A solid XI of free agents available at the moment: Isco, Vrsaljko, Quintero…
Halfway through the season isn't when you'd normally expect to sign free agents, but there are a number of top players available in January.
From those launched by their clubs last summer to those that have become available more recently, there are a range of attractive options for frugal football managers looking to bolster their squads on a shoestring budget by January.
Here is a full XI of players available as free agents during this winter transfer window.
GK: Loris Karius"I played over 200 games in the Premier League and national teams, so I knew my qualities," the goalkeeper told ESPN after leaving Liverpool last summer.
"I knew I had a lot to offer. I'm only 30 and that's not old for a goalkeeper, but of course last season was difficult."
There is some confusion over whether or not Karius is actually a free agent - but if he isn't right now, it looks like he will be soon enough.
When the German goalkeeper signed an emergency short-term deal with Newcastle United in September, reports vaguely specified 'until January'.
Karius has never made an appearance for Eddie Howe's Magpies, and it looks like he will leave Tyneside without doing so, especially with Martin Dubravka recalled from Manchester United.
AR: Sime VrsaljkoThe Croatian right-back started in the 2018 World Cup final and made 100 appearances for Atletico Madrid, but went from a first-team player to a fringe player in his five years injuries in the Spanish capital.
Vrsaljko was released by Atletico last summer and joined Olympiacos, signing a three-year contract. He made nine appearances for the Greek champions but terminated his contract by mutual consent in November. He is only 30 years old.
CD: Michael HectorIt's odd to think that Hector is still only 30 years old given he's had an extraordinarily full career, having represented Reading, Chelsea and Fulham - and no less than 15 other clubs on loan, ranging from Sheffield Wednesday at Eintracht Frankfurt, Didcot Town at Dundalk…
Fulham signed the defender from Chelsea in 2019, and he made 19 appearances in their title-winning campaign. The former Jamaica international has barely played since then, making just 10 appearances for the Cottagers in the last two years of his contract.
Released last summer, Hector remains a free agent. There have been media reports linking him with returns to Sheffield Wednesday and Reading, but nothing has materialized yet.
CB: Eliaquim MangalaWe were going to include former Liverpool striker Steven Caulker, but the experienced Sierra Leonean international has just signed for Wigan from Kolo Toure.
We therefore opt for Mangala, the former Manchester City megaflop. Since leaving the Etihad in 2019, the French defender has represented Valencia and Saint-Etienne.
Remarkably, he managed nine bookings in 14 Ligue 1 appearances last season, and was suspended no less than three times during his half-season as the fallen giants were relegated to Ligue 2. Surprisingly, they didn't extend his contract.
Nevertheless, Mangala is only 31 years old. That £32m fee at the time and a past career in Europe's top leagues show that Mangala is probably not entirely useless, contrary to popular trend. belief.
LB: Danny RoseRose signed a two-year contract with Watford but left halfway after the Hornets were relegated last summer.
Before his contract at Vicarage Road, he was reportedly training at Tottenham, but we can't see the 32-year-old left-back joining Antonio Conte's project anytime soon.
CM: Danny DrinkwaterUnlike his former midfield partner at Leicester, N'Golo Kante, Drinkwater was not successful at Stamford Bridge.
He described his five-year spell at Chelsea as "a shambles" and made just 23 appearances for the club. Unsurprisingly, he was released this summer but has failed to find a new club since then.
The Premier League winner made 23 appearances for Reading last season, showing he can still offer something at Football League level, but in over six months as a free agent he has not yet found any suitors.
Halfway through the season isn't when you'd normally expect to sign free agents, but there are a number of top players available in January.
From those launched by their clubs last summer to those that have become available more recently, there are a range of attractive options for frugal football managers looking to bolster their squads on a shoestring budget by January.
Here is a full XI of players available as free agents during this winter transfer window.
GK: Loris Karius"I played over 200 games in the Premier League and national teams, so I knew my qualities," the goalkeeper told ESPN after leaving Liverpool last summer.
"I knew I had a lot to offer. I'm only 30 and that's not old for a goalkeeper, but of course last season was difficult."
There is some confusion over whether or not Karius is actually a free agent - but if he isn't right now, it looks like he will be soon enough.
When the German goalkeeper signed an emergency short-term deal with Newcastle United in September, reports vaguely specified 'until January'.
Karius has never made an appearance for Eddie Howe's Magpies, and it looks like he will leave Tyneside without doing so, especially with Martin Dubravka recalled from Manchester United.
AR: Sime VrsaljkoThe Croatian right-back started in the 2018 World Cup final and made 100 appearances for Atletico Madrid, but went from a first-team player to a fringe player in his five years injuries in the Spanish capital.
Vrsaljko was released by Atletico last summer and joined Olympiacos, signing a three-year contract. He made nine appearances for the Greek champions but terminated his contract by mutual consent in November. He is only 30 years old.
CD: Michael HectorIt's odd to think that Hector is still only 30 years old given he's had an extraordinarily full career, having represented Reading, Chelsea and Fulham - and no less than 15 other clubs on loan, ranging from Sheffield Wednesday at Eintracht Frankfurt, Didcot Town at Dundalk…
Fulham signed the defender from Chelsea in 2019, and he made 19 appearances in their title-winning campaign. The former Jamaica international has barely played since then, making just 10 appearances for the Cottagers in the last two years of his contract.
Released last summer, Hector remains a free agent. There have been media reports linking him with returns to Sheffield Wednesday and Reading, but nothing has materialized yet.
CB: Eliaquim MangalaWe were going to include former Liverpool striker Steven Caulker, but the experienced Sierra Leonean international has just signed for Wigan from Kolo Toure.
We therefore opt for Mangala, the former Manchester City megaflop. Since leaving the Etihad in 2019, the French defender has represented Valencia and Saint-Etienne.
Remarkably, he managed nine bookings in 14 Ligue 1 appearances last season, and was suspended no less than three times during his half-season as the fallen giants were relegated to Ligue 2. Surprisingly, they didn't extend his contract.
Nevertheless, Mangala is only 31 years old. That £32m fee at the time and a past career in Europe's top leagues show that Mangala is probably not entirely useless, contrary to popular trend. belief.
LB: Danny RoseRose signed a two-year contract with Watford but left halfway after the Hornets were relegated last summer.
Before his contract at Vicarage Road, he was reportedly training at Tottenham, but we can't see the 32-year-old left-back joining Antonio Conte's project anytime soon.
CM: Danny DrinkwaterUnlike his former midfield partner at Leicester, N'Golo Kante, Drinkwater was not successful at Stamford Bridge.
He described his five-year spell at Chelsea as "a shambles" and made just 23 appearances for the club. Unsurprisingly, he was released this summer but has failed to find a new club since then.
The Premier League winner made 23 appearances for Reading last season, showing he can still offer something at Football League level, but in over six months as a free agent he has not yet found any suitors.
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