Five big stars who will likely leave on a Bosman this summer
Carlo Garganese
- Updated: 23 May 2023 08:55 CDT
- 4 min read
We are now in March, which means there are less than four months remaining until players with expiring contracts become free agents.
Perhaps never before have there been so many top-class footballers with contracts running down at this time of a season as there are currently.
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For a full look at all the most noteworthy players with expiring contracts, you can click on the link below.
READ MORE: Out of contract in 2022: The best free agents available on a Bosman
But in this piece, we will look at six top players in Europe who are looking increasingly likely to leave on a Bosman at the end of the 2021-22 season.
Kylian Mbappe (PSG)
Kylian Mbappe was involved in the biggest transfer saga of last summer as he attempted to push through a move to La Liga giants Real Madrid.
In the end the transfer didn’t go through but it has for some months now been accepted that Mbappe will move to the Santiago Bernabeu at the end of the season on a Bosman.
It has been widely reported that Mbappe has already penned an agreement on a six-year contract with Madrid that will see the PSG superstar earn around €50 million-a-year in the Spanish capital.
PSG have made a late attempt to change Mbappe’s mind but it is expected his move to Madrid will be formally announced once the two teams have completed their Champions League last-16 match.
Paul Pogba (Man Utd)
Paul Pogba’s contract at Manchester United expires at the end of the season and it now seems inevitable that he won’t be renewing.
For the second time in his career, Pogba will depart on a Bosman transfer. The three favourites for his signature in this order are Real Madrid, PSG and former club Juventus.
Barcelona have also been reported to be considering an offer as we have seen over the last year that their transfer policy has moved towards signing top players on free transfers.
Nevertheless, Pogba will likely have to take a paycut from his next club.
Ousmane Dembele (Barcelona)
Ousmane Dembele had a massive falling-out with the club in January. Barcelona issued an ultimatum that either the Frenchman signed a new contract or leave immediately.
Dembele refused to be swayed and there were even reports that Barcelona were prepared to freeze him out of the squad for the rest of the season if he didn’t leave, or even take him to court.
In the end, Dembele stayed put and he has been reintegrated into the team in recent games.
Nevertheless, he is almost certain to leave Barcelona on a Bosman in the summer, with PSG and Premier League clubs interested in signing him.
Paulo Dybala (Juventus)
Of all the players on this six-man list, Paulo Dybala is the most likely to stay at his current club.
However, every day that passes, the more the chances of him leaving Juventus increase.
Dybala had agreed a new contract worth around €9-10m a year towards the end of 2021, but Juve then delayed the signatures until the new year.
Juventus then tried to change the terms of Dybala’s contract, wishing to offer him a smaller salary due to the Argentine’s consistent injury problems (he has had six injuries this season already).
Dybala has been angered by this and new talks pencilled in for February have again been put back. Inter and Atletico Madrid are the two teams leading the chase to sign him on a Bosman.
Franck Kessie (AC Milan)
Franck Kessie’s future at San Siro is very bleak and the club has virtually given up hope of him staying past this current season.
Milan offered him a contract renewal worth €5m per season but Kessie has demanded €9m in order to stay. It has got to the point now where contract talks between Kessie and Milan have basically collapsed.
Manchester United, Liverpool, Arsenal and Tottenham are all admirers from the Premier League, as are PSG and Real Madrid. Tottenham had made Kessie a primary target in January but failed to do a deal, much to the anger of manager Antonio Conte.
But the favourites to sign Kessie are Barcelona, who are said to be in advanced talks with his entourage.
