As we prepare for a busy January transfer window, Premier League clubs including Arsenal, Liverpool and Chelsea will be acutely aware of a number of big players' contract situations.
While Jurgen Klopp's Reds and Graham Potter's Blues have stars approaching the final few months of their current deals, Mikel Arteta's Gunners have the benefit of eyeing up those whose contracts elsewhere are close to expiry. Those with contracts expiring in June will be free to speak to potential suitors in the coming weeks, while some may choose to cash in rather than risk losing players for nothing.
With clubs from Europe's top leagues returning after the World Cup with varying priorities, we could see some more big names on the move either next month or over the summer. Those approaching the end of their current deals include superstars approaching the twilight of their careers as well as those nearing their peak years in the game.
Premier League stars
A number of Premier League players could be on the move at the end of the season, having yet to agree new deals. Chelsea duo N'Golo Kante and Jorginho could both leave for nothing, leaving manager Potter in need of reinforcements, but Liverpool could be left even lighter.
Naby Keita is one of a few Reds midfielders with just a few months remaining, while the same applies to frontman Roberto Firmino. Man City and Man Utd also have decisions to make on long-serving stars, with Ilkay Gundogan and David de Gea facing uncertain futures.
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Crystal Palace forward Wilfried Zaha has been linked with Arsenal in the past, as has out-of-contract Leicester star Youri Tielemans, and both men are on the list, which uses Transfermarkt valuations and was shared by Football Italia. The Gunners could be tempted to return for the Belgian in January if they decide the extra few million is worth their while.
Champions League winners
At the time of writing, Lionel Messi is still technically about to enter the final few months of his contract. An extension for the Paris Saint-Germain star appears all but confirmed, but he is not the only former Champions League victor up for grabs.
Like Messi, Luka Modric is a man whose international future was debated throughout the tournament in Qatar. He could leave Real Madrid for nothing at the end of the season, as could Ballon d'Or winner Karim Benzema, Germany midfielder Toni Kroos and Spanish frontman Marco Asensio.
Angel Di Maria also won the Champions League with Los Blancos, back in 2014. The World Cup winner joined Juventus from PSG last summer, but only signed a one-year deal and could be free to move on.
Big European names
Adrien Rabiot is one man who feels like a permanent fixture in gossip columns. The French international impressed during Les Bleus' run in Qatar and has been tipped to leave Juve in the summer rather than extend his stay.
Manchester United have been linked with the former PSG midfielder, while Memphis Depay is another with potential Premier League connections. There were suggestions of an Old Trafford return for the Barcelona forward, and such a move would cost the Red Devils nothing in the summer.
There are also those who could become available on the cheap in January. Marcus Thuram has been linked with a January switch as he nears the end of his Borussia Monchengladbach deal, while some may try to test Inter Milan's resolve over Milan Skriniar, even if a summer exit appears more likely for the Slovakian.
Players out of contract in summer 2023: Milan Skriniar (Inter Milan), Lionel Messi (PSG), Youri Tielemans (Leicester), Karim Benzema (Real Madrid), Jorginho (Chelsea), Wilfried Zaha (Crystal Palace), Marcus Thuram (Gladbach), Evan Ndicka (Frankfurt), Leandro Trossard (Brighton), Thomas Lemar (Atletico Madrid), N'Golo Kante (Chelsea), Daichi Kamada (Frankfurt), Youssoufa Moukoko (Dortmund), Roberto Firmino (Liverpool), Konrad Laimer (RB Leipzig), Ilkay Gundogan (Man City), Adrien Rabiot (Juventus), Marco Asensio (Real Madrid), Viktor Tsygankov (Dynamo Kyiv), Caglar Soyuncu (Leicester), Toni Kroos (Real Madrid), Memphis Depay (Barcelona), Raphael Guerreiro (Dortmund), Alejandro Grimaldo (Benfica), Ramy Bensebaini (Gladbach), Jonathan Bamba (Lille), Naby Keita (Liverpool), Houssem Aouar (Lyon), Ruslan Malinovskyi (Atalanta), Moussa Dembele (Lyon), Nelson Semedo (Wolves), David de Gea (Man Utd), Stefan de Vrij (Inter), Andrea Belotti (Roma), Hector Bellerin (Barcelona), Adama Traore (Wolves), Luis Muriel (Atalanta), Luka Modric (Real Madrid), Angel Di Maria (Juventus), Marcos Alonso (Barcelona).
