Goal.com

A host of big-name Premier League stars are out of contract at the end of the season and Goal.com gives you the top five bargains who will be snapped up for absolutely nothing

ANALYSIS
By Ed Aarons

With the dust already settling on the magnificent 2011-12 Premier League season, it is time to say goodbye to some familiar faces and look forward to the arrival of some new blood.

But while most of the headlines this summer will be made by the latest multi-million pound superstar to be ushered through the gates at the Etihad Stadium, there's every chance there's a free transfer out there who could even emulate the exploits of Newcastle United striker Demba Ba - snapped up by Alan Pardew for absolutely nothing last year.

Most clubs have already released the list of players who are surplus to requirements for next season, with Martin O'Neill's Sunderland and QPR boss Mark Hughes among those managers preparing to indulge in a spot of major rebuilding.

Now, Goal.com takes you through the top five free transfers available at a ground near you this summer and the rest of those players who will be looking for new employment at the start of July.
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5. NIGEL REO-COKER

The former West Ham and Aston Villa midfielder invoked a relegation release clause in his contract after just failing to save Bolton from the drop despite some heroic performances.

Owen Coyle's loss will certainly be someone else's gain, however, with several managers likely to attempt to lure the former England Under-21 captain this summer. Still only 27, Reo-Coker has forged a reputation as a no-nonsense enforcer and his battling qualities are already rumoured to be interesting his former club, with Hammers boss Sam Allardyce thought to be weighing up an approach.

The south Londoner has also attracted interest from Spanish side Sevilla in the past and with his chances of a senior England call-up now diminished despite almost making the 2006 World Cup squad, don't be surprised if he bucks the trend and heads for pastures new.  

4. MICHAEL OWEN

As England's fifth most prolific goalscorer of all time, the former Liverpool, Real Madrid and Newcastle United player certainly looks a bargain on paper after being released by Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson.

The trouble is that these days Owen is more likely to pass on a killer tip for the horses than find the back of the net, although there are still likely to be plenty of suitors for the 32-year-old. Stoke are the early front-runners to take a risk on a player who has made just over 30 appearances in three years at Old Trafford, although Everton boss David Moyes might fancy his chances of resurrecting Owen's career.

A career total 149 Premier League goals is certainly not to be sniffed at but with injuries having taken a severe toll on his body over the years, it may just be one gamble too far for most.

3. SALOMON KALOU

The Ivorian came in from the cold at Stamford Bridge to play an integral part in Chelsea's historic Champions League triumph, yet Kalou is still likely to be on his way this summer.

Having arrived at Stamford Bridge from Feyenoord in 2006, the forward has been used sparingly by most of his managers in west London despite his decent goalscoring record. Roberto Di Matteo brought him back into the team at the start of his reign and Kalou showed exactly why a whole host of top clubs will be in the hunt for his signature.

The promise of a regular starting berth for a player who has won every major honour in England at the age of just 26 will be the major priority, with Arsene Wenger thought to be lining up a swoop.  

2. JUNIOR HOILETT

 
The Canadian-born forward has made no secret of his desire to jump the sinking Blackburn Rovers ship for some time now and his patience should pay off this summer with a move to a major outfit.

A slight dip in form towards the end of the season as Steve Kean's side slid through the Premier League trapdoor has not stopped German giants Bayern Munich from reportedly expressing an interest, although it seems more likely that Hoilett will stay in England. His return of seven Premier League goals for Blackburn showed that the 21-year-old has developed into a potent attacking threat who can be used as a winger or in a more central role.

That - and the lack of a transfer fee - may prove an attractive proposition to Tottenham Hotspur boss Harry Redknapp as he bids to compete for the top four once again next season.

1. DIDIER DROGBA

After a century of goals and his heroics in Munich, Drogba rounded off his season with a reminder of why the Blues will miss him so badly - slotting home the winning penalty in the Champions League final.

As things stand the talismanic striker will be on his way this summer after eight years' loyal service, with Chinese side Shanghai Shenhua apparently the front-runners to sign him. Drogba's pledge not to join another Premier League club may have been sincere, yet the 34-year-old will surely be a target for several of the Blues' main rivals - especially one willing to match the riches on offer in the Far East.

Sentimentality will probably be the deciding factor in the end, although a call from his old friend Jose Mourinho offering a swansong in Madrid could tempt the old warhorse to stay in Europe a while longer.

Here is Goal.com's comprehensive guide to all the players who are out of contract this summer:

ARSENAL
Manuel Almunia	19 May 1977	Goalkeeper
Lukasz Fabianski	18 Apr 1985	Goalkeeper
Vito Mannone	2 Mar 1988	Goalkeeper
Andrei Arshavin	29 May 1981	Midfielder

ASTON VILLA
Brad Guzan	9 Sep 1984	Goalkeeper
Andy Marshall	14 Apr 1975	Goalkeeper
Habib Beye	19 Oct 1977	Defender
Carlos Cuellar	23 Aug 1981	Defender
Shane Lowry	12 Jun 1989	Defender
Emile Heskey	11 Jan 1978	Striker

BLACKBURN
Michel Salgado	22 Oct 1975	Defender
David Dunn	27 Dec 1979	Midfielder
Herold Goulon	12 Jun 1988	Midfielder
Vince Grella	5 Oct 1979	Midfielder
Josh Morris	30 Sep 1991	Midfielder
Nick Blackman	11 Nov 1989	Striker
Junior Hoilett	5 Jun 1990	Striker

BOLTON
Jussi Jaaskelainen	19 Apr 1975	Goalkeeper
Ricardo Gardner	25 Sep 1978	Defender
Sam Ricketts	11 Oct 1981	Defender
Paul Robinson	14 Dec 1978	Defender
Gretar Steinsson	9 Jan 1982	Defender
Sean Davis	20 Sep 1979	Midfielder
Martin Petrov	15 Jan 1979	Midfielder
Robbie Blake	4 Mar 1976	Striker
Ivan Klasnic	29 Jan 1980	Striker
Tope Obadeyi	29 Oct 1989	Striker

CHELSEA
Henrique Hilario	21 Oct 1975	Goalkeeper
Jose Bosingwa	24 Aug 1982	Defender
Florent Malouda	13 Jun 1980	Midfielder
Didier Drogba	11 Mar 1978	Striker
Salomon Kalou	5 Aug 1985	Striker

EVERTON
Marcus Hahnemann	15 Jun 1972	Goalkeeper
James McFadden	14 Apr 1983	Striker

FULHAM
Csaba Somogyi	7 Apr 1985	Goalkeeper
Zdenek Grygera	14 May 1980	Defender
Stephen Kelly	6 Sep 1983	Defender
Danny Murphy	18 Mar 1977	Midfielder
Andy Johnson	10 Feb 1981	Striker

LIVERPOOL
Fabio Aurelio	24 Sep 1979	Defender

MAN CITY
Stuart Taylor	28 Nov 1980	Goalkeeper
Owen Hargreaves	20 Jan 1981	Midfielder

MAN UNITED
Tomasz Kuszczak	20 Mar 1982	Goalkeeper
Michael Owen	14 Dec 1979	Striker

NEWCASTLE
Steve Harper	14 Mar 1975	Goalkeeper
Tamas Kadar	14 Mar 1990	Defender
Danny Guthrie	18 Apr 1987	Midfielder
Alan Smith	28 Oct 1980	Midfielder
Peter Lovenkrands	29 Jan 1980	Striker

NORWICH
Declan Rudd	16 Jan 1991	Goalkeeper
Adam Drury	29 Aug 1978	Defender
Zak Whitbread	4 Mar 1984	Defender
Aaron Wilbraham	21 Oct 1979	Striker

QPR
Radek Cerny	18 Feb 1974	Goalkeeper
Danny Gabbidon	8 Aug 1979	Defender
Fitz Hall	20 Dec 1980	Defender
Clint Hill	19 Oct 1978	Defender
Bruno Perone	6 July 1987	Defender
Danny Shittu	2 Sep 1980	Defender
Lee Cook	3 Aug 1982	Midfielder
Hogan Ephraim	31 Mar 1988	Midfielder
Patrick Agyemang	20 Sep 1980	Striker
Alessandro Pellicori	22 Jul 1971	Striker
Angelo Balanta	1 Jul 1990	Striker

STOKE
Carlo Nash	13 Sep 1973	Goalkeeper
Jonathan Woodgate	22 Jan 1980	Defender
Danny Collins	6 Aug 1980	Defender
Salif Diao	10 Feb 1977	Midfielder
Matthew Lund	21 Nov 1990	Midfielder
Tom Soares	10 Jul 1986	Midfielder
Michael Tonge	7 Apr 1983	Midfielder
Rory Delap	6 Jul 1976	Midfielder
Danny Pugh	19 Oct 1982	Midfielder
Ricardo Fuller	31 Oct 1979	Striker
Mamady Sidibe	18 Dec 1979	Striker

SUNDERLAND
Craig Gordon	31 Dec 1982	Goalkeeper
Nyron Nosworthy	11 Oct 1980	Defender
Jordan Cook	20 Mar 1990	Striker
Ryan Noble	11 Jun 1991	Striker

SWANSEA
Vangelis Moras	26 Aug 1981	Defender
Ashley Richards	12 Apr 1991	Defender
Ferrie Bodde	5 May 1982	Midfielder
Thomas Butler	25 Apr 1981	Midfielder
David Cotterill	4 Dec 1987	Midfielder
Mark Gower	5 Oct 1978	Midfielder

TOTTENHAM
Carlo Cudicini	6 Sep 1973	Goalkeeper
Heurelho Gomes	15 Feb 1981	Goalkeeper

WEST BROM
Luke Daniels	5 Jan 1988	Goalkeeper
Marton Fulop	3 May 1983	Goalkeeper
Nicky Shorey	19 Feb 1981	Defender
Joe Mattock	15 May 1990	Defender
Paul Scharner	11 Mar 1980	Midfielder
Somen Tchoyi	29 Mar 1983	Midfielder
Jerome Thomas	23 Mar 1983	Midfielder
Roman Bednar	26 Mar 1983	Striker
Marc-Antoine Fortune	2 Jul 1981	Striker

WIGAN
Mike Pollitt	29 Feb 1972	Goalkeeper
Chris Kirkland	2 May 1981	Goalkeeper
Maynor Figueroa	2 May 1983	Defender
Mohamed Diame	14 Jun 1987	Midfielder
David Jones	4 Nov 1984	Midfielder
Hendry Thomas	23 Feb 1985	Midfielder
Hugo Rodallega	25 Jul 1985	Striker

WOLVES
Jody Craddock	25 Jul 1975	Defender