The January transfer window is a time for clubs to consolidate and build on what they already have.
While players continue to swap clubs for astronomical fees, there are a number of canny operators who remain on the transfer scrapheap without a club.
The Coral News Team have picked out 10 of the best free transfers this January.
Bacary Sagna
Bacary Sagna has made over 250 Premier League appearances across spells with Arsenal and Manchester City. So it remains a mystery as to why the 34-year-old right-back is still without a club.
He has been linked most prominently with a move to Leicester City, but as yet a deal has not materialised.
Bastian Schweinsteiger
Since leaving Manchester United in 2017, Bastian Schweinsteiger has been enjoying a stint in MLS with Chicago Fire. However, his contract at Toyota Park is yet to be renewed.
That means the eight-time Bundesliga winner is technically without a club. Rumours continue to abound over a possible return to his homeland. But with clubs in the Premier League lurking, his next destination remains to be seen.
Lassana Diarra
Former Real Madrid midfielder Lassana Diarra is attracting serious interest already this January. The 32-year-old is out of contract after leaving Al Jazira last month and has been touted as a possible signing for Paris-Saint Germain.
Unai Emery is yet to move for the defensive midfield, which could alert a host of Premier League clubs.
Jan Kirchhoff was last seen playing for Sunderland against Chelsea in December 2016. For a player who showed so much promise at Bayern Munich and Schalke 04, it seems odd that no club has taken a chance on the midfielder.
He was pivotal as the Black Cats avoided relegation during the 2015-16 season. And he certainly has the quality to make a fist of it in one of Europe’s top-five leagues.
Juan Rafael Fuentes
Juan Rafael Fuentes has plenty of top-flight experience in Spain with Espanyol and Osasuna. So it should come as something of a surprise that the left-back has been consistently overlooked.
While a move to the Premier League may be out of reach, Leeds United could swoop for the Spaniard following an injury to first-choice Luke Ayling.
Benoit Tremoulinas
Despite winning the Europa League as recently as 2016, Benoit Tremoulinas still finds himself without a club. The 32-year-old’s final season with Sevilla was blighted by a serious knee injury. That led to him being released at the end of last season.
If he can prove his worth in terms of fitness, he could be a very smart signing for a manager willing to take a risk.
Mark Gonzalez
You may remember Mark Gonzalez from a spell with Liverpool during the 2006-2007. The Chilean international made 36 appearances for Reds before stints at Real Betis, CSKA Moscow and Colo-Colo most recently.
The 33-year-old still has plenty of talent to offer on the wing and could be a shrewd signing after a period away from the game.
Ashkan Dejagah
Ashkan Dejagah has been without a club since leaving Vfl Wolfsburg at the end of last season. He remains a regular for Iran and is set to captain the national team at the 2018 World Cup.
With that in mind, it would probably suit the 31-year-old to find a new club sometime in the future. He’s played in the Premier League before with Fulham and could crop up in the division again at somewhere like Watford or Brighton & Hove Albion.
Kris Commons
Former Celtic star Kris Commons won the Scottish Premiership title five times in a row between 2011 and 2016. He was then deemed surplus to requirements by Brendan Rodgers and left the club during the summer.
Even at 34-years-of-age, the experienced Commons has still attracted an array of suitors. But a move in January will depend on the Scotsman’s recovery from a recent back operation.
Joleon Lescott
Following disastrous spells with Aston Villa, Sunderland and AEK Athens, Joleon Lescott is back on the market. At 35-years-old, he would provide more of a backup option for any potential new club.
Clubs towards the bottom end of the table could look towards the ex-England centre-half to bolster their defensive stock.
All Odds and Markets correct as of date of publication
