We may be approaching the business end of the football season, but this summer we are set for a transfer window like no other.
Paulo Dybala will be the latest star available on a free transfer after Juventus confirmed on Monday that they won’t be renewing his expiring deal beyond this campaign.
At 28, Dybala has won nine major honours with the Italian giants and has plenty to still give – with the Argentine already attracting multiple top European suitors.
In light of Dybala’s development, Sportsmail looks at the best free agents available this summer as produce a starting XI in a 4-3-3 formation.
Paulo Dybala’s time at Juventus is coming to an end with the player leaving this summer
GOALKEEPER
Andre Onana (Ajax)
A few seasons Andre Onana had the world at his feet, then it came crashing down in February 2021.
A Champions League semi-finalist in 2019, Onana had been rated as one of the most exciting young goalkeepers in world football in recent years before his career was blighted by a failed drugs test. He was banned for one year by UEFA after testing positive for Furosemide last February, but claimed he had accidentally taken his wife’s medication.
After an appeal, his suspension was reduced to nine months by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) after finding ‘no significant fault’ from Onana.
Still only 25, the Cameroon international has been linked with numerous elite European clubs in the past, including Chelsea and Arsenal. A deal to Inter Milan looks most likely though with reports he completed a medical with the Serie A side in January, although no official deal has been confirmed.
Andre Onana is looking to revive his career away from Ajax after completing a drugs ban
DEFENDERS
Cesar Azpilicueta (Chelsea)
Cesar Azpilicueta has been a Chelsea stalwart during a decade of brilliant service. During his 10 years in west London, the captain has won everything there is to win in club football with the Blues. The 32-year-old could add to his nine major Chelsea honours as well this season with Thomas Tuchel’s side in the FA Cup semi-finals and Champions League quarter-finals.
Azpilicueta is still an integral part of Tuchel’s side, having made 35 appearances for the club in all competitions this season.
Mr Dependable, the full back seems likely to return to Spain this summer with Barcelona leading the queue for his signature.
Cesar Azpilicueta is a Chelsea legend but has interest from Barcelona to join them this summer
Antonio Rudiger (Chelsea)
Antonio Rudiger could be another Chelsea defender heading for Spain this summer. The centre back has emerged as one of the world’s best in his position under Tuchel and has a plethora of suitors in for him, including Real Madrid.
The Spanish giants face a battle on their hands though with Bayern Munich, Juventus and Manchester United all eyeing his situation at Stamford Bridge.
Any talks of a contract renewal are currently on hold while the club is under UK Government sanctions following owner Roman Abramovich’s close links to Russian president Vladimir Putin who invaded Ukraine last month.
Antonio Rudiger has Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, Juventus and Manchester United circling
Dan-Axel Zagadou (Borussia Dortmund)
Another centre back who has been linked with a move to Manchester United is Dan-Axel Zagadou. The Borussia Dortmund defender is understood to have a long-term admirer in United interim manager Ralf Rangnick. Rangnick was at RB Leipzig in 2017 when they competed with Dortmund for the defender’s signature when he left Paris Saint-Germain.
Only 22, the France Under-21 international has been beset by injuries woe in his young career – and is currently on the sidelines with a thigh issue.
Man United have been monitoring Borussia Dortmund defender Dan-Axel Zagadou (right)
Marcelo (Real Madrid)
Seventeen major honours in 15 years, will see Marcelo go down as a Real Madrid legend but the left back’s time at the Santiago Bernabeu is coming to a close.
The Real captain has been an excellent servant of the club but has been reduced to just 14 appearances for the Spanish giants in all competitions this season – with the likes of Ferland Mendy and Nacho ahead of him at left back.
It has been rumoured that a return to his native Brazil and with Fluminense could be on the cards for the 33-year-old.
Real Madrid left back Marcelo looks set to leave after having fallen down the pecking order
MIDFIELDERS
Luka Modric (Real Madrid)
Luka Modric has won a plethora of trophies alongside Marcelo at Real Madrid, but he too could be leaving the Santiago Bernabeu this summer.
The 36-year-old has demonstrated his class this season once more – most notably in Real’s last-16 second-leg comeback win over Paris Saint-Germain earlier this month.
It seems both parties are keen to extend their relationship beyond this season with Modric purring as ever with Real on course to win LaLiga this season.
Luke Modric (right) demonstrated his class in midfield for Real during this month’s win vs PSG
Franck Kessie (AC Milan)
Modric could be lining-up against Franck Kessie in midfield in an El Clasico next season with the AC Milan man linked with a move to Barcelona.
As detailed by Sportsmail, Barca boss Xavi wants a box-to-box athlete and the club see Kessie as a the perfect player to arrive from Milan on a free and compete for places with Gavi, Pedri, Nico, Frenkie de Jong and Sergio Busquets.
Franck Kessie is viewed as the perfect box-to-box addition for Barcelona in their rebuild
Paul Pogba (Manchester United)
The enigma at the Theatre of Dreams looks set to be over with Paul Pogba seemingly heading out of the Manchester United exit door for a second time.
Speaking this week, Pogba suggested to Le Figaro that the last five years of his career – and his prime – have frustratingly fallen short of his expectations.
‘You have to be honest, the last five seasons have not satisfied me – really not at all,’ Pogba said. ‘This year it is dead, we won’t win anything. Whether it is with Manchester United or at another club, I want to win trophies.’
The 29-year-old’s talent is obvious, the question is can he produce it on a consistent basis. We may find that out at his new club with Real Madrid, Paris Saint-Germain and Juventus all circling.
Paul Pogba (left) looks set to leave Man United for nothing for the second time in his career
FORWARDS
Paulo Dybala (Juventus)
Pogba and Dybala were team-mates at Juventus and both are set for a big summer. As detailed earlier, the latter’s time in Turin is up after the January addition of £62million man Dusan Vlahovic from Fiorentina has seen the club move in a different direction – deciding against offering the No 10 a new deal.
Bought from Palermo for £23million in 2015, Dybala has certainly shone at the Allianz Stadium – winning four Serie A titles and five Coppa Italia crowns during his time there.
However, injuries have played a debilitating factor in his decline over recent seasons. Despite that, he’s still only 28 and has plenty of rumoured suitors such as Inter Milan, Atletico Madrid and Tottenham. Barcelona and Arsenal are also monitoring the situation, while Manchester United were keen on him a few seasons ago too.
Juventus have decided against signing Dybala to a new deal after failing to agree terms
Kylian Mbappe (Paris Saint-Germain)
It is quite baffling that a player of Kylian Mbappe’s calibre is leaving a club on a free but that’s where we are with the Paris Saint-Germain star. The French giants decided against cashing in on the France World Cup winner last summer, when Real Madrid were keen. Now they face the prospect of losing him to the Spanish side for nothing in just a few months’ time.
The 23-year-old is known to be a Real Madrid fan and it appears that his boyhood dream will become a reality this summer.
PSG striker Kylian Mbappe (left) looks set to fulfill his boyhood dream in joining Real Madrid
Ousmane Dembele (Barcelona)
A team-mate of Mbappe’s within the France squad, Ousmane Dembele is also set for a move – with reports claiming he could replace Mbappe at PSG.
Last month, Dembele was jeered by Barcelona fans every time he touched the ball in their Europa League draw with Napoli amid his contractual stand-off with the club.
After turning down an extension in Catalonia, Dembele is set to become a free agent in the summer with his current deal due to expire at the end of June.
He was told by Barca director Mateu Alemany to find a new club in the January transfer window, but having failed to do so will now remain a member of Xavi’s squad at least until the end of the campaign.
The 24-year-old has been plagued by injuries during his five years at the Nou Camp but can still list the likes of Manchester United and Chelsea among his rumoured suitors.
Barca’s Ousmane Dembele had deafening boos when he came on as a substitute last month
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