Messi, Real leaders or Slovak star. Which players are out of contract in the summer and can leave for free?

The winter transfer window is not even two months old, yet some clubs are already focusing on the summer transfer window. At the end of June, the contracts of several interesting players will expire and there will be a lot of interest in them.

Lionel Messi

The most brilliant name on the list of free agents from July 2023 is clearly Lionel Messi. The Argentine footballer is coming to the end of a two-year contract at PSG and apparently will not sign a new one.

Messi has practically three options. To return to Barcelona and conclude his career there, which would be a beautiful story. But the club is facing huge financial problems and a return would be complicated.

The seven-time Ballon d’Or winner is very much in demand in MLS, where all clubs are reportedly going to fold on his salary. The third option is to go to Saudi Arabia, where he would receive the same royal salary as Cristiano Ronaldo.

Karim Benzema, Luka Modric, Toni Kroos, Nacho

A foursome of veterans who have done an awful lot for Real Madrid. And their continuation is a question that needs to be resolved. Yet in three out of four cases, it depends on the players.

Karim Benzema’s place is assured and the club still wants him if he decides to stay at Real for another year. The same with Toni Kroos, who is flirting with the idea of ending his career. But Los Blancos still want him and his contract is on the table, so the choice is up to the German midfielder.

It is a similar case with Nacho. The club alumnus and underrated heartthrob has already received an offer and has made it known that it’s not about money at all, but after 13 years he doesn’t want to just sit on the bench anymore and wants to feel that he is needed for the club. If that happens, he’ll stay.

Luka Modric is the only one who has publicly stated that he wants to stay at Real Madrid for another year and end his career in white. However, he will turn 38 in September and the management is sorting out how to deal with him and what role to possibly give him.

Milan Škriniar

The most valuable player of those whose contract expires in the summer. According to Transfermarkt, 28-year-old Milan Škriniar is worth €60 million, only Inter won’t see a penny of it. In fact, the Slovakian stopper is out of contract and wanted to leave for PSG this winter, but Inter decided not to let him go.

Marcus Thuram

Son of the legendary Lilian Thuram, but already making a name for himself. He had a great showing at the World Cup in Qatar, starting 26 games for Mönchengladbach in the current season and netting 15 goals.

At the age of 25, he decided it was time for a move to a bigger club and so will not be renewing his contract at Borussia. There will be a lot of interest in the French striker from the highest levels, with talk of Arsenal or PSG.

Youri Tielemans

Leicester’s talisman who has been trying to leave the Foxes and move up a tier for a while now, but hasn’t been allowed to do so yet. He came close to a move to Arsenal in the winter and last summer, but Leicester never let him go.

This time, however, the 25-year-old Belgian midfielder will leave 100%, Leicester won’t get a penny for their key player. Will it really be to Arsenal?

Ilkay Gündogan

When he’s healthy, he’s a hugely valuable midfielder for Manchester City and a treasure for Pep Guardiola. The problem, however, is his poor health, Ilkay Gündogan is sometimes closer to the sack than the pitch.

He is out of contract at the Etihad Stadium at 32 and is unlikely to sign a new one. There is much talk of interest from Barcelona.

Marco Asensio

Real Madrid’s arrested golden child. Flew into adult football like a comet in 2016 and wowed Los Blancos fans with his fantastic shot, and was set to become his successor after Cristiano Ronaldo’s departure. But Asensio’s career was hampered by a severe knee injury, after which he never returned to his old form.

He is only a substitute at Real Madrid and the club is offering him an extension for this position, but Asensio would like to be a member of the starting line-up and play more regularly. The future of the 27-year-old winger is thus in the stars.

Daichi Kamada

Another extremely interesting name that could be in high demand in the summer. Daichi Kamada is Frankfurt’s workhorse and has already recorded 13 goals and 5 assists this season.

The Japanese offensive midfielder is still only 26 years old and getting such a quality player for free could be a big attraction.

Other interesting names

Evan Ndicka (23) – Frankfurt
Adrien Rabiot (27) – Juventus
Konrad Lahmer (25) – Leipzig
Wilfried Zaha (30) – Crystal Palace
Roberto Firmino (31) – Liverpool
N’golo Kanté (31) – Chelsea
Raphael Guerreiro (29) – Dortmund
Iñigo Martínez (31) – Athletic Bilbao
Naby Keita (28) – Leipzig
David de Gea (32) – Manchester United

Source: Transfermarkt