The January transfer window is yet to come to its head, but recruitment teams and managers across the globe will be looking at who will be out of contract in the summer.
Aston Villa look destine for the Championship and with budgets so tight at the Midlands side the need to look through the out of contract catalogue has never been more important.
Villa have in recent years made use of the free agent market with Micah Richards, Joe Cole, and Kieran Richardson all coming in on bosmans.
For the first transfer window in many years, Aston Villa have not been linked with Tom Huddlestone.
The former-Tottenham man is out of contract in the summer and could add some extra steel in Villa’s midfield, whether a Premier League side or Championship side. He is a leader, experienced and can take the game by the scruff of its neck.
Jon Flanagan
The right-back has had a rough ride at Liverpool after an awful injury which kept him out for 20 months.
Now aged 23, the full England international is out of contract in the summer and should be seriously considered to solve our right-back woes.
Steve Mandanda
If Aston Villa keep their Premier League status the signing of Steve Mandanda will come as no surprise. He has been heavily linked with Remi Garde’s side and would provide much needed leadership and experience in the sticks.
Mathieu Flamini
Perhaps left field given the midfielder’s current club and consistency of form, but Mathieu Flamini is out of contract in the summer and could well be Aston Villa’s Esteban Cambiasso in midfield.
He does not bring goals, but he brings sheer brute, solidity and calmness.
Steven Pienaar
Another midfielder I hear you ask. Well, the reality is you will not find a decent striker around on a free transfer this summer.
Pienaar may be getting on now, but he would be a real creative outlet if Villa were to get hold of his services. Also, he is again another experienced head. He must be looked at.