Get to know the big European players who are still free to join other clubs

Associated with: DC United, Cardiff City, Newcastle United, Nottingham Forest, AC Milan, Tottenham Hotspur. Gareth Bale’s departure from Real Madrid comes after he carried the trophy for nine years, where he won five Champions League and La Liga titles three times. The Wales striker, 32, joined the Spanish champions in September 2013 for a transfer fee that set a world record at the time of more than £ 80m. He has already stated that his family and preparation for the World Cup will be his top priorities when he decides where to play next season.

 Associated with: Juventus, Real Madrid, Paris St-Germain, Manchester City. Paul Pogba is leaving Manchester United this summer after doing poorly for six years in his second season at the club. The midfielder won the EFL Cup and Europa League within a year after a dramatic return to United in the world record-breaking £ 89m transfer from Juventus in 2016. Although the 29-year-old helped France win the 2018 World Cup, he has only shown his excellent passing style with a strong United forward, where he has often been responsible in the defensive line and annoyed fans for failing to show effort. In an article highlighting his personal life, Pogba reportedly claimed United’s £ 300,000-a-week offer to be “nothing” indicating that anyone signing him would need to have longer pockets.

 Associated with: Brentford, Tottenham, Manchester United Christian Eriksen is set to be part of a four-and-a-half year contract at Inter Milan. The arrival of Cristiano Ronaldo and the seemingly endless list of injuries made him in trouble last season. His personality and experience can still prove to be an important product for a prospective club. Associated with: Botafogo, Flamengo, Corinthians, Athletico Paranaense Fernandinho, 37, played 19 Premier League games as he helped Manchester City win their fourth title in five seasons. The Brazilian international has already expressed an interest in returning to his home country after leaving City, where he has won five major league titles, six EFL Cups and an FA Cup. Associated with: Juventus, Aston Villa, Sevilla, Inter Miami At 35 years old, Luis Suarez is another good player in the senior team, as he is about to leave Wanda Metropolitano from last season where he scored 13 goals in all competitions. The Uruguay international may not be as talented as he was in his youth but his play and movement towards goal could persuade several clubs to offer him a short-term offer. Associated with: Sevilla, Arsenal, Tottenham Isco is packing his bags at the Bernabeu this summer as the five-time Champions League winner and three-time La Liga champion. Although he has repeatedly been linked with a move away from the club, club president Joan Laporta and head coach Xaxi are both hopeful he could be persuaded to stay. He is linked with: Real Madrid, Arsenal, Atletico Madrid and Juventus. Edinson Cavani enjoyed two years at Manchester United. The 35-year-old Uruguay forward, who arrived on a free transfer from PSG in October 2020, got off to a good start with 17 goals in all competitions in his first season. However, the 30-year-old suffered a heart attack while playing at Euro 2020 in June last year in Denmark and changed his footballing career and returned to football after a implanted implant in the heart Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator (ICD). That led to Eriksen being released by Inter – because the ICD device is not allowed in Serie A – and so he went to Brentford on a six-month contract where his quality shone as he helped the team gain Premier League status. The Bees are keen to keep the former Ajax player but will he stay in London or move elsewhere with Manchester United who want him? 

Associated with: West Ham United, Newcastle, Tottenham, Roma, AC Milan Jesse Lingard is leaving Manchester United after a two-year stint with the club. While United made the shocking decision to retain the England midfielder last summer, the 29-year-old endured a tough 2021-22 campaign and was used sparingly. Before that the transfer of a loan to West Ham in early 2021 served as a reminder of his reputation and finding a new club that would give him the confidence to play in the World Cup year could come into his mind. 

Associated with: Chelsea, PSG Things have not gone well for Ousmane Dembele since joining Barcelona in one of the most expensive deals of all time from Borussia Dortmund in 2017. At just 25 years of age, injuries have hampered the French striker’s development, meaning he has shown only a few things about his abilities. His speed, technique and ability to run the defensive line of opponents can make Nou Camp fans stand out. Still at the peak of his career, the 30-year-old will try to rediscover his potential after appearing to be Madrid’s unpopular and losing his place in the Spanish squad. 

Associated with: Juventus, Barcelona. Argentina striker Angel di Maria enjoyed a red card from PSG, scoring in a 5-0 win over Metz in his last game and thus being happily sent off by the Parc des Princes crowd. The 34-year-old scored 93 goals in 295 appearances for PSG, winning five league titles and nine home trophies while in Paris, France. Juventus and Barcelona are reportedly vying for the winger’s signature.