Any football manager devotee worth his salt will know now is the time of year to adjust the filters and scroll through the hundreds of players soon to be in the last six months of their contract. Jean-Marc Bosman totally revolutionised football transfers when he outlawed fees for out-of-contract players, the last six months are key.
The standard of player whose contract tethers towards expiration is extraordinarily high this year. Normally this is an avenue pursued by Championship or cash-strapped Premier League sides, but some of the best clubs in the world will have perked ears when reading this list.
Pepe Reina
You have to admire how Reina went out and actively sought to prolong his career. His time at Liverpool came to an unfortunate end when he fell out of favour at the back-end of the 2012/13 season. Simon Mignolet came in as his replacement and he left for Napoli on loan. A year later he went to Bayern Munich as back-up to Manuel Neuer, before rejoining Napoli. Now top of the Seria A, Reina has enjoyed a successful stint there and the likelihood is he will sign on for another year soon.
Glen Johnson
Fallen out of favour at Stoke having only featured four times this year. However, Newcastle, West Brom or Sheffield Wednesday are all said to be keen.
James Collins
Now 34, West Ham's centre-half James Collins will see his current deal expires next June. However, the Welshman was superb during his sides recent 3-0 win against Stoke and may yet earn a new deal from David Moyes.
Emre Can
Looks extremely likely to leave Liverpool as a free agent next summer with Juventus the front-runners to secure his signature.
Neven Subotic
Was a colossal at Dortmund under Jurgen Klopp at the heart of the side that secured back-to-back Bundesliga titles and reached the 2013 Champions League final. but has found it harder to break into the team recently. Still only 29, there will no doubt be many teams watching his future dealings with interest.
Marouane Fellani
Fellani, like Tom Cleverley and Wilfried Zaha before him, is the victim of a common occurrence at Manchester United in that he is scapegoated for wider issues. The Belgian is a limited footballer, but definitely Premier League standard. It seems destined he will leave Old Trafford at the end of the year which may be to the benefit of his career.
Max Meyer
Schalke’s exhilarating young midfielder is only 22. Meyer is a terrific playmaker who has been linked with Arsenal, Liverpool and Chelsea in the past.
Mesut Özil
In inspired form lately, perhaps due to his upcoming free agent status. Rumours of a reunion with former Real Madrid boss Jose Mourinho have abounded all year.
Alexis Sánchez
The rest of the Premier League watch on in horror as Sanchez meanders closer to joining Pep Guardiola's already star-studded Manchester City. The addition of Sanchez could make that offensive beyond frightening.
Fernando Torres
Scored the winner for Atletico in a recent win against Deportivo Alaves. No one since David Beckham has successfully pulled off such a variety of haircuts, not that it will help him secure a new deal.
Mario Balotelli
For entertainment sake along, someone please do the honourable thing and bring this man back to the Premier League.
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