sport news Paul Pogba, Angel Di Maria, Ousmane Dembele and Luis Suarez: Meet 16 free agents trends now
June 30 is always a big day in the footballing calendar, not least for agents that are fielding calls from all over the world for their free agent clients.
As well as being the end of the financial year when clubs submit their accounts, it is also the expiration date for many contracts.
Paul Pogba, Jesse Lingard, Edinson Cavani and Juan Mata have all walked out for nothing from Manchester United today - figuratively, not literally - while Juventus, Real Madrid and Barcelona are also facing expiring contracts.
With that in mind, Sportsmail takes a closer look at 17 players that have hit the open market...
Paul Pogba (right) and Jesse Lingard (left) have left Manchester United for free this summer
Left: Juventus
There were plenty of tears shed by Paulo Dybala when he waved goodbye to Juventus' fans, weeks out from the expiration of his contract.
Inter Milan have spent weeks and weeks in talks with his entourage but the return of striker Romelu Lukaku may now complicate any switch to the blue half of the San Siro.
Expect AC Milan to push for Dybala as they look to build on winning the Scudetto.
Should they fail to move, it is anyone's guess where the Argentine will end up.
'He arrived in Turin as a young, talented promise, and now he bids Juve farewell, taking with him a wealth of experience that have made him the champion he is now,' Juventus' farewell statement read.
Paulo Dybala's contract at Juventus is up and his future remains unclear, even with Inter linked
'Seven years in black and white for Paulo, made up of 293 appearances, 115 goals, 45 assists and 12 trophies won. Now his career will continue outside of Turin.
'Those numbers, if examined in detail, tell much of the shared story together. For example, Paulo is ninth placed in the all-time scoring charts in Juventus history in all competitions; he is the tenth top scorer in Serie A, third all-time for Juventus in Europe with 18 goals scored in the Champions League.
'And still speaking of goals, Dybala is the player who has scored most often at the Allianz Stadium (68 goals) in all competitions and is the Bianconero who has scored most goals from outside the box (25 goals) in Serie A.
'The seven years together were not only made up of goals and victories, there were flashes of skill, unforgettable nights, and performances of absolute quality.
'And for all this we will always thank him. Good luck, or should that be, suerte, Joya!'
There were flashes of brilliance - namely in the Champions League against Barcelona - but Dybala needs a fresh start... he just doesn't know where yet.
Paul PogbaLeft: Manchester United
One in, one out, at Juventus?
That's what it looks like should they see a deal to bring Paul Pogba back to Turin over the line.
He previously departed the Allianz Stadium in 2016 to join Manchester United in an £89million deal.
Ultimately, he failed to live up to expectations and now looks set for a return to Italy.
His lawyer Rafaela Pimenta has been settling outstanding details over the length of his new contract as Pogba's contract winds down the final few days at Old Trafford.
Unlike Dybala, Pogba should have clarity sooner than later.
Pogba has failed to match expectations at Manchester United and leaves after six years
Left: PSG
And Pogba may well find himself joined in black and white by Angel Di Maria.
Sky Sports Italia reported on Wednesday that a switch to Turin is 'almost final', seemingly ending talk the former Real Madrid man was bound for Barcelona.
Di Maria has spent the last seven years at Paris Saint-Germain and remains an elite winger at Champions League level.
He made 294 appearances for PSG, scoring 92 goals and managing 118 assists during his stay.
Whispers in France said that he is irritated to have not been offered a fresh deal to remain in Paris, given his family is settled.
But football is football and while one Argentine is heading out the exit door, another is set to walk right through the entrance.
PSG winger Angel Di Maria is expected to sign a deal with Juventus now he is a free agent
Left: Brentford
The Denmark star is one of the stories of football's recent past having returned to match sharpness following a cardiac arrest suffered in the summer of 2021 at the rearranged Euro 2020.
Panic set in as people around the world saw Eriksen lying on the turf of Copenhagen's Parken Stadium.
But having seized his opportunity with Brentford, the 30-year-old is now a man in demand.
Brentford, unsurprisingly, want to keep him, while Manchester United's new boss Erik ten Hag is also a fan.
When Eriksen was making his comeback to fitness he spent a bit of time training with Ajax, then under the guidance of Ten Hag, so the Dutch coach is well aware of his talents.
Sportsmail revealed this month that he has offers from Tottenham, his former club, Everton and Brentford, while United are also stepping up interest in him.
Decisions, decisions.
Christen Eriksen is now deciding between staying at Brentford or going to Manchester United
Left: Chelsea
It is always bittersweet when a team loses a player that emerged through their academy and Chelsea will feel that with one of Eriksen's Denmark team-mates.
Christensen joined Chelsea's academy in 2012 and 10 years later he is walking out on the first team for nothing.
Writing on Instagram, he put: 'THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING', before talking about feeling 'at home' in Chelsea's youth set-up, after he left Denmark as a teenager.
'I had a tough decision to make at the age of 16 to leave Denmark' he reminisced.
'There was only ever one choice for me and that was Chelsea. From the moment I arrived they made me feel at home, I'm grateful to Jim Fraser and Neil Bath who immediately embraced me as part of their family.'
Barcelona are in pole position to land him now his Chelsea contract is up.
The 26-year-old won't be a free agent for long.
Andreas Christensen (middle) has left Chelsea 10 years after he joined the club's academy
Left: AC Milan
This one stings for the Serie A winners.
Kessie was sensational en route to winning the league title, with the Ivorian playing a key role in ending an 11-year wait for a domestic title.
He has been at the San Siro for five years and has been a mainstay of an ever-improving midfield, sending his stock through the roof.
Kessie's ability to both kickstart attacks and screen the defence is a hugely valuable asset and losing him for nothing will come as a blow to Milan and manager Stefano Pioli.
Barcelona, like they are with Christensen, have been red hot in hand-picking the best upcoming free agents and Kessie appears Nou Camp bound.
Given their financial woes, a free agent move for Kessie is a total steal if they pull it off.
Jesse LingardLeft: Manchester United
How foolish do Manchester United feel now for not cashing in on Jesse Lingard after his fruitful loan with West Ham?
They could have got, what, £20m? £25m? They could have got something is the point.
Instead they dithered, kept him, barely used him and he has walked out for nothing.
Lingard will remain of interest to West Ham but he knows his next move must secure him game time if he is to have any chance of
