With the summer transfer window drawing ever nearer, Sports Mole takes a look through the European bargain bin to pick out a selection of players available for free this summer.
Neto (Fiorentina)
Having produced a string of impressive displays over the past 18 months or so, it is no wonder that the 25-year-old is a man in demand. Juventus have been repeatedly linked with the soon-to-be free agent, although if he is to keep alive his hopes of nailing down a spot in the Brazilian national team, then a move to England where he will be granted more regular playing time could be a possibility.
Dani Alves (Barcelona)
Another player who will find no shortage of options this summer, should he leave Camp Nou as expected, is fellow Brazilian star Alves. His marauding runs down the right have been a key feature for Barcelona over the past seven years, and now there could be a real battle to hold down the full-back's signature. Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester United in particular have reportedly been keeping tabs.
Ron Vlaar (Aston Villa)
He may not be in the same league as Alves on a global scale, but there is no denying that Vlaar could more than hold his own at one of Europe's biggest clubs if given the chance. Having remained at Aston Villa this season, despite strong rumoured interest from Man United, the Dutchman is now expected to be approached by a number of elite sides.
Philippe Mexes (AC Milan)
The Frenchman has made it clear in the past that he would like to remain in place at San Siro, although with the transfer window due to open in less than two months' time, no deal has yet been agreed. There was even a suggestion earlier this season that Milan were considering sacking the centre-back following his clash with two Lazio players, which saw him handed a four-game ban and subsequently dropped from the squad.
Christian Fuchs (Schalke 04)
Swansea City are the latest Premier League side to have been linked with the Austria international captain, who is said to be keen on trying his luck in a different league next season. Fuchs particularly stood out in Schalke's second-leg victory over European giants Real Madrid in the Champions League last month, meaning that there could be a real battle to land the 29-year-old this summer.
Yevhen Konoplyanka (Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk)
It looked for all the world at one stage last year that the Ukrainian winger would be plying his trade in the English top flight, with supposedly a number of suitors to choose from. Reports emerged earlier this year suggesting that Everton had joined Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur in showing an interest in the Dnipro man, although Konoplyanka's agent made it clear that the star midfielder would stick it out in Dnipropetrovsk until at least the end of the current campaign.
Sami Khedira (Real Madrid)
A tug-of-war over the out-of-contract German World Cup winner already appears to be in full swing, with Schalke and Man United the two sides rumoured to be in the driving seat. The Red Devils may have thought they had stolen a march on their transfer rivals, having apparently offered Khedira a £200,000-a-week contract, although Schalke president Clemens Tonnies claims that negotiations are already in place with the player.
Andre Ayew (Marseille)
Clubs across the continent will no doubt be well aware that rising talent Ayew is out of contract in a couple of months' time, but his next destination appears to be England - or Wales, for that matter. The attacking midfielder, who has scored 23 goals for Marseille this season, admitted this week that it would be "an honour" to ply his trade in the Premier League. Swansea seem to be the favourites to capture the 25-year-old.
James Milner (Manchester City)
By no means a superstar name in a Man City side full of talent, but Milner has built up a reputation as being a solid option out wide who can provide both a defensive and attacking threat. It comes as little surprise, then, to see Liverpool and Arsenal in a reported two-way tussle to sign the Englishman. There is also a slim chance that he will pen a new deal at the Etihad stadium, yet that looks increasingly unlikely as the days tick down towards the summer window.
Andre-Pierre Gignac (Marseille)
Marseille have enjoyed a fine season in Ligue 1, but they are at risk of losing two of their star names. While Ayew appears to be on his way, Southampton-linked Gignac is another destined for a move elsewhere at the end of the season. Eighteen goals so far this term in Ligue 1, a tally bettered only by Alexandre Lacazette, Gignac could provide a strong striking option for a Premier League side next year for minimum cost.
Antonio Di Natale (Udinese)
He may now be past his peak at the grand old age of 37, but there is no denying that Di Natale still has plenty left in the tank. Having announced his decision to part company with Udinese, a club he has scored close to 200 goals for during an 11-year spell, the striker is widely expected to pack his bags for a stint in Major League Soccer. Do not be surprised to see a Premier League club make a move for the experienced Italian, though, who has shown this season that he still knows how to find the net.
Other players out of contract this summer:
Glen Johnson (Liverpool), Heiko Westermann (Hamburg), Dimitar Berbatov (Monaco), Luca Toni (Verona), Rafael van der Vaart (Hamburg), Yoann Gourcuff (Lyon), Juan Manuel Vargas (Fiorentina), Ignazio Abate (AC Milan), Sergio Romero (Sampdoria), Christian Abbiati (AC Milan), Ricardo Carvalho (AS Monaco), Rod Fanni (Marseille), Nigel de Jong (AC Milan), Abou Diaby (Arsenal), Alberto Aquilani (AC Milan), Claudio Pizarro (Bayern Munich), Michael Essien (AC Milan), Hatem Ben Arfa (Newcastle United), Stephane Mbia (Sevilla), Goran Pandev (Galatasaray)
