Top 10 Free Transfers Available Now Across Europe’s ‘Big Five’ Leagues

By Chris Wright

Don’t ask us how but Pies have managed to get our grubby paws on a comprehensive list of every single free transfer going spare from clubs in Europe’s “Big Five” leagues (okay, it’s readily available over on Transfermarkt) and we, being the conscientious souls we are, have whittled down and plucked the ten finest prospects out of the bunch for your perusal.

Here’s our pick of this summer’s freebies…

Italy Soccer Serie A

10. Mathieu Flamini: Alright, he’s been bobbins since he’s been at Milan, but you know that with a kick up the arse and a bit of fresh impetus Flamini could do a decent job for a less prestigious club in the middle of their midfield. He’s only 29 and there may just be a couple of decent years left in the tank.

France Soccer

9. Mickael Landreau: The 34-year-old former PSG, Lille and France ‘keeper turned down a move to Inter Milan in January in favour of signing a six-month contract at Ligue 1’s Corsican side Bastia. He’s one of those “random pin in a map” kind of names that may just turn up at Hull next season.

Germany Soccer Champions League

8. Martin Demichelis: One of many of the larger earners that Malaga are purging this summer, Demichelis is a wily old bugger of a centre-half who tackles hard but also passes well and reads the game intuitively. At 32, there’s definitely life in the old dog yet.

Soccer - UEFA Europa League - Quarter Final - First Leg - Chelsea v Rubin Kazan - Stamford Bridge

7. Yossi Benayoun: Look at him. Yossi is about as sturdy as a shivering newborn foal but he can still make things happen thanks to his clever nous. If the 33-year-old Israeli joins a club that will cater to his reedy style, then there’s no reason he won’t recapture some of his fleet-footed, playmaking best.

Britain Soccer FA Cup

6. Maynor Figueroa: One of the few Wigan players who may just be genuinely too good to go down, 30-year-old left-back Figueroa is almost certain to pitch up at somewhere like Fulham or West Ham next season – we can feel it in our waters.

Germany Soccer Champions League

5. Claudio Pizarro: Word on the street is that 34-year-old Pizarro may be moving to Dortmund as ballast in the ongoing machinations to bring Robert Lewandowski to Bayern Munich this summer – which is testament to how much his poaching prowess is still lauded in Germany. The Peruvian will no doubt provide back-up to whichever direct replacement Dortmund spluff the Lewandowski cash on, but it’ll good, solid reliable back-up none-the-less.

Soccer - UEFA Champions League - Group C - Malaga v AC Milan - La Rosaleda Stadium

4. Manuel Ittura: Hands up, we don’t know an awful lot about this Iturra chap, but a quick Google of his name suggests that he may be highly sought after this summer as he prepares to walk out of Malaga on a free – indeed, there are spurious reports that the nippy Chilean international attacking midfielder may have already signed a pre-contract agreement with Liverpool.

Italy Soccer Champions League

3. Joaquin: Sadly, Joaquin never lived up to the almighty prowess of his Pro Evo 6 alter-ego, but there’s still a decent winger in their somewhere and, as he’s going for nowt when his Malaga contract dwindles on July 1st, the 31-year-old former Spain international could just prove to be a bargain for somebody.

Britain Soccer Premier League

2. William Gallas: He’s had his detractors since his Arsenal heyday but Gallas, even at 35, is fit as a fiddle and still quicker than most Premier League strikers. It seems unlikely that the French defender will be pulling on the Spurs shirt again next season, so there’s going to be an international-standard(ish) centre-back going spare soon. We’re sure they’ll be a few takers as and when.

Soccer - Barclays Premier League - Swansea City v Fulham - Liberty Stadium

1. Mark Schwarzer: The teary-eyed goodbyes haven’t quite been said at Craven Cottage yet, but Martin Jol’s reluctance to guarantee the 40-year-old Aussie ‘keeper a starting spot next season have left him teetering on the brink of an exit with his current deal set to expire next month. A damn fine shot-stopper who hasn’t deteriorated noticeably for many, many years now. Got to be worth a punt if Fulham do the unimaginable and pass on him.

As we say, the full lists of free transfers are available to view here. Have a butcher’s and if you spot any freebies that you deem worthy of a place in the Top 10 then feel free to give us a nudge down below…

Posted in Featured, Newsnow, Top 10s & lists, Transfers & Rumours

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17 Comments

  1. Mr. Chopper says:

    Ah, Joaquin. You’ll forever have a place in my heart, along with Yamada, Schwarz and the almighty power that is KAISER.

  2. Josh says:

    @ Mr Chopper, going back further, the Nigerian ‘Babangida’ was immense

  3. syndex says:

    Di-santo is going free as well and word is he will be coming with martinez if he signs as the everton manager

  4. Berts says:

    No Benni Mcarthy? He’s only 35 and slightly overweight by his standards, could fit right in next to Phillips at Palace?

  5. Jon says:

    Mmmm, much love for Joaquin.

  6. INTER291103 says:

    Joaquín will play in the Italian Serie A with Fiorentina next season, according to the press the deal should be completed in a few days.

  7. Giancarlo says:

    Flamini hasn’t been given a lot of time this season but got over a knee injury and had scored 4-5 goals in the last 6-7 games he has played so kudos to him!

  8. syndex says:

    lets be honest as an everton fan at the moment you take any hope you can find.

  9. tipo 00 says:

    joaquin was breast-fed until he was about 8. bye.

  10. Danny Perry says:

    Florent Malouda, Arshavin, Chris Brunt, Mladen Petric, Saviola, Tiago, Santa Cruz, Mathieu Bodmer, Tymoschuck, Walter Samuel,Zanetti.

    You could build a decent side with all the free transfers available at the moment

  11. Jumbo says:

    Last hurrahs – Ronaldinho , Javier Zanetti , Daniel Van Buyten – you could do a lot worse than sign these monumental superstars for one last tryst with the Premierleague and add a litte glamor(in Ronaldinho’s case)
    Older but wiser – Landon Donovan , Hugo Viana , Keisuke Honda(GEM!), David Odonkor(decently pacy winger, once atleast!) , Andreas Ivanschitz , Cabral(he would be quite a steal for the lower half of the table)
    Premierleague experience guaranteed – Chris Brunt , Graham Dorrans , Kevin Doyle , Danny Simpson
    And the wildcard – Omar Gonzalez – defender for the US national team, this boy has a decent amount of talent,and like Geoff Cameron should settle in nicely in the EPL

  12. Sjakie Meulemans says:

    Shocking: Titus Bramble and Florent Malouda are about the same age (no, that’s not the shocking part) and have the same market value! Somehow that doesn’t seem right.

  13. Diamanti says:

    Joaquin on Pro Evo 6 was unbelievable, along with Nihat and Wilhelmsson.

  14. syndex says:

    martinez and di santo or hughes and certain relagation (stoke fans its not you its him) I will look on the bright side

  15. portuguese guy says:

    in Portugal, you have pablo aimar and hugo viana finishing contracts, but the portuguese press says that they will sign for some arabic club probably called al-something

  16. sleeba says:

    If you want a player who, when he plays, can get to a goal celebration faster than anyone in the EPL…Yossi’s yer man.

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