Lionel Messi is among 10 best footballers out of contract in July 2023 and available as free transfers.
Sergio Busquets – Barcelona
Sergio Busquets’ 14-year stint with Barcelona could be coming to an end soon when his contract expires at the end of the 2022-23 season. There haven’t been talks of a new deal with the Catalans and the midfielder, who will be 35 next season, is moving on following an exceptional, trophy-laden stay.
N’Golo Kante – Chelsea
N’Golo Kante’s current contract with Chelsea will expire in July. After signing for Chelsea from Leicester City in 2016, the French international midfielder then signed a fresh five-year contract back in 2018 and it is coming to a conclusion at the end of the season.
It remains to be seen what Kante’s next step will be, but the winds of change have blown through Stamford Bridge in the last six months and he has been linked with some of Europe’s elite, including Barcelona.
Ilkay Gundogan – Manchester City
Ilkay Gundogan joined Manchester City from Borussia Dortmund in 2016 and has experienced a stellar stint in the Premier League so far. The four-time Premier League champion has been extremely useful in Pep Guardiola’s midfield but he could be on his way out if City do not grant him an extension to his contract, which expires in June 2023.
Toni Kroos – Real Madrid
Toni Kroos has been nothing less than a star in Real Madrid’s midfield since joining the Liga club from Bayern Munich. However it looks the German midfielder’s eight-year-long stay is set to end at the end of the season. Kroos will be 33 come the end of the campaign and Madrid already look to be planning for the future, with the arrival of a number of young midfielders.
Roberto Firmino – Liverpool
Roberto Firmino is playing in his eighth season at Liverpool and it looks like the 2022-23 campaign may well be his last with the Reds. The Brazil star is one of the old guard at Anfield, but, despite being in his thirties, he has had a fire lit under him with the big-money arrival of Darwin Nunez. Firmino’s future will ultimately depend on how Liverpool’s season pans out.
Lionel Messi – PSG
The Argentine star is enjoying the second and final year of his current contract with PSG after making the move from Barcelona in 2021. The Paris-based club have the option to extend Messi’s stay in France by one more year, but he looks almost certain to leave Paris for Saudi Arabia and a ludicrous contract this summer, which makes fans in Paris a little bit sad.
There are also talks regarding a potential return to Barcelona to close out his career, with Joan Laporta declaring: “I don’t believe Messi’s chapter at Barcelona is over. And I believe it is our responsibility to make sure that chapter is still open, that it hasn’t closed.”
Major League Soccer and an Argentina homecoming have also been touted, but Messi appears to be enjoying life in France for now.
Naby Keita – LIVERPOOL
Naby Keita had his season disrupted early in Liverpool’s Community Shield win against Manchester City and will be playing catch-up as he seeks to justify a contract extension at Anfi eld. The midfielder’s career with the Reds has been disappointing, with injuries taking their toll, but a strong fi nish to the campaign could be enough.
Marco Reus – BORUSSIA DORTMUND
Marco Reus previously pledged to end his career at Borussia Dortmund. However, the 33-year-old winger’s contract is set to expire in the summer of 2023 after he only managed to land a one-year extension last season. Circumstances can change and the German veteran could surely be tempted to give somewhere else a try before he hangs up his boots.
Luka Modric – REAL MADRID
Luka Modric’s Real Madrid contract was set to expire in 2022 but the Croatian midfielder signed a one-year contract extension in June. The current contract is set to keep the 37-year-old at Madrid until the end of the season in July, but there have been suggestions that there is an option to extend the deal till 2024. The Croatian has been playing very well for Madrid, being one of their best players in recent seasons.
Marcus Thuram- BORUSSIA MONCHENGLADBACH
Marcus Thuram showed his entire potential when he played a brilliant role in the second half of the 2022 World Cup final for France. And with his contract expiring in less than two months’ time, Thuram is a man on high demand among clubs across Europe. The 25-year-old is being chased by a host of Premier League clubs as well as clubs in Serie A
