The latest winter transfer window has kicked off with a number of prominent footballers having only six months remaining on their current contracts. These footballers, thanks to the Bosman ruling of 1995, can now officially begin talks with other clubs for a pre-contract agreement. This allows the player to switch to the new club when their existing contract expires, without their current club’s approval. The Athletic has identified 12 such high-profile players who could be available for free in the upcoming summer window. Among them is Liverpool’s Trent Alexander-Arnold.
Alexander-Arnold, the 26-year-old vice-captain of Liverpool, has shown impressive performance under the mentorship of new coach Arne Slot. Liverpool is keen to renew his contract, however, they face fierce competition from Real Madrid. It’s speculated that Madrid will begin formal discussions with Alexander-Arnold’s representatives from today, to work out a pre-contract agreement. Another important name in the list is Mohamed Salah who turns 33 just before his contract expires in June. Despite being offered a new contract by Liverpool, Salah has not committed to his future with them.
Liverpool’s club captain, Virgil van Dijk, is another high-profile player, whose contract expires soon. Like Salah, he too has received a proposal from Liverpool and it is believed that he will stay with the club. On the other hand, Kevin De Bruyne of Manchester City has had a lackluster year since becoming a part of the club in 2025 from Wolfsburg in Germany. Next in line is Alphonso Davies from Bayern Munich. Although Bayern is keen to retain the 24-year-old player, he has attracted interest from several Premier League clubs and Real Madrid.
While Davies seems likely to stay at Bayern, his Canadian counterpart Jonathan David of Lille is speculated to be moving to a larger European club. The 24-year-old striker has had a fantastic season, especially in the Champions League. Liverpool, Tottenham Hotspur, Chelsea, and Aston Villa are some of the clubs eyeing David. Bayern’s Joshua Kimmich is another player who may leave his current club following stalled contract negotiations. Despite having an inconsistent past couple of years, the 29-year-old defensive midfielder is among Europe’s most skilled players and will surely draw attention from top clubs.
Leroy Sane, despite having great potential, has struggled with consistency since joining Bayern from Manchester City in 2020. Angel Gomes, who left Manchester United in 2020, has matured with Lille and is a strong contender for a return to the Premier League. Dominic Calvert-Lewin has seen his career stall due to injuries, though he remains important to Everton’s plans. Finally, while Neymar’s move to Al Hilal in Saudi Arabia from Paris Saint-Germain hasn’t been successful, he has attracted attention from MLS clubs. Currently, however, his future is uncertain.
