An astonishingly good XI of players out of contract next year: TAA, Sane, De Bruyne…
Stars from Bayern Munich, Liverpool and Manchester City are among the most valuable players who are out of contract in 2025.
There’s still plenty of time for these stars to put pen to paper on a fresh contract, but clubs will be wary about the possibility of players running their contracts down.
Ignoring some big names who are no longer in Europe like Lionel Messi and Neymar, we have compiled an astonishingly good XI of players who are all out of contract next year.
GK: Unai Simon
A few Premier League clubs have reportedly been keeping tabs on Simon who only has 18 months to run on his current contract with Athletic Club.
The 26-year-old boasts an impressive save percentage of 73.4 per cent and is considered one of the best goalkeepers in La Liga. Athletic Club are keen on tying him down to a new contract, but an agreement is yet to be reached.
RB: Trent Alexander-Arnold
Since being moved into a hybrid midfield role, Alexander-Arnold has looked back to his very best. The 25-year-old has created 49 chances in the league so far which is more than any other Liverpool player.
With his deal at Anfield set to expire in the summer of 2025, Liverpool will surely be keen to get him tied down to a new long-term contract as soon as possible.
CB: Jonathan Tah
Tah has been a key performer in a Bayer Leverkusen side who have only conceded 14 league goals. Impressively, he’s also chipped in with four goals himself.
Often used as the central defender in Xabi Alonso’s 3-4-2-1 system, Tah’s performances in the second half of the campaign will be vital to Bayer Leverkusen’s title chances.
CB: Virgil van Dijk
With Jurgen Klopp leaving at the end of the season, there is an air of uncertainty surrounding some of Liverpool’s top stars. Van Dijk has looked back to his very best this season and the Reds will be desperate to keep him around.
When asked if he will be part of the next era at Anfield, the defender told reporters: “That’s a big question. Well, I don’t know.”
“Listen, I don’t know. The club will have a big job on their hands. That is well known. To replace the manager and replace not only the manager, the staff is leaving, and there are so many things that will change.
“So the club has a big job on its hands and I am very curious which direction that will go in. But when that will be announced we will see our situation, I can’t say now.”
READ: Virgil van Dijk & 4 other elite defenders who haven’t been dribbled past this season
LB: Alphonso Davies
Bayern Munich have been in talks with Davies over a fresh contract, but the Canadian international is yet to put pen to paper on a new deal.
Real Madrid have been among the clubs eyeing up the 23-year-old and they will no doubt be keeping close tabs on his renewal talks.
RM: Mohamed Salah
Liverpool snubbed a gigantic offer for Salah in the summer, although clubs from Saudi Arabia are expected to rekindle their interest in the Egyptian winger in the coming months.
Salah would become one of the highest-paid players in the world if he does make the switch to Saudi, although he might still feel as if he’s got some unfinished business at Anfield yet.
CM: Joshua Kimmich
When at the top of his game, Kimmich is undoubtedly one of the best holding midfielders in Europe. He’s spent the last nine years with Bayern Munich and there have been some question marks over his long-term future at the club.
Former Bayern Munich director Michael Reschke recently told Sky Sports Germany that there is some Premier League interest in the 28-year-old.
“In the Premier League – I can assure you that, without giving away too much background information – there is definitely interest in Joshua. And not at the clubs from sixth-place down, but up in the region,” Reschke said.
CM: Kevin De Bruyne
It didn’t take him long to make an impact upon his return. After being sidelined for the first half of the campaign through injury, De Bruyne now looks more focused than ever.
With a fresh trim and a new lease of life about him, Premier League defenders should be very scared.
LM: Leroy Sane
The Bayern Munich star is probably playing the best football of his career right now. He’s formed an excellent partnership with Harry Kane and has scored plenty of decisive goals for Thomas Tuchel’s side.
Given he’s already chipped in with 18 goal contributions in the Bundesliga alone, it’s no wonder plenty of other top sides have been sniffing around.
READ: The top 10 dribblers in Europe in 2023-24: Sane, Doku, Wirtz…
ST: Heung-min Son
The South Korean forward has been loving life under Ange Postecoglou. Having predominantly been used in a more central role, the 31-year-old has scored 12 league goals and has provided a further five assists too.
“What I did know about Sonny having followed him for a long time is he is a great finisher, a smart footballer, has great movement and a real capacity for working, pressing, the stuff I love my strikers to do,” Postecoglou told reporters.
“So, I just thought he would be a really good fit for us [at striker] and it wasn’t the only option I was looking at, but it was definitely the one I thought would be the best fit for where we are as a team and what we needed.”
ST: Ivan Toney
Arguably, the most in-demand forward in Europe right now. Having just come back from his suspension, plenty of the big boys are looking to lure the 27-year-old away from Brentford.
Toney himself has made it no secret that he wants to play for a title-challenging club and with his contract set to expire in 2025, he’ll surely get his move at some point.
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