May 21, 2013

The 2013 Transfer List

As the 2012/13 campaign is history, the transfer window is looming large in the horizon. Clubs and managers will make various attempts to sign the bargain of the (next) season, and players leaving on a free transfer will be a wealthy way to add personnel to a squad. Here is an overview over players whose contracts end on 30.06.2013, making them available to sign without tranfer fees. The source is Transfermarkt.co.uk and clubs spending this summer in the elevator are omitted.

by @Nicopoleides
 




Arsenal:
 - Sébastien Squillaci
- Andriy Arshavin

Both Arsenal players on expiring contracts have been out of Wenger's favour all season, with only 0+7 league games between them all season, all seven on Arshavin's name. Squillaci's only appearance came against Olympiacos in the Champions League, and both seem very likely to look for new assignments elsewhere during and after the summer. Reserve goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski may as well depart from North London this summer, as he has expressed the criteria of being given a shot as the first choice goalkeeper to stay aboard for the final year of his contract.

Aston Villa:
- Richard Dunne
- Andy Marshall
- Eric Lichaj

Last month Paul Lambert ruled out the inconsistent and injury-prone Richard Dunne from  his future plans at Villa Park, and the exit of the 33-year old seems inexorable. The reserve goalkeeper Andy Marshall is yet to make an appearance for the Villains, after he arrived on a free transfer back in 2009. In 2010 he was both released and resigned, so an extended spell or retirement are probably the most likely outcomes? Certainly not the hotspot of the transfer window after all. American defender Eric Lichal, who signed on a three-year deal from Chicago Fire in 2010 has figured as a fringe player this season. Whether Lambert will acquire someone better/younger as a versatile back-up defender behind Matt Lowton or keep hold of Lichaj remains a doubt.

Chelsea:
- Florent Malouda
- Youssi Benayon
- Paulo Ferreira
- Henrique Hilario
- Ross Turnbull

Florent Malouda entered Stamford Bridge in 2007 with a £17M price tag around his neck, but after 229 games, 45 goals and 43 assists he handed in a transfer request last summer. Despite some interest from potentially new employers, the 32-year old didn't want to accept significant wage reduction from his current £80.000-a-week deal, and stayed on without actually being a part of the team. In other words anything but a transfer seems ulikely.
Youssi Benayoun was a weird transfer in the first place, and his tenure at Stamford Bridge hasn't been the most successful. The 33-year-old has only started a single league game for the blues after his £5M move from Liverpool, and his future seems certain elsewhere than West London.
Paulo Ferreira has announced his retirement and may get company by veteran goalkeeper Hilario. Whereas, Ross Turnbull is "only" 28 years of age, and is facing a cross road of his career: Stay put as a benchwarmer or look for first team football elsewhere?

Everton:
- Thomas Hitzlsperger
- Phil Neville
- Jan Mucha

Everton snatched the services of free agent Hitzlsperger in October and prolonged his short-term deal in january. Whether the experienced midfielder will prolong his Goodison Park spell even futher remains unsure, after only 4+4 league appearances for the Toffees, but Everton don't have the widest squad, so maybe there's space for him as a fringe player?
Jan Mucha opened talks of a possible contract extension with David Moyes a couple of months ago, but as Moyes has announced his departure the future of the Slovakian shotstopper is lying in the hands of the next Everton gaffer.
Everton skipper Phil Neville has announced that he's going to move on.

Fulham:
- Mladen Petric
- Mark Schwarzer
- Simon Davies
- Chris Baird
- Mahamadou Diarra
- Giorgios Karagounis

The Croatian front man Petric doesn't have a single goal to his name in 2013, but the in April the Cottagers' manager Martin Jol told Fulham Chronicle that "Petric is one we would like to keep."
The Premier League veteran Mark Schwarzer believes he has done everything he can to remain at Craven Cottage, but with one eye on the World Cup 2014, he needs regular first team football to be in contention for Australia's squad (if they do qualify), which the manager cannot guarantee.
The injury-prone former Tottenham midfielder Simon Davies hasn't played a single game over the past twelve months, and will be an obvious name to offload in the summer.

West Bromwich Albion made a move for Chris Baird on Deadline Day in January, and the (dodgy) Express report a possible transfer for the Northern Ireland International.
The Malian club nomad Diarra has undergone knee surgery twice this season, most recently after the injury in the African Cup of Nations. And only eight apperances before Christmas isn't neccesarily enough to convince his boss of a contract extension.
Giorgios Karagounis has turned into something of a cult hero for the Hammersmith End faithful, but remains a London loner without his family, and his 2013/14 campaign seems everything but sealed.

Liverpool:
- Jamie Carragher

The Merseyside Legend bowed out of his playing career in the final game against Queens Park Rangers. A rollercoaster career ended in an emotional farewell for the Liverpudlian great.


Manchester City:
- Richard Wright
- Kolo Touré

Kolo Touré has expressed desire to leave Manchester City after arriving from Arsenal in 2009, and as we speak Sky Sports "understand" that Liverpool are lining up an offer for the Ivory Coast international. Richard Wright entered his tenth(!) club of his career last year when he signed for the Citizens, and does surely have a great time when he cashes in on a monthly basis. Will probably offer his (limited) services for another year, to increase the value of his bank account.

Manchester United:
- Rio Ferdinand
- Paul Scholes

Not a lot to report from the red part of Manchester, as Scholes retired alongside Mr Ferguson, and Rio Ferdinand has expressed desire to sign a new deal. 

 Newcastle United:
- Steve Harper
- Danny Simpson

When Seaham Red Star delivered youth prospect Steve Harper to Newcastle United in 1993, there were probably not many heads on either side of the deal who predicted the Seaham-born goalkeeper to become the longest-serving player ever in the Magpies' history. 20 years later that sums up his career, as he went into retirement after the 38th gameweek.
According to TalkSport and SkySports former Manchester United starlet Danny Simpson has confirmed that he's set to leave St. James' Park this summer.

Norwich City:
- Lee Camp
- Simeon Jackson
- Marc Tierney
- Elliott Ward
- Korey Smith

Nottingham Forest released reserve shotstopper Lee Camp in January, and he jumped onto the Norwich team bus instead. Yet Chris Hughton decided to release him recently. Simeon Jackson is rumoured for clubs like Aston Villa and Bolton after 13 games, a goal and an assist for the Canaries this season. Tierney did only start a single league game for the green and yellows this season, when they got battered 5-0 by Fulham on the opening day. In other words there is hard to find a single reason for a prolonged Norwich spell for the Bury born defender. The 28-year-old defender Elliott Ward will by released by the club this summer, and additionally the Norwich Academy product Chris Martin will be transferred to Derby on the 1st of July. The transfer is following a successful spell at Pride Park for the former England U19 international. Another Academy product of East Anglia, Korey Smith, will not stay at Carrow Road beyond the summer, despite showing signs of promise for the yellow shirts in League One and the Championship.


Southampton:
- Frazer Richardson
- Danny Butterfield

The final player to leave Leeds United with Premier League experience from Elland Road in the bag is Frazer Richardson, who represented the Peacocks between 2001 and '09. Since his departure, he has enjoyed two loan spells at Stoke City and subsequent transfers to Charlton and Southampton. Arriving at St Mary's in 2010 in a reported £450.000 deal, he helped the Saints from League One to the top flight. However the current status is a major unlikelihood of an extended spell on the southern coast.
Danny Butterfield did only play two games for the Saints this season, both in the League Cup, before enjoying a more successful period at a Bolton Wanderers loanee after Christmas.

Stoke City:
- Jermaine Pennant
- Carlo Nash
- Dean Whitehead
- Ryan Shotton
- Michael Owen

The ageing winger Jermaine Pennant failed to release a clause in his contract to generate an automatic extension by playing a certain number of games by January, and the Daily Mail report that Toronto FC and Vancouver Whitecaps have shown eager to secure his services across the pond.
The youth product of Manchester United Carlo Nash signed a one-year deal at Stoke last summer, and no more significant news are reported.
Over the past four years midfielder Dean Whitehead has picked up more than 150 appearances in red and white, and in February Potters manager Tony Pulis stated that the club were looking to extend his tenure at the end of the season.
The 24-year-old right back Ryan Shotton has appeared 26 times over the past twelve months and no transfer activity is noticed, and Michael Owen has retired as a professional footballer.

Sunderland:
- Titus Bramble
- Matthew Kilgallon

Robin van Persie's deflected shot via Titus Bramble may have been the latter's final contribution to a goal in the Sunderland shirt. The fringe player hasn't graced the pitch ever since, after 19 games through the season, may have to pipe down his king-size wages. Reports claimed that former Black Cats manager Martin O'Neill failed to offload him in januar, but Paolo Di Canio's plans remain covered.
Matt Kilgallon has only featured as an obscure fringe player (eight games, six in the league) and will probably be replaced by the charismatic Italian in charge at Stadium of Light.

Swansea:
- Dwight Tiendally
- Mark Gower

Brian Laudrup expressed doubt to the BBC regarding the future of the Surinamese-born Dutch fullback Tiendally, who was signed as a short-term solution in the dusk of this season. Swansea's amount of homegrown players was mentioned as an aspect which may decide the future of the 27-year-old, despite the Dane was "100% satisfied with his contributions."
The 34-year-old midfielder Mark Gower has been on loan at Charlton Athletic since March, and has accepted a termination of his Swansea contract with immediate effect.

Tottenham Hotspur:
- William Gallas

The French versatile defender has been at fault for more goals Tottenham have conceded than he had targeted when the season started. In August he'll have 36 lights on his birthday cake, so I guess André Villas Boas has younger and better prospects in his binoculars. 

West Bromwich Albion:
- Marc-Antoine Fortuné
- Steven Reid
- Zoltan Gera
- Gonzalo Jara

The time might be right to shuffle the pack at The Hawthorns, with five players on expiring deals. Last month the French striker Fortuné told ESPN that he would be really pleased to stay put, but was awaiting a move from the club. ESPN mentioned Middlesbrough in the same breath of air, as a potential new employer if the contract talks go unsuccessful.
Steven Reid, who notably played a half of football against Arsenal in January with a broken leg, extended his expiring deal and will remain a Baggie for the next twelve months, according to The Independent.
Zoltan Gera suffered a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament against QPR in January and has been ruled out with injury ever since, after making 22 appearances prior to the injury. Chilean fringe player Gonzalo Jara is not rumoured anywhere in particular, but is able to leave the Midlands on the 1st July if he wants to.
Note: Key man Chris Brunt is on a deal currently expiring in 2014.

West Ham United:
- Carlton Cole
- Gary O'Neil


There seems to be a little lack of communication between West Ham and Carlton Cole's representatives. The Hammers claim he's been offered a prolonged stay verbally, whereas Cole's representatives claim there has been no contract talks since pre-season. The 29-year-old striker has been struggling to hold down a regular place in Sam Allardyce' line-up, hence being pushed down the pecking order by loanee Andy Carroll.
The 30-year-old midfielder Gary O'Neil has expressed joy over his streak of being in the starting XI, and is hoping for Big Sam to hand him a contract extension.

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