Free agent XI: Best players available now including £72m star and ex-Man Utd forwards

A £72million club-record signing, a Premier League legend and two ex-Manchester United forwards are among the list of players who are available for free transfers this summer.

July 1 usually marks fresh-start fever for many footballers, as contracts generally tend to expire at the end of June. And it's an exciting time to be a football fan, as you never quite know who is going to end up where when the summer transfer window finally rolls around.

For example, a number of the world's most decorated talents have left their clubs without any money exchanging hands whatsoever over the years - Lionel Messi famously parting ways with Barcelona in favour of PSG for £0 in 2021, and Kylian Mbappe more recently signing for Real Madrid for no fees despite a whopping £152million (€180m) market value.

And the summer of 2024 is no different, with a number of club icons and brilliant performers set to switch allegiance in terms of team over the upcoming transfer window. Here, the The Mirror breaks down some of the best players per position who are available for a free transfer this month.

2024's Free agent XI: 4-3-3

Goalkeeper - David De Gea

Former Man United keeper David de Gea

Despite enjoying 12 glorious years with Manchester United, David De Gea has spent a whole season as a free agent now. The legendary 33-year-old Spaniard lifted a Premier League title, three Community Shields, two League Cups and a Europa League trophy with the Red Devils but was released at the end of the 2022/23 campaign as Erik Ten Hag opted to bring Andre Onana to Old Trafford.

Left-back - Juan Miranda

Juan Miranda joined Real Betis from Barcelona in 2021 on a free transfer, racking up 59 appearances for the La Liga side before his contract expired this year. While AC Milan were linked with the pacey full-back in January, a deal never came to fruition - and he looks likely to join Bologna this summer on another free deal. A kick in the teeth for Barca who were set to receive 40 per cent of a transfer fee for Miranda should he have been sold.

Centre half - Raphael Varane

Former Man United defender Raphael Varane

31-year-old Raphael Varane made the move from Real Madrid to Manchester United in 2021 for a whopping £33.9million - and while the Red Devils would have hoped to have made a portion of that back this summer, he will ultimately leave the club on a free. Known for keeping a hold of older players, Varane could reunite with his former Galacticos in the near future, should Carlo Ancelotti want him.

Centre half - Mario Hermoso

Reports suggest that 29-year-old Atletico defender Mario Hermoso could link up with Inter Milan this summer after his contract expired in Spain. With a £21million market value, the solid centre-half could walk into any team he sees fit and would make a great addition to Simone Inzaghi's team alongside Alessandro Bastoni, Stefan de Vrij and Francesco Acerbi.

Right back - Youcef Atal

Youcef Atal walks away from Adana Demirspor on a free this summer, despite only signing for the Turkish club from Nice in February this year. While he still has a couple of years left to play yet, the right-back's eight-month suspended sentence for inciting religious hatred on social media could put some teams off signing him.

Centre mid - Adrien Rabiot

Juventus' French midfielder Adrien Rabiot is out of contract

Exciting Juventus midfielder Adrien Rabiot leaves the Italian club on a free this summer, despite holding a market value of £29.6million. It doesn't seem as though the 29-year-old will be a free agent for long though, as Manchester United, Aston Villa and Arsenal are all said to be interested in the Frenchman's services.

Centre mid - Guido Rodriguez

£16.9million man Guido Rodriguez joins Miranda in parting ways with Real Betis this summer, the Argentinian making his mark on La Liga over the years with six goals in 139 appearances. Barcelona are said to have been monitoring his situation for some time now, so a move to Camp Nou could well be on the horizon - allowing the likes of Pedri and Gavi to feed off his wealth of experience.

Centre mid - Wildfred Ndidi

While Ndidi has been a staple for Leicester City since 2017, his time as the King Power seems to be coming to an end. The defensive midfielder is currently without a club, but not for long - as Everton are said to be making a convincing bid for his services. With 192 appearances in the Premier League, Ndidi could certainly strengthen the Merseyside club's midfield.

Left-wing - Anthony Martial

Anthony Martial has finally left Man United

Anthony Martial was all the rage at Old Trafford when he signed for Manchester United for £50million back in 2015 - but the Premier League hasn't been kind to him as of late, scoring just 13 goals in the last season. There's still a wealth of time for the 28-year-old to make an impact elsewhere though, and some believe that the fast forward will return to Ligue 1 to hopefully get back into the French national team.

Right-wing - Nicola Pepe

Nicola Pepe - while impressive in the French leagues - couldn't seem to get to grips with English football, his £72million transfer from LOSC Lille in 2019 backfiring when the tricky winger was only able to bag 16 goals and nine assists for Arsenal. The 29-year-old club-record signing was allowed to join Trabzonspor on a free last summer and walks from Turkey as a free agent once again this month.

Striker - Memphis Depay

It never worked out for Memphis Depay at Man United

30-year-old Memphis Depay was another player who couldn't quite cut the mustard in the Premier League, achieving a dismal two goals in 33 games for Manchester United between 2015 and 2017 - not quite worth the £28.8million they paid for him. Stints with Lyon, Barcelona and Atletico have proven slightly more successful, but the Dutch striker will focus on Euro 2024 greatness before club transfer talks begin.

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