions over a move to the West Midlands have failed to materialise, while clubs in Saudi Arabia are thought to be considering a summer swoop for the Englishman.

Adama Traore

After failing to reached the heights expected at Wolverhampton Wanderers, Adama Traore finds himself without at club at the age of 27 after ending his five-year stay at Molineux.

The former Barcelona academy graduates may not have established himself as the most prolific of wingers during his time at Wolves, scoring only 14 goals and providing 20 assists in 194 games, but the Spaniard has been lauded for his explosive pace and strength when bombing down the flanks, and a number of European clubs are believed to be monitoring his situation.

Indeed, Serie A duo AC Milan and Roma have both been credited with an interest in Traore, with the player's agent Jorge Mendes understood to have held talks with the latter in Italy, while a possible Premier League stay with Everton has also been mooted.

Jonathan Bamba

Three years on from winning the Ligue 1 title with Lille, Jonathan Bamba has departed the French outfit on a free transfer and has understandably attracted interest from a number of suitors this summer.

The 27-year-old winger made 200 appearances across a five-year period with Lille, scoring 29 goals and providing 35 assists, including six goals and seven assists in 34 Ligue 1 matches last season.

A number of Serie A clubs including Atalanta BC have been credited with an interest in Bamba, but French Football Weekly claims that they may face competition from Marseille who can offer Champions League football.

Moussa Dembele

Twelve months on from notching up 21 Ligue 1 goals for Lyon, Moussa Dembele was forced to play second fiddle behind Alexandre Lacazette last season and found the net just three times in eight starts and 15 substitute outings, before deciding to run down his contract with the French club.

The 27-year-old striker has scored a total of 140 club goals across spells with Lyon, Celtic and Fulham, and will feel that he still has a lot to offer in one of Europe's top-five leagues heading into the prime years of his career.

Cash-strapped Everton are understood to have identified Dembele as a potential target as they scour the free agent market, while Turkish champions Galatasaray are also believed to be considering a summer move for the Frenchman.

Alfredo Morelos

Another 27-year-old striker reportedly attracting the interest of Everton is Alfredo Morelos who is still searching for a new club after ending his six-year spell with Rangers.

The Colombia international, who scored 124 goals in 269 appearances for the Glaswegian giants, was once valued in the region of £20m, but he can now be snapped up for nothing this summer after rejecting a contract extension at Ibrox.

Colombian news outlet Balonlatino, via the Daily Record, claims that the Toffees could face competition from Crystal Palace and Italian club Bologna to sign Morelos, who has also been linked with surprise moves to Azerbaijani outfit Qarabag FK and Russian club Spartak Moscow.

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