The January transfer window opened with the arrival of the new year, meaning European football clubs can buy or sell players during the month, bringing some hot prospects to the table.
At the same time, clubs are eyeing free agents because a number of high-profile players – including Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) and France superstar Kylian Mbappe – on Jan. 1 entered the last six months of their current contracts.
Mbappe, a former FIFA World Cup champion, is among the players who will be available on free transfer in the summer unless they sign a new contract.
In addition to Mbappe, Juventus' French midfielder Adrien Rabiot, Real Madrid's German midfielder Toni Kroos, Liverpool's Spanish player Thiago Alcantara and AC Milan's French forward Olivier Giroud are all up for grabs, which means their deals at their current clubs are set to expire on June 30.
Mbappe, who has been previously linked to Spanish powerhouse Real Madrid, will likely be the star of the transfer window season.
The 25-year-old forward, an integral part of both PSG and the French national team, could make his dreams come true this summer. PSG will have to scramble to keep him at Parc des Princes.
This season he scored 22 goals in 23 matches for PSG.
Mbappe is a six-time French champion, winning one with Monaco in 2017. He won the remaining titles with PSG.
In March, Mbappe became Paris Saint-Germain's all-time goal scorer after putting his 201st into the net.
Stretching out his record, he tallied 234 goals in 283 appearances for PSG.
Mbappe, who has a cool €180 million ($197.2 million) market value, helped France win the 2018 FIFA World Cup. He scored 46 goals in 75 international caps for Les Bleus.
He previously extended his PSG contract in 2022.
In July, PSG chair Nasser Al-Khelaifi said the team will not allow Mbappe to go for free. But the star player has refused to renew his contract.
Juventus' Rabiot could leave club
Midfielder Rabiot could be one of the best prospects of the summer.
Rabiot, a former PSG player, has a €40 million market value, which makes him one of the most valuable players on the market.
The 28-year-old shined at PSG, where he helped them win six French league titles.
After spending years in Paris, Rabiot moved to Italy's Juventus on free transfer in 2019.
The French international scored 20 goals and had 15 assists in 193 appearances for the Turin team.
This season, he scored three goals in 16 Italian Serie A matches.
After decade at Real Madrid, Kroos might pack his bags
Real Madrid's longtime midfielder Kroos could be on the move this summer after a decade at the Whites.
Kroos, 34, joined the Spanish powerhouse from Bayern Munich in 2014, days after helping Germany winning the World Cup.
Kroos, a world-class midfielder known for his vision and passing skills as well as set-piece ability, has been one of the main pillars of Real Madrid for a decade.
He played for Real Madrid when the team dominated Europe.
Kroos won five UEFA Champions League titles – one with Bayern Munich in 2013 and the rest with Real Madrid.
He tallied 28 goals and 95 assists in 441 appearances for Real Madrid.
This season, Kroos made six assists and scored a goal in 24 matches for the Madrid club.
Thiago's future at Liverpool uncertain
Thiago Alcantara, or just Thiago, is one of the highest-profile players in European football.
The Barcelona product played for the Spanish giants and Germany's Bayern Munich before his move to the English Premier League's Liverpool in 2020.
Known for his dribbling, vision, and passing skills at the center of the park, the former Spanish international's future at Liverpool is uncertain.
Thiago played 97 matches for Liverpool, scoring three goals with six assists. The experienced midfielder also played the pitch at Bayern Munich from 2013 to 2020.
He had 31 goals and 37 assists in 235 appearances for the German powerhouse.
Thiago helped win the UEFA Champions League twice, with Barcelona in 2011 and Bayern Munich in 2020.
Clock ticking on French veteran Giroud's contract
Giroud, 37, who has played for AC Milan since 2021, remains a prolific forward despite his age.
Giroud, who previously played for Arsenal and Chelsea, has scored 41 goals for Milan since joining the Rossoneri.
This season he has scored nine goals in 21 matches for his club.
During his career, he also took the field for Arsenal as a forward.
Giroud had 105 goals in 253 matches for the Gunners in 2012-2018 before moving to London rivals Chelsea, where he scored 39 goals.
He was a part of France's World Cup winning squad in 2018.
Giroud helped "ugly ducklings" Montpellier win their maiden French league title in 2012, a sensational success for a mediocre club.
Then he secured the UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa League titles with Chelsea.
Up for grabs: Players with contracts expiring in 2024:
Kylian Mbappe (Paris Saint-Germain)
Wissam Ben Yedder (Monaco)
Adrien Rabiot (Juventus)
Piotr Zielinski (Napoli)
Daichi Kamada (Lazio)
Felipe Anderson (Lazio)
Leonardo Spinazzola (Roma)
Olivier Giroud (AC Milan)
Alexis Sanchez (Inter Milan)
Anthony Martial (Manchester United)
Jorginho (Arsenal)
Mohamed Elneny (Arsenal)
Thiago (Liverpool)
Ivan Perisic (Tottenham Hotspur)
Eric Dier (Tottenham Hotspur)
Fabian Schar (Newcastle United)
Pablo Fornals (West Ham United)
Andre Gomes (Everton)
Wilfred Ndidi (Leicester City)
Koke (Atletico Madrid)
Mario Hermoso (Atletico Madrid)
Toni Kroos (Real Madrid)
Luka Modric (Real Madrid)
Guido Rodriguez (Real Betis)
Sergio Ramos (Sevilla)
Marco Reus (Borussia Dortmund)
Mats Hummels (Borussia Dortmund)
Rafa (Benfica)
Angel Di Maria (Benfica)
