Kylian Mbappe, Paul Pogba and Ousmane Dembele star in our 2022 free transfer XI

Graeme Bailey
3 November 2021

Paul Pogba Kylian Mbappe Ousmane Dembele France Jun21

Soon to be out of contract French trio are among a host of top players set to be available for nothing next summer.

2022 is fast approaching and some of the best players in world soccer are due to be available for nothing next summer, with Kylian Mbappe, Antonio Rudiger and Paul Pogba among those potentially up for grabs.

Planet Sport has put together a starting XI of players who, as it stands, will be on the move for free at the end of the season. They are good enough to adapt so we have opted for a very fluid 3-4-3 formation.

Goalkeeper

Andre Onana, 25, Ajax & Cameroon

The Ajax No. 1 has recently returned to action after a doping ban ruled him out of action for nine months.

The 25-year-old was previously linked with a big-money move to Arsenal and was valued at over £40million - but now he can move for nothing.

Tottenham have been strongly linked, given they are looking for a long-term replacement for Hugo Lloris but recent months have seen Inter Milan emerge as a likely landing spot.

Like Spurs, Inter have an ageing No. 1 in the shape of Samir Handanovic and Onana is clearly not going to be short of options.

Betfair make Inter firm favourites at 7/2, with Tottenham just behind them at 9/2. Arsenal can be backed at 7/1, with Everton 10/1.

Defence

Cesar Azpilicueta, 32, Chelsea & Spain

The Spanish veteran is a huge part of the current Chelsea squad but he has yet to be tied down to a contract beyond this season.

He is being strongly linked with a move back to La Liga, where he has not played since 2010 with Osasuna.

Now it is understood that all of Spain's big guns are considering a move for Azpilicueta on a free.

Barcelona are in need of reinforcements - and cheap ones at that - and are favourites to land him at 3/1 with Betfair.

With England star Kieran Trippier looking to return to the Premier League, Azpilicueta could be an ideal signing for Atletico Madrid who are just 7/2 to land him.

Antonio Rudiger, 28, Chelsea & Germany

Few players have benefited more from a change in manager than Antonio Rudiger. Out of the side under Frank Lampard, Rudiger has become a key figure under Thomas Tuchel and is now seen as one of the best defenders in Europe.

Rudiger and Chelsea are miles apart in terms of contract negotiations and come January he is going to have a host of offers on the table.

Bayern Munich, Paris Saint-Germain, Manchester City and Juventus are among the clubs being linked.

A return to German is seen as the most likely option with Betfair, as Bayern are 7/2 to take him to the Bundesliga.

PSG are becoming the experts in landing free agents and they are also in the mix for Rudiger. They are priced at 9/2.

A Premier League move would cause a real stir and Manchester City always have room for a defender - they are at 6/1.

Niklas Sule, 26, Bayern Munich & Germany

As we have seen, Chelsea could be losing a real core of their defence, so it is no surprise to see them after a central defender or two.

One of the favourites to arrive at Stamford Bridge is a player they have been linked with for well over a year in the shape of Bayern Munich's German defender Niklas Sule.

It could very well be a case of swapping like for like, if Bayern manage to lure Rudiger to Munich then Sule could make the move in the opposite direction.

Chelsea are firm favourites at 7/2 to land Sule and Betfair believe Sule's next destination is likely to be England.

Liverpool are 9/2, while Manchester United are also classed as contenders at 11/2. Manchester City and Arsenal are 6/1.

Midfield

Ousmane Dembele, 24, Barcelona & France

One of the most valuable players ever to be available on a Bosman free transfer. Barcelona paid more than £100million to sign French forward Ousmane Dembele in 2017 as a replacement for Neymar.

Barca want him to stay at Camp Nou, but their off-field issues mean a new deal is looking unlikely.

Jurgen Klopp has always been a huge fan of Dembele and the chance to land him for nothing could be too much of an attraction - Betfair make Liverpool odds-on to land him.

Newcastle could very well flex their new financial muscles by snapping up one of the big free agents and are 5/2 to land him.

Paris Saint-Germain are third favourites at 5/1.

Franck Kessie, 24, AC Milan & Ivory Coast

Another hugely impressive performer, with a market value to match, Franck Kessie has been linked with a host of clubs in the past 18 months.

However, it looks increasingly likely that he will be on his way to England.

The AC Milan midfielder is seen as an ideal Premier League capture, and it is no surprise to see the betting dominated by English clubs.

Manchester United are rated 4/1 favourites with Betfair, just ahead of Everton at 5/1, Tottenham at 6/1 and Liverpool who are 7/1.

Paul Pogba, 28, Manchester United & France

Paul Pogba has long made it clear he would assess his options before deciding on where his future lies and it is increasingly likely that he will be leaving Old Trafford in 2022.

The French star has flattered to deceive at times during his second coming at United, but that doesn't mean he's short of options and some very good ones at that.

Real Madrid have long been linked and are 9/2.

However, Paris Saint-Germain are seen as the favourites to land him and are as short as Evens to claim his signature, while Pogba's other former club, Juventus, are 5/2.

Jesse Lingard, 28, Manchester United & England

Lingard enjoyed a wonderful end to last season on loan at West Ham and he only just missed out on a place in England's European Championship squad.

But Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is clearly not a huge fan, and that has again been seen at the start of this season as he struggles for game-time.

Lingard had decided to give it another go, but it seems he will be leaving in 2022, and he is also not short of options.

A return to West Ham is seen as one of the most likely destinations and they are 7/2 to land him, but it is soon to be big spending Newcastle who are 2/1 favourites to secure his signature.

Everton are 6/1 with Arsenal at 8/1 but could Lingard move abroad? There was interest from Atletico Madrid last summer and they are 10/1 with Betfair to claim him.

Attack

Kylian Mbappe, 22, Paris Saint-Germain & France

Kylian Mbappe is probably the most valuable player on the planet. If you wanted to sign him while under contract it would cost you in excess of £200million.

Unfortunately for PSG, Mbappe has made it clear he is looking away from the French capital having turned down numerous offers of contracts.

PSG have not given up hope but Mbappe also confirmed that he wanted to join Real Madrid last summer - the Parisians' last chance to get a fee for him.

Now Real Madrid look almost nailed on to land Mbappe and the La Liga side are priced at just 1/7 to claim his signature.

Alexandre Lacazette, 30, Arsenal & France

Lacazette is ready to move on from Arsenal and it seems he is destined to move away from the Premier League after five years at the Emirates.

Lacazette may not have hit the heights expected in England, but he has shown in glimpses his real qualities and he is set to secure a big move.

Atletico Madrid have long been seen as favourites to land him and the odds-makers agree, with the Spaniards rated at 5/2 with Betfair.

A move to Milan could be on the cards too and Inter are 7/2 with AC 6/1. Paris Saint-Germain are 8/1 and a return to Lyon can't be ruled out at 10/1.

Paulo Dybala, 27, Juventus & Argentina

The Argentine striker is potentially one of the best players available on a free transfer in 2022.

Juventus are looking to keep him, but as the New Year approaches they are in danger of losing him for nothing.

Inter Milan are seen as favourites to take him from their Serie A rivals and they are just 3/1 with Betfair.

Dybala has long been linked with England and Manchester City are just 4/1 to land him ahead of Tottenham at 6/1.

Paris Saint-Germain are obviously looking for a Kylian Mbappe replacement and Dybala could be an option, but they are regarded as outsiders to land him at 10/1.