As the summer transfer window begins to hot up, most of the talk is over potential £100m deals and how many players will leave Chelsea for the Saudi Pro League. However, while many notable free agents have already been snapped up by other clubs, there remains plenty of attractive options on the market ahead of teams returning for pre-season.
From the player's perspective, they have the control of determining their own future and the freedom to bide their time in search of the best deal, but like punters can with a bet365 bonus code, clubs have the opportunity to take advantage when finances remain tight or if they are under any particularly pressure to meet FFP regulations.
Moussa Dembele's last two seasons have been chalk and cheese. On the back of a 21-goal campaign in 2021-22, the former France Under-21 star followed that with three strikes for Lyon last season, owing to the form of Alexander Lacazette. With just eight of his 23 appearances coming from the starting lineup, the 26-year-old will leave the Ligue 1 outfit this summer and the Premier League may again be on his radar. Each of Wolverhampton Wanderers and Everton - the Premier League's two worst performing sides in front of goal - are allegedly monitoring the situation and, most importantly, would be able to offer Dembele the regular starts that he craves.
Another French club are also losing an important player as a free agent with Jonathan Bamba ready to end his five-year association with Lille. The winger has chipped in with 29 goals and 35 assists from 200 appearances, making it somewhat of a surprise that he is yet to be snapped up by a major club. Aside from last season's top two, any club in the Premier League could benefit from Bamba's qualities, but a club anywhere between sixth and 17th last season are most plausible, the likes of Burnley, Sheffield United and Luton Town likely not having the profile to pull off such a deal.
Those such teams could enter the reckoning if Nathan Redmond decides to return to the Premier League. The former Southampton man has spent a year out in Turkey with Besiktas - contributing six goals and six assists from his 28 appearances - and that kind of return has kept his reputation intact. Redmond failed to make much of an impact in his final full year at the Saints under Ralph Hasenhuttl, but his versatility and lack of injury issues help his case when putting himself forward as an asset to a Premier League club this summer. Wolves have been linked, yet his free agency means that any mid-table club may hold some level of interest.
In Germany, Ellyes Skhiri has been making a name for himself at FC Koln, building on his progression at Montpellier. A total of 20 goals and eight assists have come from 133 appearances spread across four campaigns, seven of those strikes coming in last season's Bundesliga. The Tunisia international - who was an ever-present at the 2022 World Cup - is largely recognised as a defensive-minded midfielder, yet his goal record suggests that he is more than capable of making an impact further forward. Crystal Palace and AC Milan have been credited as admirers, but they will not be the only ones who are considering making a bid.
The last player on our list may be largely unknown to English fans with Gerardo Arteaga having plied his trade in Belgium with Gent since the 2020-21 season. The left-sided player - who can play at left-back or further forward - has six goals and 11 assists from 110 games, and he was an unused member of Mexico's 2022 World Cup squad. A year ago, it was claimed that Manchester City had identified the 24-year-old as a possible option, and although that may no longer be the case, other Premier League clubs will be open to negotiations. Newcastle United and Crystal Palace require new left-backs this summer, while Burnley - managed by Vincent Kompany who has knowledge of Belgium's top flight - need an alternative to Ian Maatsen who has returned to Chelsea. body check tags ::
