Top 10 European Free Transfers
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
Everyone wants something for nothing, so we take a look at the best of the foreign talent available on free transfers this summer. Act while you can Everton/Villa/ Fulham etc etc...
10) Harry Kewell, currently at Galatasaray
Yes it would be a gamble, and undoubtedly his best years are behind him, but surely there must be a club ready to take a punt on Harold Kewell? After all, Boudewijn Zenden has impressed at Sunderland, and I for one thought he would just coast along. Kewell has scored 33 goals in 61 league games for Galatasaray, so the big question is, will a promoted club take a chance, or will Kewell go back to Australia and play for Gold Coast United?
Perfect for: QPR
9) Morgan Amalfitano, currently at Lorient
An Aston Villa-supporting friend of mine told me that I couldn't complete this list without including the Lorient right midfielder. One of the star players at French side Lorient, Amalfitano has not yet made his international debut, but that hasn't stopped Sevilla, Arsenal and Villa being linked with the player. Another French gamble for Wenger or a shrewd freebie?
Perfect for: Arsenal, Aston Villa
8) Simone Perrotta, currently at AS Roma
There is a statue of Perotta in the town of his birth Ashton-under-Lyme as one of the town's three World Cup winners. Although I doubt that he will sign for Curzon Ashton FC, there may well be a club that wish to sign a player rated by Marcelo Lippi as the fittest player in his World Cup squad. Whether the player prefers to remain in Italy is open to debate, but a low-end club could certainly try and persuade.
Perfect for: Fulham
7) Clarence Seedorf, currently at AC Milan
Seedorf is 35, so let's get the bad news out of the way early on. He has also won the Champions League four times (with three different clubs) and has made 24 Serie A appearances this season, indicating that the legs haven't quite seized up just yet. It is a crying shame that Premier League fans have never had the opportunity to watch Seedorf regularly in his pomp, but a final hurrah? I would love it, love it, if someone signed him.
Perfect for: Newcastle
6) Cesar Delgado, currently at Lyon
Whilst Delgado is probably not a first-choice winger in a team with title aspirations, he would certainly be an effective squad player, with three years' Champions League experience at Lyon, including a last-minute winner against Liverpool last season. Having made 20 appearances for the Argentinean national team, Delgado is still the right side of 30, and his versatility (either wing, behind the front two, up top) make his free signing something of a no-brainer. There will be plenty of suitors.
Perfect for: Liverpool
5) Sylvain Marveaux, currently at Rennes
It is not often that you get 25-year-old wingers up for grabs that haven't already signed pre-contract deals with clubs, but in the case of French winger Marveaux, that may be to the Premier League's gain. Injury has restricted his season, but with Liverpool reportedly aiming to tie up a deal before too long, the winger (who has been likened to Florent Malouda) will hope to make an impression and receive his first international call- up sooner rather than later. Regarded as having great potential, Marveaux needs to deliver on this before too long.
Perfect for: Liverpool
4) Hamit Altintop, currently at Bayern Munich
Reports suggest Real Madrid are trying to seal a deal for a player who scored one of the great goals this year, volleying in a corner for his country against Kazakhstan. It would be a slightly strange signing for Real as Altintrop has been frozen out at Bayern Munich, so the Turkish international may prefer to join a club where he is guaranteed regular football.
Perfect for: Chelsea
3) Thiago Alcantara, currently at Barcelona
This was predicted to be a season of breakthrough for Thiago at the Nou Camp, but whilst he has broken into the first team on occasions, he has made just four league starts this campaign. Out of contract in the summer, a new deal has still not been agreed, and rumours have surfaced that Arsenal may be sniffing around the youngster. Not like Arsenal to be sniffing round young foreign talent is it? Oh, and just to make you feel old, his dad won the World Cup. In 1994.
Perfect for: Arsenal
2) Andrea Pirlo, currently at AC Milan
It seems crazy that at the age of just 31 (after seemingly being around for ever) AC Milan would be prepared to let their centre midfield stalwart depart the San Siro. However, that seems to be exactly what will happen, with the international refusing to accept Milan's reduced offer of a contract. Juventus are reportedly hankering after the midfielder, but if the move can be hijacked he would be a perfect signing for any of the Big Four. Any of them with an Italian manager should do.
Perfect for: Manchester City/Chelsea
1) Miroslav Klose, currently at Bayern Munich
OK, so he is 32 and probably won't be snapped up by any of the big boys, but Klose is one of few current players with over 50 international goals, and is available on a Bosman this summer. It would be very interesting to see just how he would get on in England. And with Spurs in desperate need of a goalscoring striker, and Everton in need of proven players that cost very little, there shouldn't be any reason why clubs won't be falling over each other to sign Klose. The only question is whether Klose would prefer to stay in Deutschland.
Perfect for: Spurs
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