The coronavirus pandemic has had a massive effect on the global economy and football has not escaped it. Most football clubs will be expected to go about their business without spending a ridiculous amount of money on player transfers this summer. In that case, some clubs will have to look for alternatives to strengthen their squads without splashing big cash.
With most of the top European leagues back in action, there are some big names in the market to shop for – who are out or will be out of contract at the end of the season. The following players were selected from the Transfermarkt’s list and classed as the top ten bargains of the summer.
Watch: Every club’s best player who could become a free agent in 2020
Edinson Cavani | Forward | Without a club
The Uruguayan striker spent seven years at Paris-Saint Germain scoring a total of 138 goals for the Parisians. The PSG’s board were keen to prolong his stay in the French capital rejecting Atletico Madrid’s €20 million bid back in January.
However, back at the time, Cavani himself admitted that he wants to leave the club and with the Ligue 1 season cancelled, the Uruguayan is already a free agent. The shortage of top-level strikers available right now makes a 33-year-old an attractive prospect even at this age.
David Silva | Attacking Midfielder | Manchester City
Referred to as the ‘El Mago’, a 34-year-old is playing his last games for the four-time Premier League champions and will depart Manchester when the season ends. Silva has been one of the longest servants in the Sheik Mansour’s era, having spent ten years at the club.
This season the Spaniard has become only the seventh player in the Premier League’s history to provide 90+ assists averaging 0.30 per game. Even though his remarkable career in English football is about to come to an end, many clubs will still be in pursuit of the Spanish magician.
Adam Lallana | Attacking Midfielder | Liverpool
The English international was one of many Liverpool signings from Southampton, but his career at Anfield has never really kicked off since joining the Reds in 2014 for £25 million.
In his six seasons at the club, Lallana has made only 128 appearances in all competitions scoring 18 goals and assisting 22 times. His best season was in 2016/17 when the Southampton academy graduate made 31 Premier League appearances and added eight goals and seven assists to his name.
At the age of 32, Lallana still has a lot of attacking talent that would benefit many mid-table Premier League clubs should they be making a bid for Liverpool midfielder.
Mario Gotze | Attacking Midfielder | Borussia Dortmund
After returning to Dortmund in the 2015/16 season, the German international has struggled to make any meaningful impact. In four seasons, he managed to score 14 goals and averaged 60 minutes of playing time per game.
Gotze’s unsuccessful period at Bayern perhaps took a toll on his confidence which he could not regain back at Dortmund. However, still only 27, the scorer of the World Cup winning goal in 2014 is just entering his peak years and might benefit from a fresh start elsewhere.
Ryan Fraser | Winger | Bournemouth
The Scottish winger had a fantastic 2018/19 campaign that saw him being linked with potential moves to Arsenal and Liverpool. However, the 26-year-old has performed below par this season scoring only once in 28 Premier League matches admitting that the transfer speculations have negatively affected his performances.
With Bournemouth currently sitting in the relegation zone and fighting for their Premier League lives, it seems that Fraser’s future depends on whether the Cherries will avoid the drop or not.
Willian | Wide-Forward | Chelsea
The Brazil international has been the key player for Chelsea since his arrival in 2013 and surprisingly this Premier League campaign has been his best having scored nine goals so far.
Willian, who will turn 32 this August, has made 32 appearances in the Premier League this season 25 of which came from the start. It is highly likely that Chelsea will try to extend his current contract at least for one more year.
Jan Vertonghen | Centre-Back | Tottenham
At the start of the 2019/20 Premier League season, the rumours began to escalate that Tottenham Hotspur will have to wave goodbye to the Belgian duo of Jan Vertonghen and Tobby Alderweireld.
Nevertheless, the latter has extended his stay at the club until 2023, but the former is yet to agree to new terms despite playing fairly regularly under Jose Mourinho.
Pedro | Wide-Forward | Chelsea
The 32-year-old World Cup winner has been struggling for game time and is out of contract by the end of this season.
Since the appointment of Frank Lampard, the Spaniard fell off the radar and managed only ten Premier League games this season. With Christian Pulisic, Callum Hudson-Odoi and even Willian ahead of him in a pecking order, it is highly likely that Pedro is playing his last season for the Blues.
Thiago Silva | Centre-Back | Paris Saint-Germain
The Brazil centre-back has been a consistent performed throughout his eight seasons at Parc des Princes and is still regarded as one of the best defenders in Ligue 1 even at the age of 35.
With only a handful of top centre-backs available in the market, PSG might consider the possibility to extend Thiago Silva’s contract at least for another year as the player himself admitted his desire to finish his playing career in Paris.
Daniel Sturridge | Centre-Forward | Without a club
The Premier League and two-time Champions League winner has mutually terminated his contract with Trabzonspor after making only 16 appearances in the Super Lig.
He scored seven goals for the Turkish side this season and will be aiming to return to English football. A 30-year-old would be a handy asset to some Premier League clubs with Aston Villa reportedly trying to sign him back in January.
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