Top 10 players who will be free agents next summer
For football fans, transfer windows are a sight to behold: elite football clubs around the world jostling to lure a superstar to their backyard, the will-he-won't-he situations, and all the deadline day drama.
Well, the best players in the world are almost always worth their weight in gold, but even good players cost an arm and a leg these days.
The idea of a talented player available for free in the transfer window is the stuff dreams are made of, but such dreams are now commonplace in the football world. This season too, quite a few players are entering the final years of their contracts and unless their parent clubs decide to extend their deals, they could be up for free next summer.
What makes it very interesting is that the group this year includes some world class players each of whom, if going for free next summer, will be a real steal for any club.
Who are the top 10 players will be free agents in the summer of 2020? Read on to find out.
#10 Eric Bailly (Manchester United)
The Manchester United defender came to the Premier League in the summer of 2016, with straight A's in his report card . Bailly had impressed during his time in La Liga and was earmarked by Jose Mourinho to be United’s defensive rock in the future. In fact, the Ivorian was the Portuguese’s first signing after taking charge at Old Trafford.
Bailly made 38 appearances of United in his debut season, despite missing over a month of action due to a knee injury, and won the EFL Cup, the Community Shield, and the UEFA Europa League. He looked a fine addition to the team and his no-nonsense style of defending, coupled with his athleticism, made him popular with the fans.
The following season, the Ivorian started as the first choice center-back, but an ankle injury saw him sidelined for over 4 months in total. He could only amass a total of 18 appearances in all competitions for the club. Last season, Bailly made 18 appearances once again, failing to make it into Mourinho’s starting eleven at the start of the season. Even after Solskjaer’s appointment, the Ivorian’s luck did not improve and he continued to struggle for game time.
Over the summer, Bailly has had to undergo knee surgery and has not kicked a ball this season. He is currently recovering from the surgery and might not even be back before the turn of the year. Even though he’s only 25-years-old, the Ivorian could find himself as a free agent in the summer of 2020 (unless United agree to tie him down with a new deal). If that happens, he would not be short of suitors, provided he manages to keep himself fit. It was initially thought that United would extend his contract despite his injury, but there has been little progress on that front.
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