Some quality can be had in the summer without the need to splash the cash.
As the summer transfer window approaches every club across Europe will be looking to strengthen their sides without spending a fortune. With the current financial climate still making chairmen tighten their belts, the focus will be on bringing in top quality without paying top dollar.
There are a number of clubs with all manner of financial difficulties that could cause them to sell important players at a cut rate, and similarly, there are some clubs who can afford to offload certain squad members to go after bigger fish.
It is also a time where players with expiring contracts are touted around by hungry agents and it won’t be long before news breaks that some of the names on this list have found new homes.
But whatever the situation, the players named here will all make fantastic bargain buys during the summer break.
Kolo Toure – Manchester City
A born leader with an impressive list of honours to his name is likely to be shown the door at Eastlands having made just a handful of appearances this season.
He missed six months of his City career due to missing a doping test but he has still proved to be a solid performer and would still make a strong addition to any club looking to tighten their defence.
Chris Brunt – West Bromwich Albion
The Ulsterman is an often overlooked and underrated midfielder. He’s played a key part in West Brom’s good season, and has captained the side since 2011.
Out of contract in the summer, it’s hard to imagine that the Baggies won’t do everything they can to ensure he stays in the Midlands for a few more years. But for a club looking to add some creative grit to their attack they could do far worse than the Northern Ireland international.
Kevin Gameiro – PSG
Another player from the famous Lorient production line, Gameiro joined PSG at the beginning of last season and bagged 14 goals to help the club regain entry back into the Champions League.
This season hasn’t seen him feature as much, though, falling behind in the pecking order to the likes of Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Ezequiel Lavezzi. The Parisians are expected to spend heavily again this summer with Gameiro likely to be moved on to free up space in the squad.
Stefan De Vrij – Feyenoord
The 21-year-old has had a meteoric rise since breaking into Feyenoord’s first team in 2009. Already on four caps for the Dutch national side he replaced Ron Vlaar as club captain last summer when he joined Aston Villa.
A prodigious talent set for a big future in the game, he’s thought to be priced at just under £5 million and with Liverpool seeking a replacement for the retiring Jamie Carragher, expect them to make an enquiry in the off season.
Mathieu Flamini – AC Milan
The ex-Arsenal man is out of contract this summer and after featuring just 12 times this season, it’s not likely that he’ll be invited to stay in Milan for much longer. The Frenchman was even slated on Twitter by Milan fans recently after failing to get a grip in the club’s second leg tie against Barcelona.
He’s suffered mixed fortunes in Italy, but he still has a lot to offer a club seeking a solid pass master in the middle.
Guillermo Ochoa – Ajaccio
The highly rated Mexican is thought to be keen on a move away to test himself at a higher standard than Ajaccio are able to offer.
Linked with Liverpool in January, he has reportedly openly expressed his desire to seek a move to a club that can offer him European football next term. At 27, he already has a half century of caps for El Tricolor and looks likely to remain there for sometime.
Valued at just £5 million, he’ll be a certain bargain for a side looking to sign a guaranteed long term number one.
Jeremy Toulalan – Malaga
With Malaga set to have an end of season clear out due to the ongoing string of financial difficulties, they can expect to lose a number of their most influential talents.
And none would represent better value than the capture of Jeremy Toulalan. The 29-year-old is an assured head in the middle of the park, capable of breaking up play and spraying passes around like a quarterback. Arsenal have been watching and due to the state of affairs in Malaga a substantial chunk of his £13 million valuation could disappear.
Javier Saviola – Malaga
Another of Malaga’s key stars, the 31-year-old was linked with a move Stateside last month but so far nothing has materialised.
Valued at just £3 million, like Toulalan he could be available at just a fraction of that, and with so much European competition experience he may be able to be convinced to have one last attempt at success in this continent.
Bafetimbi Gomis – Lyon
The French giants have also been his with financial difficulties and they too may be forced into a reluctant sale of their more valuable assets.
Quick and powerful, the comparisons between himself and Drogba aren’t unfounded as he has chipped in with 17 goals so far this term. He is equally comfortable playing up top on his own as he is with a partner as his physique allows him to bring others into the game. Valued at £12 million, that price may drop considerably as he also has just under 18 months left to run on his current deal.
Arsenal and Chelsea have been rumoured to be watching closely.
Jozy Altidore – AZ Alkmaar
The 23-year-old American is having a bi-polar season with the former Dutch champions. His side are currently facing relegation, sitting just one point above the drop zone in 14th. But the man himself is in fine form, bagging 25 goals in 34 games across all competitions.
After enduring difficult campaigns with Hull City and Villarreal, Altidore has given clubs across Europe a reason to take another chance on him with some fine individual displays. Valued around £3 million he represents a sound investment for a team needing some pace and power up front without having to pay a fortune to get their man.
Victor Valdes – Barcelona
The 31-year-old custodian announced recently that he will be leaving Barcelona this summer after 11 successful years. And with his contract expiring in 2014, you’d be forgiven for not wondering why clubs all over the world haven’t been tripping up over each other to land his signature.
So far, rumours of moves to England, Germany and Turkey have been thrown around, but there have been no concrete offers yet. A brilliant shot stopper, Valdes has been credited as a vital part of Barcelona’s ‘Tiki-Taka’ system for acting as a roving sweeper..
Andreas Cornelius – FC Copenhagen
The Danish starlet is already attracting attention from big clubs in Europe with Arsenal already said to be considering a summer move for the 6’4 man.
In his breakthrough season, he’s already netted 16 times in 25 appearances and at just £1.5 million he should have the pick of where he decides to move on to.
Able to play in the centre or on the left side of the attack, he’s already collected three international caps for Denmark.
Ricky Van Wolfswinkel – Sporting Lisbon
Another club who are having financial difficulties are Sporting Lisbon, and not only that, they are also having a disappointing season as they currently sit 11th in the table.
A number of Europe’s leading clubs are said to be taking an interest in the Dutchman, who has scored freely for Sporting and for Utrecht back in his native land.
Like some of the others in this list, he could see a few zero’s of his £9 million valuation disappear as the Portuguese side look certain to sell.
Jacob Mulenga – FC Utrecht
The Zambian forward was linked to an unnamed English side in the January transfer window, but for one reason or another he is still at Utrecht where he is apparently preparing to hand in a transfer request at the end of a successful season for both him and the club.
With 12 goals in 23 games, the rangy forward could be an ideal signing for a mid size club who perhaps are embarking on their first foray into the Europa League next season.
Valued at just £1.5 million, he would be a relatively safe gamble for anyone looking to add more depth.
Aaron Hunt
The half-English half-German attacking midfielder has yet to be offered a new deal at Bremen. With his current contract expiring next season, a club in need of a cultured attacking midfielder could test Bremen’s resolve with a bid in the summer.
Having spent his entire career with Werder, any decision to leave wouldn’t be taken lightly so any interested parties would have to ensure that a good deal is put on the table if they want to land him.
So far this season Hunt has scored nine times in 22 appearances.
Florent Malouda – Chelsea
The 32-year-old has been frozen out of the West London club this season, but luckily for him his contract is up at the end of the season.
Said to be keen on reviving his career, many clubs will be comforted to know that he’s still hungry for success at his age and the lack of any transfer fee will surely add a few names to the queue of potential suiters.
Though he may have to take a pay cut from the £80,000 a week deal he is on at the moment, Arsenal, Juventus, Santos, Anzhi Makhachkala and former club Lyon are all reported to be interested on adding him to their roster.
Mauro Zarate – Lazio
Another in a long line of ‘next Maradona’s,’ the 26-year-old attacker has made a name for himself in Italy.
However, after a largely unsuccessful spell at Inter last season, Zarate would relish the opportunity to show that he is able to compete at that level again.
Once of Birmingham City, Liverpool are said to be exploring the possibility of bringing him back to England. Having featured just once this season, Lazio are said to be willing to listen to offers for diminutive Argentine.
Jeremy Menez – PSG
The highly rated winger hasn’t made the impact that many predicted in the French capital. This season he has been in and out of the squad, failing to hold down a regular first team spot.
While he may not be a prolific goalscorer his versatility will be a huge asset to anyone looking to bring him on board. An established French international, he has proved that he can compete at the highest level having spent three seasons at Roma before linking up with PSG to help in their championship push.
Andrei Arshavin – Arsenal
Fallen out of favour under Arsene Wenger, the 31-year-old is thought to be heading through the exit door in North London with his contract set to expire in June and no new terms being made to keep him.
Still able to drop supporters jaws, many clubs will have a brilliant, albeit moody, talent on their hands should they convince him to sign.
Fulham have been reported to be interested, as have Al-Saad and and hometown team, Zenit St Petersburg.
Having made just seven appearances this season, the Russian international will be looking for one more run at success with Russia looking on course to qualify for next year’s World Cup.
Sofiane Feghouli – Valencia
With Valencia financial books still in the red to the tune of €547 million, they too may be forced to let a few of their players go over the coming months.
Feghouli has been highly thought of ever since his days at lowly French side, Grenoble, and after some solid Champions League experience under his belt he’s now considered as a real star.
Making 28 appearances this season, he’s scored six times and chipped in with five assists. Feghouli is also now an established international with Algeria where he took part in their disappointing 2013 African Cup of Nations campaign.
Valencia have been forced to sell their prized assets in the past and this case could prove no different as the 23-year-old could leave for as little as £9 million.