With reports linking former Manchester United goalkeeper David de Gea with a surprise return to the Premier League, here are five top free agents clubs can sign right now, including a South African striker!
David de Gea
De Gea is now being linked with a move to Newcastle United in the January transfer window. The Spaniard left Old Trafford at the end of June after his contract expired. It is believed he was initially presented with an offer to stay in Manchester but on significantly reduced terms compared to his last contract of £375 000 (R8.9 million) a week. With Newcastle No. 1 Nick Pope facing a lengthy spell on the sidelines after sustaining a shoulder injury, De Gea has emerged as a potential replacement. The former Red Devils star is also thought to have rejected an offer from the Saudi Pro League, while The Telegraph claims that his wife Edurne, with whom he has a baby daughter Yanay, is keen to remain in Spain instead.
Read: BREAKING: Man Utd issue statement after 'player revolt' reports
Jesse Lingard
Another former Red Devils player, Lingard is yet to find a new club following his exit from Nottingham Forest at the end of last season. The 30-year-old has been spotted posting videos doing solo training sessions as he prepares for the next chapter of his career. Over the past few months, the forward has spent time at Inter Miami's training facility, while he has also reportedly attended trials at West Ham United and Al Ettifaq in Saudi Arabia. It seems his efforts were unsuccessful at the Hammers and the opportunity to play under Steven Gerrard and alongside Jordan Henderson has since faded away too.
Lars Veldwijk
Unlike the aforementioned two players, seven-time Bafana Bafana star Veldwijk recently parted ways with Suwon FC in South Korea by mutual consent following a drunk-driving incident. The 32-year-old received a 15-game ban and a fine of 4 million won from the K-League, while his driver's licence was also revoked, according to Korea JoongAng Daily. The centre-forward as had a nomadic career representing 10 clubs at senior level, including Nottingham Forest in England, FC Groningen in Holland, and KV Kortrijk in Belgium. With nine goals and five assists in 22 matches for Suwon before his exit, Veldwijk has since been linked with Greek top-flight outfit Aris FC.
Danny Rose
The former Tottenham Hotspur defender has now gone almost 15 months without a club. He parted ways with Watford in September 2022, just months after the club was relegated from the Premier League to the Championship. The left-back has featured as a pundit on broadcast channels but has not closed the door on a return to the field. He made more than 200 appearances for Spurs and earned 29 caps for the England national team.
Javier Pastore
Ex-Argentina and Paris Saint-Germain footballer Javier Pastore is a free agent for the second time in the space of just three seasons. The now-34-year-old rose to prominence during his seven-year spell at the Parc des Princes, where he made 267 appearances and registered 45 goals and 59 assists. However, injuries have been a devastating feature in the attacking midfielder's career in recent times as he has missed a whopping 103 games since 2015 due to injury, according to Transfermarkt. He has been without a club since leaving Qatar SC in July.
Read: FA makes Haaland punishment decision after furious outburst
You must be SIGNED IN to read and post comments.
WATCH: