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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Sport
Patrick Austen-Hardy

Free agent XI available after January transfer window closes including Jack Wilshere

European clubs are likely enjoying a well earned sit-down after another breathless January Transfer deadline day.

A sensational £295million was spent by Premier League clubs during the winter transfer window, with Newcastle United finishing as the highest spenders.

Meanwhile, the window brought down the curtain on several long running transfer sagas such as Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s bitter move from Arsenal to Barcelona, and Dusan Vlahovic’s exit to Juventus.

However, in and amongst the monstrous transfer offers, the unveiling videos, and the constant speculation, you will find a huge number of players who are currently free agents.

Daily Mirror Sport takes a look at a whole starting eleven of players who were not able to find a new club in January.

GK: Giedrius Arlauskis

HAVE YOUR SAY! Which free agents would you want your club to sign? Comment below

Arlauski was released by CFR Cluj during the transfer window (Photo by Flaviu Buboi/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

The experienced Lithuainian goalkeeper made 11 appearances in all competitions for Romanian side CFR Cluj, until he was released at the start of January.

Arlauskis has previously played for the likes of Watford, Espanyol, Steaua Bucharest, Rubin Kazan, and many more.

He would surely be a worthy addition for a side in desperate need of a goalkeeper.

RB: Deandre Yedlin

Deandre Yedlin has Premier League experience with Newcastle United and Tottenham Hotspur (Photo by Massimo Insabato/Archivio Massimo Insabato/Mondadori Portfolio via Getty Images)

The former Tottenham Hotspur and Newcastle United right-back became a free agent for the first time in his footballing career just five days before deadline day, as he was released by Galatasaray.

With 71 international caps for the USA, including appearances at the 2014 World Cup, Yedlin is a very experienced defender who could be a worthy addition for most top-flight sides in Europe.

At 28-years-old, Yedlin is beginning to enter his prime years, but will now be looking for new sides ahead of next season.

CB: Laurent Koscielny

Koscielny was banished by Bordeaux (Hugo Pfeiffer/Icon Sport via Getty Images)

The former Arsenal captain was banished by his side Bordeaux, who also stripped him off the captaincy.

He was jettisoned by the French giants after a terrible run of form which saw the Ligue 1 giants drop down to 17th place.

Koscielny won three FA Cups and three Community Shields during his time at the Emirates Stadium, making over 353 appearances for the Gunners.

CB: Winston Reid

Winston Reid spent last season on loan at Brentford (Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA/Getty Images)

The former captain of West Ham and one of the most experienced free agents in the business, Winston Reid is currently in the process of looking for a new club.

After consecutive loan spells with Kansas City and Brentford, Reid was released by David Moyes’ on the September 21.

His first transfer window as a free agent has not bared any fruit, however, very few free agents boast 166 Premier League appearances and 26 international caps for their country.

LB: Charlie Daniels

Charlie Daniels has struggled at Colchester United and Portsmouth (Photo by Robin Jones/Getty Images)

Charlie Daniels became a free agent in the closing stages of the January transfer window.

The former AFC Bournemouth left-back departed League Two Colchester United, after his contract was terminated by mutual consent.

He is now looking for his fourth club in one year, having played for Shrewsbury Town, Portsmouth, and Colchester since January 2021.

Despite boasting an impressive CV which includes 129 Premier League appearances for Bournemouth, the 35-year-old’s next move could very well be one of his last.

RM. Issac Mbenza

Isaac Mbenza has Premier League experience with Huddersfield Town (Photo by John Early/Getty Images)

Huddersfield Town supporters may remember Issac Mbenza for his 22 appearances he made in the Terriers’ final season in the Premier League.

Mbenza was signed on loan by David Wagner in Town’s disastrous second top-flight campaign.

While he made 22 league appearances for the Terriers, Mbenza only contributed one goal and one assist in what was a very toothless Huddersfield side.

He found himself in the free agent wilderness in the middle of January, after he was released by Qatar SC.

CM. Jack Wilshere

Wilshere is still training with Arsenal (Photo by Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images))

Wilshere’s most recent move has been on to the radio waves, where he is now a regular pundit on TalkSPORT.

Unfortunately, he was not able to find another club for the second consecutive transfer window.

While he has been training with his former side Arsenal, there remains little hope that he will suddenly be called upon by Mikel Arteta’s side.

CM. Ramires

Ramires won everything there was to win in English football (Photo by Miguel Schincariol/Getty Image)

A cult hero at Chelsea who scored one of the most iconic goals in Champions League history, Ramires is currently available on a free transfer.

The former Blue, who won the Premier League, the Champions League, the FA Cup, and the League Cup, was released by Brazilian giants Palmeiras in November.

Ramires left the Blues to join Chinese giants JS Suning in the 2016 transfer window, but jumped ship to his native homeland Brazil when the Chinese Super League started struggling.

However, the 34-year-old is free to a club, should one decide to take a chance on the Chelsea hero.

LM. Kwadwo Asamoah

Asamoah won six Serie A titles at Juventus (Photo by Alessandro Sabattini/Getty Images)

Kwadwo Asamoah is one of the most successful free agents in the footballing world today.

He won six Serie A titles, four Italian cups, and three Italian Super Cups during a trophy laden six years at Juventus.

The former Ghana international who has 71 international caps moved to Inter Milan in the summer of 2018, only to depart the club two seasons later and join Cagliari.

Unfortunately, he is now a free agent after only five months with the Serie A side.

ST. Diego Costa

Costa is now a free agent (Photo by Pedro Vilela/Getty Images)

Premier League clubs only stopped shuddering when Diego Costa left Chelsea for Atletico Madrid in the 2018 January transfer window.

While his split from the west Londoners was very bitter, Blues fans will always remember the striker’s nasty, but yet often sensational performances in the Premier League.

Costa became a free agent for the second time in his career, after he decided to cut short his contract with Brazilian giants Atletico Mineiro.

ST. Bafetimbi Gomis

Gomis is a free agent after leaving Saudi Arabian side Hilal (Photo by -/AFP via Getty Images)

Bafetimbi Gomis’ celebration is one of the most iconic and famous in recent football history.

However, he has not been able to perform his infamous Lion celebration, which once scared a ball boy so much he burst into tears, in recent weeks.

The former Swansea City and Lyon striker was released by Saudi Arabian side Hilal in the closing stages of the January transfer window.

Unfortunately, he was not able to find himself a new club before the winter market slammed shut.

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