Premier League clubs might boast financial resources that make the rest of Europe jealous with envy, but England’s top clubs will still be on the look out for potential bargains next summer.
Free agents are a cost-efficient method to strengthen a squad and there are a number of names across Europe’s top five leagues who are approaching the end of their current deals and will appeal to Premier League clubs.
Here are five 2023 free agents who will interest Premier League clubs.
Milan Skriniar
Milan Skriniar has been regularly touted for a move to the Premier League in recent transfer windows, with a host of England’s top clubs having been credited with an interest in the Inter Milan defender.
Inter have so far been unable to agree new terms with the Slovakia international, who has made 224 appearances for the club since joining from Sampdoria in 2017.
Skriniar was linked with a move to Paris Saint-Germain during the summer, but a deal failed to materialise and Inter now face the prospect of losing a key figure on a free transfer next summer.
The 27-year-old formed part of the team that won the Serie A title in 2020/21 and has added a composure in possession to his defensive strength.
He has completed 129 of 131 passes across Inter’s opening two Champions League games this season, while no player who started more than 20 matches in Serie A last season could better Skriniar’s 92.9% pass accuracy. Only teammate Marcelo Brozovic has completed more passes across the last four league campaigns.
Across that same period, Skriniar made 172 league appearances for Inter and did not commit a single error that led to an opposition goal.
Konrad Laimer
Konrad Laimer is set to be in demand next summer as the midfielder approaches the end of his deal at RB Leipzig. The Austria international signed for Leipzig from sister-club Red Bull Salzburg in 2017 and has since established himself among the Bundesliga’s best midfielders.
Laimer’s all-action style and comfortability in multiple roles has seen him linked with a number of clubs across Europe, with Bayern Munich and Manchester United said to be among his admirers. Liverpool were also interested in a cut-price summer deal, as Laimer revealed that the Reds tried and failed to prise him from the Red Bull Arena late in the window.
“It wasn’t so hot that anything would have happened,” Laimer told BILD.
A wonderful move, sealed with a chip. ???? ????
Konrad #Laimer set the ball rolling in an emphatic performance from @RBLeipzig_EN with a delightful finish. ???? #Bundesliga pic.twitter.com/yxLcBIGsei
— Bundesliga English (@Bundesliga_EN) April 5, 2022
“A hasty departure is not my thing. If I were to change clubs, I would want to think it through and decide calmly, not overnight. Especially since the first half of the season is very short anyway due to the World Cup and you wouldn’t have had time to settle in and find your feet.
“The Premier League is nice, but for me it’s not a must. It’s much more important to me: how do people talk to me, what feeling do I have about something.”
Liverpool remain in need of midfield arrivals next summer and the free transfer addition of Laimer would be a sensible addition to their ranks. However, Jurgen Klopp’s team are unlikely to be his sole suitors.
Evan Ndicka
Eintracht Frankfurt were open to the sale of Evan Ndicka during the summer, after the defender turned down the chance to extend his contract with the Europa League winners.
The 23-year-old won admirers for his role in Frankfurt’s success in Europe last season with the likes of Newcastle, Roma and Juventus credited with interest in the left-footed centre-back.
???????????????????? ???????????????????? in the capital from @Eintracht_eng's star defender Evan Ndicka. ????
Wish the Parisian a Joyeux anniversaire on his 2️⃣3️⃣rd today! ???????? pic.twitter.com/ZZcCT3MatQ
— Bundesliga English (@Bundesliga_EN) August 20, 2022
The latter have often targeted free agents to strengthen and Ndicka could provide balance to the backline as Juventus look for a long-term replacement for Giorgio Chiellini.
Ndicka has represented France up to u21 level and has made over a century of Bundesliga appearances for Frankfurt. Strong in duels and boasting impressive recovery pace, the defender has also featured at left-back on occasion for Frankfurt and would suit the left side of a team whose preference is for three central defenders.
Ruslan Malinovskyi
Ruslan Malinovskyi was linked with the Premier League during the summer, with Tottenham understood to have held an interest in the Atalanta midfielder.
That interest could accelerate should Malinovskyi remain available on a free transfer next summer. The Ukraine international is older (29) than the other options on this list, but has proven pedigree having been a central part of Atalanta’s rise in recent seasons.
Left foot drive from far out? @malinovskyi18 is happy to deliver ????@SerieA ????pic.twitter.com/RELH4SDfOQ
— Lega Serie A (@SerieA_EN) July 9, 2022
The midfielder, who has scored seven goals in 50 appearances for Ukraine, is excellent from set-pieces and boasts explosive shooting from distance. Since the start of the 2019/20 season, only Lionel Messi (19) has scored more than Malinovskyi’s 15 goals from outside the box across Europe’s top five leagues.
He has reached double figures for goals in consecutive campaigns for Atalanta and finished as Serie A’s leading assist provider in 2020/21.
Marco Asensio
Is Marco Asensio heading towards the exit door at Real Madrid?
The 26-year-old is out of contract at the end of the season and has struggled for a regular role at club level, where he has featured for just 12 minutes across two substitute appearances in La Liga this season.
Fitness problems have prevented Asensio from reach the heights once expected following his emergence, but he remains a talent who Europe’s top clubs will compete for next summer should his situation remain the same.
For Spain he continues to have a key role under Luis Enrique and has produced his best football for the national side of late. He has ten assists in his last 22 appearances for La Roja and has provided the joint-most assists in UEFA Nations League history (7), level with Kevin De Bruyne.
3 – Players with the most assists in UEFA Nations League history:
7 – MARCO ASENSIO ????????
7 – Kevin De Bruyne ????????
6 – Bernardo Silva ????????Magic. pic.twitter.com/oh64GkGGoh
— OptaJose (@OptaJose) September 25, 2022
His ability to operate across the front line – he recently occupied a false nine role for Spain – will attract suitors and Barcelona have been linked with a shock move. Juventus have also been named as interested, while Liverpool have been repeatedly linked with Asensio in recent transfer windows.
Read – Appreciating the six players to reach 100 Premier League goals without scoring a penalty
Read Also – Erling Haaland: The goal-scoring freak who is subverting the norms and stretching our belief
