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GM, Free Agents.
Welcome to the The Free Transfer— the 5-min daily newsletter making you smarter about football.
Wednesday already 🏃 💨
A few of Les Bleus whose contracts are expiring this summer
We’ve got a transfer market special edition:
Three of this summer’s top free agents 🔝 🆓 ✍️
Who are they? 👋
Where could they land? ✈️
How would they fit in? 👀
TOP FREE AGENTS SUMMER ‘23 🔝 🆓 ✍️
As the transfer market has become increasingly inflated, clubs (especially those with smaller budgets) have come to rely on free transfers to supplement their “big transfer fee” signings.
Let’s see who is available on a free transfer this summer, where they may go, & what they could offer their new teams. ⤵️
Marcus Thuram 🇫🇷
Who is he? 👋
Thuram is a tall left forward/striker who plays for Borussia Monchengladbach. Despite his height, he moves & dribbles well. A threat in the air or on his right foot. The striker has been linked to many top clubs after his solid cameos for France in the World Cup.
Where has he been linked with a move? ✈️
Gladbach director Virkus confirms that Marcus Thuram will leave on a free: “We have to accept that there are bigger clubs where Marcus might go”, told Sport1 🚨🇫🇷 #transfers
Thuram has proposals from England, Italy and Spain after Chelsea interest in January.
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano)
6:37 PM • Feb 19, 2023
Among others, Thuram has been linked with moves to Inter Milan, Chelsea, and most recently Manchester United.
Inter will need a striker if an agreement for Lukaku can’t be made with Chelsea.
Chelsea need a striker this summer (or 2!) with Aubameyang & Lukaku likely leaving, Joao Felix’s loan ending, & Armando Broja still recovering from an ACL injury.
Manchester United will need a striker to replace Weghorst (loan ending) & Anthony Martial (if he leaves this summer) as well.
Fit assessment 👀
Inter
If Lukaku leaves he is a great fit. They would need a strike partner for Lautaro & Dzeko to rotate with, since Correa has underwhelmed since signing 2 seasons ago.
Even if Lukaku stays— Dzeko is getting older & Thuram is much better than Correa.
Overall this would be a great fit, as Thuram has spent much of his time at Gladbach playing in a 2-striker system with Plea.
Chelsea
As we have spoken about in previous newsletters, Pochettino’s #1 priority is a striker/#9 this summer. With Chelsea having spent so much money on other players in the past season, maybe a free transfer for Thuram would make sense.
His height would help Chelsea get up the field through long balls. His link up play is solid as well, coming through as a LF/LW.
This one could make a lot of sense for Chelsea, with the departure of Aubameyang & Lukaku likely this summer.
No Champions League football next season makes it a harder sell for Chelsea vs. other teams who will be in the Champions League.
Manchester United
It has been reported that United will need to sell in order to buy this summer. In that case, locking down Thuram as an option at #9 on a free could be great business. That would leave them more budget to invest in a second #9 (should Martial leave with Weghorst) and other positions.
Adrien Rabiot 🇫🇷
Who is he? 👋
Starter for France & Juve, Rabiot is a tall box-to-box central midfielder who chips in with goals+assists, & loves to carry the ball from deep. His height & physicality give him an advantage on defense, despite it not being his strongest area.
Note: He & his agent (his mother) are known to demand very high wages— see his exit from PSG a few years ago.
Where has he been linked with a move? ✈️
🚨 #mufc have expressed their interest in signing Adrien Rabiot, with Erik ten Hag being a big fan of the Juventus midfielder. There are contacts, but no proposals on the table as of yet. [@FabrizioRomano]
— The United Stand (@UnitedStandMUFC)
2:52 PM • May 23, 2023
Rabiot has been linked with moves to Manchester United & Bayern Munich.
Manchester United need a #8 to pair with Casemiro. They have been operating with two #10s alongside Casemiro this season (Bruno & Eriksen).
Bayern could use some depth at #8 with Leon Goretkza missing 6 weeks this season through injury. Could enable a high-fee deal for a #6.
Fit assessment 👀
Manchester United
He is a great fit straight away for United. Their need for a physical #8 is apparent.
His free addition would leave more of their budget to go for a #9, although his wages could be extremely high.
Would be a good upgrade on Fred.
Bayern Munich
Tactically, he could be a good fit in a midfield with a new #6 & Kimmich at Bayern. But football is not played on paper.
Despite Bayern’s hierarchy being very interested in the player, Tuchel & Rabiot had a poor relationship (which led to his exit) at PSG. It is possible, but unlikely that Bayern go for him due to this.
Roberto Firmino 🇧🇷
Who is he? 👋
The face of Liverpool’s rebuild & an Anfield favorite, Bobby Firmino is finally leaving Liverpool when his contract expires this summer. The creative “False 9” has struggled with muscle injuries over the past few seasons, but still has a lot to offer when he’s fit— 14G+A in 12 Premier League starts this season.
Where has he been linked with a move? ✈️
Understand there’s nothing agreed or signed between Roberto Firmino and Barcelona at this stage. 🇧🇷 #FCB
It’s not even advanced deal — just name discussed internally. Barça priorities are Iñigo, Gündogan, of course Messi.
Firmino, still exploring options — no decision made yet.
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano)
12:20 PM • Apr 22, 2023
Firmino has been linked with moves to Barcelona, Real Madrid, & Newcastle this summer, among many other potential suitors.
Barcelona certainly could use another striker, with Lewandowski being the only true center forward on their roster this season.
Similarly, Real Madrid only have Benzema at #9 in their squad for next season. With his history of muscle injuries, Madrid will want another striker for cover.
Newcastle have two quality center forwards in Callum Wilson & Alexander Isak, but signing a versatile, experienced forward would be great for Champions League next season.
Fit assessment 👀
Barcelona
Firmino’s creative link-up play already screams “Barcelona” & he could slot right into their front line.
He would offer something very different to Lewandowski who is more a “true #9” that likes to finish off chances created for him.
Against different types of opponents, Xavi may like Firmino’s defensive work rate, “dropping into the midfield”, & positional versatility.
Real Madrid
Firmino can split time with Benzema while maintaining similar levels of quality for Madrid’s system. Benzema often drops deep to collect the ball from the midfield.
Firmino’s link-up play & defensive work rate would be mimic what Benzema offers Madrid currently.
Signing Firmino on a 1-2 year deal could be the perfect “bridge” until Endrick comes in summer 2024.
Endrick to Real Madrid, here we go! Full verbal agreement in place as reported 2 days ago, it’s now closed 🚨⚪️🇧🇷 #RealMadrid
Real Madrid will pay €60m to Palmeiras plus €12m taxes.
Brazilian gem [2006] will join in July 2024.
Real plan to sign all documents within December.
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano)
2:15 PM • Dec 8, 2022
Gaffer’s bets 🃏
Thuram— signs with Inter Milan. Lukaku fee likely too expensive for Inter + will seek free transfers.
Rabiot— signs with Manchester United. Great fit + United will pay his wage demands.
Firmino— signs with Barcelona. Great fit for the playstyle + Barca will seek free transfers.
It’ll be interesting to see how the Free Transfer market shakes out this summer. Many of these deals will be dominoes for the rest of the transfer market.
Have a great Wednesday and remember to share with your friends 👇️ 💰️
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