With the Premier League on course to smash its spending record, a reminder that the best transfers sometimes cost nothing. As the summer window enters its final month, a host of top players remain without a club – including a Real Madrid legend, a current England international and a former Manchester City shot-stopper.
Stefan Ortega, the former City and Nottingham Forest goalkeeper, leads the free agent options. Dani Carvajal, arguably the best right-back of his generation, left Real Madrid this summer after 23 years and 27 major trophies; he has reportedly received proposals from the Saudi Pro League, Major League Soccer and Inter Milan but remains out of work. John Stones was a surprise inclusion in the England squad after only 38 appearances in his final two seasons at Manchester City, yet started both the quarter-finals and semi-finals under Thomas Tuchel. Chelsea and Arsenal have been linked with the centre-back. David Alaba, another Real Madrid departure, has been ravaged by injury – missing 126 games for club and country in three years – but still started at the World Cup. Oleksandr Zinchenko, after a £1.3m move to Ajax from Arsenal, was given only a short-term deal before suffering a knee injury that will rule him out well into the new season.
“Liverpool miss out on top target Yan Diomande as agreement reached; free agent XI features Carvajal and Stones.”
But while some clubs eye bargains, others have been left frustrated. Liverpool have been dealt a major transfer blow as an agreement has been reached for top target Yan Diomande, a young star who has been in high demand this summer, according to reports.