January is an important time in football. For those whose contracts expire in the summer of 2027, it's the moment that pre-agreements can be made with others clubs.

That's a scary prospect for teams who have star players moving into the final months of their deals. Right now, some truly world-class names could be available.

Let's take a look at the most intriguing.

Note: Harry Kane, Thibaut Courtois, Christian Pulisic and others are reportedly very close to signing extensions, so have been omitted.

10. Kaoru Mitoma

Current club: Brighton & Hove Albion

It wasn't long ago that Kaoru Mitoma was linked with plenty of big-money moves away from Brighton.

The Japanese winger had an excellent 2024-25 season, scoring 10 goals and providing four assists in 28 Premier League starts and eight substitute appearances. His directness is a breath of fresh air.

However, consistent injuries either side of that season has tempered the hype considerably. Mitoma missed 31 games the year before through injury, most of which came after a serious back issue. He sat out of 33 matches in 25-26, with a persistent hamstring problem keeping him out for more than half a year.

Brighton have quietly moved on under Fabian Hürzeler, who has rarely been able to call on the talented 29-year-old. Plenty of clubs will be interested if he becomes available, although the deal may reflect his fitness hell.

9. Hakan Çalhanoğlu

Current Club: Inter Milan

Staying in Italy, Hakan Çalhanoğlu is approaching the end of a deal with Inter that is yet to be extended.

The Türkiye icon is a mainstay at the San Siro, so it seems unlikely they'd let him walk for free after an impressive spell at the club that stretches back to 2021.

Çalhanoğlu's control and creativity in midfield does make him an attractive proposition. He's got a bit of everything; great distribution, he's gritty, can score goals. There's a leader here if anyone can tempt him away.

8. Cristiano Ronaldo

Current Club: Al-Nassr

One more club? Maybe?

Cristiano Ronaldo seems allergic to the word "retirement" right now. Portugal coach Jorge Jesus even tried to provide a slight hint towards his future prospects with a benching that ended up being a story just because it's Ronaldo.

CR7 is contracted with Al-Nassr until June 2027. He is set on reaching 1000 career goals. He's not going to stop until that happens. His profile may still attract one or two clubs to have a pop if he doesn't soon extend with his current side.

7. Lisandro Martínez

Current club: Manchester United

In many ways, Lisandro Martínez of Argentina and Lisandro Martínez of Manchester United feel like different players.

The first is a World Cup-winning stalwart. A leader in a team that fights for every ball and never knows when to quit. He's scrappy, not small.

Then there's the Man United version, who can be a very good player, but is having an abysmal season, summed up by his ridiculous red card in Saturday's defeat to Chelsea.

Martínez's recent comments that questioned the United hierarchy were more than needed. However, they will likely see him exit the club. Another team is going to make the signing for free, giving him a better chance rediscover his form before long.

6. João Félix

Current club: Al-Nassr

A lot of players receive criticism for moving to Saudi Arabia. João Félix's career has improved massively since he took the leap. 

He's now settled, not being passed around struggling European teams without making an impact, and once again looks something like the player we all hoped he'd become when he broke through at Benfica.

The conversation has certainly changed around the versatile forward. His increased confidence has led to more than a goal every other game for Al-Nassr - form that will have European teams circling once more if he decides to move on.

5. Alisson

Current club: Liverpool

Not too much brainpower needed here. Alisson remains a top-class goalkeeper, whose quality has probably not been spotlighted as much recently due to Liverpool's overall struggle in the last 18 months.

The goalkeeper market is a pretty difficult one at the moment. Landing Alisson on a free should be considered a smart deal for most teams, as he's still got plenty to offer at 34 years old.

An excellent shot-stopper with quality on the ball, the Brazilian is a rare type at the highest level.

4. Yasin Ayari

Current club: Brighton Hove & Albion

Yasin Ayari is something of an outlier on this list because he isn't a million years old. The 23-year-old Swede is benefitting from some excellent developmental time with Brighton, a side that has impressed more than any other in the Premier League this season.

His well-roundedness makes him a really interesting prospect who is destined to end up at an elite club. Ayari can dribble, score goals, and works hard in a system that forces everyone to take responsibility. His winner against Man City on Saturday will only add to the attention he's receiving.

Ayari may well turn out to be the best-value free deal on this list, if Brighton drop the ball on his contract. Which to be fair, they rarely do.

3. Virgil van Dijk

Current club: Liverpool

Granted, Virgil van Dijk will nearly be 36 years old when his contract expires. 

It seems unlikely Liverpool will let him walk. He's more than just the captain, he's a figure of the Reds' success and an important pillar of strength at a transitional time for the club. His value exceeds whether or not he's still putting in impactful performances on the pitch. 

VVD has worked hard to overcome some bad form in recent years. He's not as fast or as imposing as he used to be, but he could still do a job for most teams.

2. Brahim Díaz

Current club: Real Madrid

Somehow, Brahim Díaz is already 27 years old. His career is passing in a flash. At this stage, he's only ever made more than 20 league starts in a single campaign on two occasions. That is absolutely mad for a player of his quality.

Díaz is once again struggling to hold down a starting spot at Real Madrid. The Moroccan is a vital factor for his national team and should be the focal point of a club side, too.

Surely there's a team out there who fancy taking his creative skills and building around them? Seems a no-brainer for free.

1. Bruno Fernandes

Current club: Manchester United

This one has been lingering for a while. Bruno Fernandes' relationship with Man United is best summed up by setting a new Premier League assists record one season and getting benched for speaking out against a hapless coach the next. 

The Red Devils have fought off Saudi interest more than once, but Bruno's recent poor form and questionable behaviour (including liking a social media post about loyalty) may signal the end.

To put it bluntly: Bruno Fernandes should be playing for a far better team than Manchester United. He is one of the best creative players of his generation and has the ability to improve any team in the world. 

He's well-established in Manchester, with children born there, and has proven he will ignore the noise to stay before. Now might be the time to upend things. It would also be very Man United to lose their best player for zero cash.