Top 10 players who can sign a pre-contract in January 2015

If there's one thing clubs and managers hate when it comes to player transfers, it is their players unwilling to sign a new contract and penning a pre-contract with another club midway through a season.Players who are in their final year of the contract can leave for free on a Bosman transfer when their contract expires. It is one thing clubs try to avoid at all costs by either extending their contract with higher wages or selling the player in January to make some sort of profit if they can’t reach a decision.Whatever the case, it is a bargaining chip used by many players to get a more lucrative contract – either at their current club or at a new club willing to secure their services. A case in point would be Robert Lewandowski signing a pre-contract in January 2014 to join rivals Bayern Munich while he was still at Borussia Dortmund.We take a look at 10 players who are free to sign a pre-contract in January before their current deals expires at the end of the 2014/15 season.

#1 John Terry - Chelsea

The ever-present centre back in the Chelsea backline for almost two decades now, former England captain John Terry signed a one-year extension in May this year to stay at Stamford Bridge for one more season.

And even in his 17th season with the Blues, their captain has stood strong and delivered. Having retired from international duty two years ago, the 33-year-old has focused solely on his club career. Under Jose Mourinho, he has marshalled his troops to take them to the top of the Premier League table with currently the second best defensive record after 11 games. 

The Blues have a policy of offering only one-year deals to players who are above the age of 30. Although Terry was looking for a two-year deal, he agreed to sign a one-year contract with wages in the thereabouts of £175,000 per week.

If the Blues do not extend his contract, he will be available for free in May 2015 and will be a good buy for any top club. Terry still has at least two more years left in him.