The new season is upon us and the transfer window is at its peak with so many clubs making signings in preparation of the new season. But while clubs are preparing for the new season, we’re looking at the top te… No! Top eleven players out of contract next summer.
Lionel Messi | FW | Barcelona
Lionel Messi stirred up quite a fuss when he told his club that he wanted to leave in August, amid a period of intense difficulty for the Camp Nou team. The Blaugrana failed to pick up a single title in 2019-20 and had suffered repeated humiliation in the Champions League, his relationship with club president Josep Bartomeu also deteriorating.
He had looked set to leave in the summer with his contract expiring in 2021, but the Argentina talisman revealed in an exclusive interview to Goal that he remains intent on seeing out the full terms of his contract as he had no wish to take Barcelona to court. Coming to terms that buying out his own €700 million (£630m/$825m) release clause was impossible, Messi will now remain in Spain for at least another season.
The forward turns 34 next summer, but his age will not sway the minds of Europe’s elite – with Messi already having been linked to the likes of Man City and PSG.
![[FILE] Liverpool’s Egyptian midfielder Mohamed Salah (L) runs with the ball as Arsenal’s Brazilian defender Gabriel closes in during the English Premier League football match between Arsenal and Liverpool at the Emirates Stadium in London. (Photo by Catherine Ivill / POOL / AFP)](https://www.afriupdate.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/000_97B779-scaled-e1703231851386-120x86.jpg "Liverpool host Arsenal in battle for Premier League Christmas No. 1 1")
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang | FW | Arsenal
Arsenal’s star man looked set to leave the club following a dismal eighth-placed finish in the Premier League, but following FA Cup and Community Shield victories under Mikel Arteta, he is looking likelier to extend his current contract at the Emirates.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang dropped subtle hints during Arsenal’s Community Shield win over Liverpool that contract talks were headed in a positive direction. He is the Gunners’ prize asset, having netted 22 Premier League goals and assuming the captain’s armband.
Luis Suarez | FW | Barcelona
Even if Lionel Messi has been confirmed to stay at Barcelona for an extra year, another Blaugrana striker could be headed for the exit.
Luis Suarez has been the object of heavy interest from Juventus, with Goal able to confirm that the Serie A side is already negotiating a fee and the terms of the contract for the Uruguayan. He would link up with former Real Madrid striker Cristiano Ronaldo at Juventus, alongside Paulo Dybala.
Sergio Aguero | FW | Man City
Nearly a decade on from the legendary “AgueroooooooOOOOOOOOO!!!” goal that won Manchester City their first-ever Premier League title in historic fashion against QPR, edging out rivals Manchester United, Sergio Aguero could be moving on from the Etihad.
When fit, Aguero has shown that he is one of Man City’s most prolific and important forwards alongside Raheem Sterling and Kevin De Bruyne, but it is injuries that have prevented him from earning a consistent regular role in the first-team.
His agent Hernan Reguera has said that he is set to honour his contract at the Etihad, but added that the striker will “see what happens” after his deal expires in 2021.
Sergio Ramos | DF | Real Madrid
Sergio Ramos is Real Madrid through and through, captaining the Spanish side through numerous Champions League victories and La Liga championships.
At 34 years of age, he is likely to retire to with Los Blancos, and according to Marca, discussions are currently ongoing to extend his current contract for a further two years – until 2023.
Thiago Alcantara | MF | Bayern
Discussions around Thiago Alacantara’s future has been one of the bigger sagas of the summer 2020 transfer window, with the Bayern Munich midfielder being heavily linked to Premier League winners Liverpool.
Fresh from lifting a Champions League trophy with the German clubs, Alcantara has refused to solidify details of his future with his contract expiring in 2021 as rumours have swirled of Liverpool keen to get their hands on the former Barcelona man.
Georginio Wijnaldum | MF | Liverpool
Georginio Wijnaldum has emerged as a steady, consistent and reliable talent under Jurgen Klopp at Liverpool since arriving from Newcastle in 2011. He has played an important role in the middle of the park for the Reds, with his two goals against Barcelona in the Champions League 2019 semi-finals perhaps the highlight of his contributions.
With the Dutchman’s contract expiring 2021, he has been linked to Barcelona, where former Netherlands head coach Ronald Koeman is reportedly keen on signing him.
Paul Pogba | MF | Manchester United
Paul Pogba currently has a deal at Old Trafford that ends next summer, though his contract includes a one-year extension to 2022.
The French international endured a mixed bag of success at Manchester United due to several injury woes and inconsistent form, having admitted in the summer of 2019 that “it could be a good time to have a new challenge somewhere else”.
He has shown promising performances, however, partnering January signing Bruno Fernandes, though he has been regularly linked with a move back to former side Juventus. Following Man Utd’s return to the Champions League, however, Pogba suggested that he intends to stay on in Manchester.
Gianluigi Donnarumma | GK | AC Milan
AC Milan’s Gianluigi Donnarumma became the second-youngest goalkeeper ever to debut in Serie A, aged 16 years and 242 days. He immediately broke into the first-team and has emerged as one of the world’s most promising young goalkeepers – also becoming the youngest goalkeeper ever to appear for Italy when he made his senior international debut in 2016, aged 17 years and 189 days.
Donnarumma wore the armband for the first time in July 2020 against Sassuolo in Serie A, and according to Football Italia, he is currently negotiating the terms of a potential contract extension past 2021.
David Alaba | LB | Bayern
David Alaba has been one of Bayern Munich’s longest-serving veterans, having broken through the youth team ranks and emerging into the first-team in 2010. He has been a regular for the Bundesliga giants for nearly a decade, lifting nine German championship titles, two Champions League wins and three DFB Pokals.
According to Bild, talks are still ongoing between the club and Alaba’s team to extend the terms of his contract beyond 2021.
Memphis Depay | LW | Lyon
The Netherlands international was a standout talent for Lyon in the 2019-20 Champions League, firing his side to the semi-finals of the competition with six goals and knocking out Juventus.
With his contract expiring next summer, Memphis Depay has iterated that he is aware of interest from Barcelona, who are looking to supplement Luis Suarez’s potential transfer to Juventus with additional forward reinforcements.
“I haven’t heard much more from my agent. I know that there is interest, but I don’t have much more to say because I don’t know much about it,” said Depay.
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