The best starting XI to be made available by Manchester United, City, Chelsea and Arsenal at the end of the season.
GK: Joe Hart – Manchester City
The England number one may have recovered his best form after a massive dip earlier on in the campaign, but manager Manuel Pellegrini is still looking for other options. With the club still linked to Real Madrid’s Iker Casillas, Hart’s time at the club may be coming to an untimely end.
LB: Ashley Cole – Chelsea
Another England international that may be on his way out is Chelsea’s Ashley Cole. He began the season as a nailed on started as he has in his past eight years at Stamford Bridge. However, thanks to an injury just before new year he found his place occupied by Cesar Azpilicueta and can now not work his way back in. At 33 Jose Mourinho may now be looking to the future and a twilight in Major League Soccer now seems likely.
CB: Thomas Vermaelen – Arsenal
The Belgian stopper had been club captain until he lost his place in the side last season. Now he is unable to break past Per Mertesacker and Laurent Koscielny he may look to seek an exit to somewhere that will afford him considerably more game time. He had stated his desire to stay and fight for his place, but now looks resigned to moving on at the end of the season.
CB: John Terry – Chelsea
Veteran centre-back Terry is still very much a fixture in the Blues’ starting line up, having made 42 appearances across all competitions already this term. However, his contract is set to expire this summer and as of yet there are no talks in place to extend it. Manchester City are rumoured to be interested, but there will surely be several other clubs that would gladly take this experienced leader off Chelsea’s hands.
RB: Bacary Sagna – Arsenal
The Gunners risk losing the experienced Frenchman as that have so far refused to meet the terms he craves in a new deal. Despite his advancing years, the 31-year-old has remained consistent this season and has drawn admirers like Manchester City, Monaco and PSG.
CM: Frank Lampard – Chelsea
The Blues almost let Lampard walk away last season only for Mourinho to offer him a one year salvo. However, he finds himself in a similar position again this year, and after playing a diminished role this time around that new deal may not come. Like Cole, the United States could be on the cards for one final swan song.
CM: Mikel Arteta – Arsenal
The classy Spaniard has not been himself this season, and that point was capped off at the weekend with an own goal against former club Everton. Arsene Wenger is looking to rely on him less and less now, and now that he is post 30 it wouldn’t be a surprise to see him entertain offers for the player this summer.
RW: Ashley Young – Manchester United
The former England man is so derided for his diving antics that even his own fans are getting in on the action. His performances at Villa that won him so many admirers seem like a million years ago now and Moyes has singled him out for criticism this term. It seems highly likely that he will be put up for sale this summer.
LW: Nani – Manchester United
The tricky Portuguese ace came very close to leaving the club during the January transfer window and is still consistently linked with a move to Italian giants Juventus. Bordering on the ineffectual this season, a move away would be the best outcome for all involved.
CAM: Shinji Kagawa – Manchester United
Despite seeing an upturn in form lately, the Japanese international still can’t get a regular run in the side and his time at Old Trafford now appears to be up as he continues to rot away on the bench. Tipped to head back to Germany, he could rejoin former club Borussia Dortmund or become a makeweight in a deal for someone else going the other way.
ST: Edin Dzeko – Manchester City
The powerful Bosnian has seen his involvement rise this season thanks to injuries to Sergio Aguero and Stevan Jovetic, but once the pair are fit again he most likely won’t be seeing as much game time as he is now. Wanted by several clubs across Europe, he will look to move to a club where he can get the starting spot that he deserves.