Despite the financial downturn across the world, clubs in Europe's top five leagues still spent over €4.6 billion within the summer window -- a drop of 43% in comparison to that of 2019. Some big players across the world will be available for free, come Summer of 2021, if they don’t put pen to paper soon.
Here are 10 top players who can be picked up for literally ‘nothing’ -- and can start to negotiate with other clubs in January:
Leo Messi
Messi's desire to go away from the club he's been at since he was 13 years old was the story of the summer. Ultimately, he opted to not take them to court over a clause in his contract saying he could leave for free of charge and not for his €700 million release clause. Pep Guardiola with Manchester City missed out on him, but might not when he becomes a free agent.
David Alaba
Alaba has been with Bayern since 2008, but things are beginning to turn a bit for the worse. Recently, former Bayern president Uli Hoeness accused the agent of Alaba and Pini Zahavi, of being "a money-grabbing piranha" amid negotiations over a replacement contract for his client -- with the €11m-per-year on offer reportedly in requirement of the €25m they asked for. Alaba at 28 is still World Class and will face no issues.
Gianluigi Donnarumma
It was something of a surprise when the best young goalkeeper within the game wasn't the topic of major attention within the summer window. Donnarumma is merely 21 but may be an ideal contention for transfer for a big side and Milan are clearly confident they will tie him right down to another deal. Milan, title contenders this year have a lot of work to do.
Sergio Aguero
The striker has spent almost a decade at City, having joined from Atletico Madrid in 2011, scoring an incredible 256 goals in 378 games. Now at the fag-end of his career and City looking to offload him, Aguero should be thinking about moving on as well. "I have always said that I want to return to Independiente and I will do just that," Aguero told back in 2015. Only time will tell.
Sergio Ramos
Real did not make a move within the summer window for the first time in 40 years, but as it is that they have players just like the 34-year-old Ramos it is easy to ascertain why. In a form Ramos is in, Real should give him the 2-year extension he wants.
Memphis Depay
The Dutch forward has attracted interest from Barcelona and PSG in recent weeks and will be available for as little as €25m. Reaching double figures for goals within the past three seasons, Depay has reinvented himself in Ligue 1 and should be tempted by a raise in his pay check or the set of players who he plays with.
Julian Draxler
Once tipped to become one of the world's best young players, Draxler has fallen down the pecking order at PSG. A €42m signing from Wolfsburg in January 2017, he was linked with Leeds and Hertha Berlin but couldn't seal a summer move or a winter move. It is to see where he lands.
Georginio Wijnaldum
Georginio Wijnaldum has emerged as a steady, consistent and reliable talent under Jurgen Klopp at Liverpool since arriving from Newcastle in 2011. He has played an important role in the middle of the park for the Reds, with his two goals against Barcelona in the Champions League 2019 semi-finals perhaps the biggest highlight of his contributions. Normally starting quite a lot of matches for the reds, he might just get the extension he needs.
Hakan Calhanoglu
Another Milan player in the list, Hakan Calhanoglu is reaching the end of his term with the club. Not playing too badly with 18 goal contributions in 35 matches last season and 9 in 18 matches this season, he could receive an extension.
Florian Thauvin
The Marseille forward has reportedly turned down a contract extension at the French club and is now being linked to a move to Atalanta, after three years playing in the south of France. Injury problems didn’t let him start quite a lot in 19-20 after scoring 18 goals in 37 appearances. He could act as an alternative for Depay in a team.
