da bet esporte： Barcelona, Chelsea, Bayern Munich, Man City, Man Utd, Real Madrid and Juventus are among the clubs to have big stars who could leave for free
da betcris： In the world of football, ‘Happy New Year’ means the opening of the winter transfer window, a month of rumours and, at the end of it all, some signings. Few will be subject to speculation quite like those stars who, with the turn of the year, have entered the final few months of their contracts. And in the women’s game right now, there are dozens of top names that fit that bill.
Across Europe, there are Ballon d’Or recipients, European champions and World Cup winners who are just months away from becoming free agents as things stand, making them prime targets for January gossip. For some, the noise may point more towards a renewal rather than a departure, but for many, it’s quite the opposite.
As the chaos of the transfer window begins, GOAL highlights some of those whose situations are well worth keeping an eye on this month and beyond…
GettyMary Earps (Man Utd)
England No.1 Mary Earps is one of the most high-profile names on this list, with her future at Manchester United having been under the microscope for a while. There was a lot of speculation in the summer regarding interest from Arsenal, and although there is no suggestion that the Gunners will try and sign the 30-year-old this month, there is also a lack of news when it comes to United tying her down to a new deal.
New rumours have since emerged, linking the England star to clubs abroad, with her outstanding performances for her country at the Euros and the World Cup unsurprisingly catching the eye of many.
Adding fuel to the fire is the news that Earps has just changed agencies, joining the high-profile A&V ahead of the January window opening. Could that mean something? We’ll soon see.
AdvertisementGetty Images Alexia Putellas (Barcelona)
Though Alexia Putellas currently fits into the category of a player soon to be out of contract, reports suggest that her deal at Barcelona is very close to being renewed. While several names look set to become free agents in the summer, Barca have prioritised the renewals of Putellas and Mariona Caldentey, having already secured the futures of both Patri Guijarro and Mapi Leon.
Lots has been said about Putellas’ future in recent months, but her celebration after scoring against Benfica in the Champions League in November said it all, a kiss of the badge suggesting that she is going nowhere.
The bad news is that it’s currently unclear when the two-time Ballon d’Or winner will take to the field again, with her undergoing keyhole surgery on her knee over the winter break to examine an ongoing problem.
Getty ImagesSam Kerr (Chelsea)
Scorer of 99 goals in her 128 appearances for the club, Sam Kerr’s Chelsea contract expires this summer. The Australian has been a sensation since arriving in London in January 2020, winning 10 trophies in just four years while establishing herself as one of the team’s most important players.
There is a lot of speculation regarding whether or not she’ll remain in England beyond the current season. It would be naive to ignore the part that Kerr’s engagement to United States women’s national team midfielder Kristie Mewis plays here, too, as the pair spoke in the U.S.’s recent documentary about being “over” the long-distance nature of their relationship.
Mewis has since arrived in London to sign for West Ham and that could be a sign that Kerr is going to stay with Chelsea, especially with reporting that Mewis' contract is an 18-month one. If the Hammers fail to avoid the drop, though, that could change everything.
That Blues boss Emma Hayes is set to depart in May to take over the USWNT has put greater spotlight on the expiring contracts at Chelsea. Could uncertainty over who will lead the team forward have an impact on players like Kerr choosing to stay? Only time will tell.
GettyLucy Bronze (Barcelona)
In 2023, Lucy Bronze became the first English player to win the Women’s Champions League with two different clubs, adding a title with Barcelona to the three she collected in her time with Lyon. With European football essentially completed, could a new challenge for her beckon this year?
Bronze is out of contract in the summer and the arrival of Ona Batlle last summer means that Barca are well-stocked in the full-back department. Rumours of Bronze going to the U.S., where she excelled in her college days, have long been touted but never realised. Could 2024 be the year that the England star explores that option? Or could something entirely different be on the cards for the 32-year-old?