I suspect you’ve heard, but there’s a credit crunch on. As the transfer window swings open, managers all over Europe will make like David Dickinson and indulge in some serious bargain hunting – and they don’t come better than a Bosman. This summer there are several big names available on a free. In fact, there’s a whole teams-worth.
Having waived his right to a new deal in order to secure first-team football and a World Cup slot, David James is certain to be one of the first out of the door when the formalities of Portsmouth’s season are completed. Although he will be 40 by the time next season starts, he’ll still be a viable option for the majority of Premier League sides.
It’s not often that a man who has scored the winning goal in a Champions League Final comes up for grabs, but that’s exactly what Juliano Belletti is. He’d be my pick for right-back, though at Chelsea he’s shown that he is equally adept as a holding midfield player. At left-back, Atletico Madrid’s Mariano Pernia has had enough injury problems to make him a significant gamble, but if he can regain some semblance of fitness his rocket-powered left boot would be an asset to any team.
At centre-back, an experienced partnership of Fabio Cannavaro and William Gallas would set you back plenty in wages but nothing in fees. Cannavaro’s form for Juventus has been poor this season, but his impending retirement from International football might help him cope better with the domestic game. A switch to Serie A rivals Fiorentina has been mooted. William Gallas could soon join him in Italy, with a move to Roma on the cards after continuously stalling on signing a new deal at Arsenal.
If you need a couple of wide midfielders, there are two left-footed Premier League menaces for hire. Martin Petrov has been edged out of the City team by Adam Johnson’s arrival but is still one of English football’s best pure wingers. Morten Gamst Pedersen, meanwhile, was linked with the likes of Manchester United and Liverpool little more than two years ago. His diving has made him something of a laughing stock since then, but if he can recapture his former purple patch he’d be a bargain worth snaffling.
In the middle, you can get a two-for-one deal at Stamford Bridge – the deep-lying Michael Ballack sitting just behind Joe Cole. At 33, Ballack is not the marauding midfield Kaiser he once was, but the more leisurely pace of Serie A might enable him to prolong his career by a year or two. Failing that, he’d be welcomed back to Germany with open arms – and Bayer Leverkusen are rumoured to be interested.
Joe Cole, meanwhile, seems to be one of the first Chelsea players to suffer the consequences of Roman Abrahmovich’s decision to tighten the strings on his silk purse. One can understand the hesitancy to pay a player who has started only 14 league games this season £120,000 p/week, but Cole won’t be short of suitors if he decides to look elsewhere. The most likely destination appears Spurs, where he’d be reunited with former mentor and compulsive wheeler-dealer Harry Redknapp.
Upfront there are a couple of aerial powerhouses to get on the end of Petrov and Pedersen’s crosses. Marouane Chamakh seems all but certain to turn down Spurs and Liverpool to sign for Arsene Wenger’s Arsenal. And with 18 Bundesliga goals and a guaranteed period of rest this summer, Brazilian-born Kevin Kuranyi represents an alluring opportunity to any manager looking to bolster his front-line.
Although the window is not yet open, these players have all been able to discuss moves from January 1st, and may have already agreed pre-contracts. How many of them are really still up for grabs remains to be seen…
