Bosman calling: Christian Eriksen, Willian, Mario Gotze and 27 players with expiring contracts free to talk to other clubs

Other players include World Cup champions, record-breaking strikers and a Ballon d'Or winner

Christian Eriksen – Of all the players nearing the end of their contracts, Tottenham’s Danish playmaker is causing the most amount of intrigue. Spurs manager Jose Mourinho wants Eriksen to extend but the player himself has wanted to leave the club since the summer. His standards have dipped this season but he did put in a fine display in the draw at Norwich. Chances of staying: Up in the air. Potential suitors: Manchester United and Real Madrid. Getty Images

Willian – Chelsea manager Frank Lampard has spoken of the importance of the Brazilian winger’s ability and experience to his young squad and he is determined Willian agree a new contract. However, 31-year-old Willian is in his seventh season at Stamford Bridge and could fancy a new challenge at this stage of his career, particularly if there is some truth to the Barcelona rumours. Chances of staying: Looking good (at the moment). Potential suitors: Barcelona and Juventus. AFP

Ryan Fraser – Bournemouth’s diminutive midfielder had a career-best season in 2018/19 and at the age of 25, he will be an attractive option for clubs seeking a bargain. Bournemouth manager Eddie Howe has admitted that Fraser is “keeping his options open”, which is hardly positive news for the club. Liverpool are credited with an interest and if this proves to be true, expect Fraser to be leaving the south coast club next summer. Chances of staying: Unlikely. Potential suitors: Liverpool, Tottenham, Arsenal. Getty Images

Thomas Meunier – Paris Saint-Germain’s Belgian right-back looks set to leave the French champions in the summer after four seasons and there should be no shortage of interest in his services. Meunier is Belgium’s first-choice right-back and at the age of 28 is in his prime years. Chances of staying: Very unlikely. Potential suitors: Barcelona, Chelsea, Tottenham. AFP

Dries Mertens – One of Napoli’s greatest players, Mertens is out of contract at the end of this season and should end his final campaign at the club as their highest-ever goalscorer. He could, of course, still remain at Napoli, but interest is thought to be high in the 32-year-old forward. Mertens looks like he will have some decisions to make. Chances of staying: Unsure. Potential suitors: Everton, Arsenal, Borussia Dortmund. EPA

Edinson Cavani – Given the wealth of attacking talent at PSG, Cavani’s record-breaking seven-year spell in the French capital looks set to end, either in January or next summer. The Uruguayan striker may be set to turn 33 soon but he will still offer plenty of goals to the club lucky enough to land his signature. Reports claim Atletico Madrid are the most probable destination. Chances of staying: Zero. Potential suitors: Atletico Madrid, Inter Milan. AFP

Eric Bailly – After an encouraging start at Manchester United, Bailly has fallen down the pecking order, while injury has prevented him from making a single appearance this season. At the age of 25, the Ivorian defender still has youth on his side, but it is unclear whether his future will be at United. Chances of staying: Unsure. Potential suitors: Villarreal and AC Milan. Reuters

Nemanja Matic – Another Manchester United player who started brightly but has since tailed off, Serbian midfielder Matic looks more likely to leave at the end of his contract, or if some reports are to be believed, in January if United can find a buyer. Injury and loss of form have limited Matic to four Premier League appearances this season. Chances of staying: Unlikely. Potential suitors: Tottenham, Inter Milan, West Ham, AC Milan. Getty Images

Mario Gotze – Once viewed as the golden child of German football’s current generation, Gotze has had a good career so far but one that has fallen short of those lofty expectations. His second spell at boyhood club Borussia Dortmund has not exactly been an unbridled success and the midfielder could be on the move at the end of the season. Chances of staying: Unsure. Potential suitors: Hertha Berlin and Arsenal. Getty Images

Jose Callejon – After years of exemplary service at Napoli since joining the club in 2013, winger Callejon looks either set to leave the club in January or the summer. Now 32, Callejon still has a few miles left in the tank, and reports have claimed a new-year move to China and a reunion with Rafa Benitez could be on the cards. Chances of staying: Unlikely. Potential suitors: Dalian Yifang. Reuters

Giacomo Bonaventura – A mainstay in the AC Milan midfield since arriving at the San Siro in 2014, Bonaventura has recently recovered from a serious injury, and reports have claimed he wants to extend his stay at the club. However, other media reports have suggested Roma are keen to take the 30-year-old to the capital. Chances of staying: Quite likely. Potential suitors: Roma. AP Photo

Jan Vertonghen – Similar to Christian Eriksen, Jose Mourinho has made it clear he wants to see Vertonghen commit his future to Tottenham, but until a new deal is signed, uncertainty will continue to surround the Belgian defender. Chelsea are one club rumoured to be interested in Vertonghen, while there is sure to be interest from across Europe. Chances of staying: Unsure. Potential suitors: Chelsea, Inter Milan, Borussia Dortmund. Getty Images

Blaise Matuidi – The 32-year-old midfielder may be approaching the end of his Juventus contract, but he remains as important as ever to the Italian champions. There is a distinct lack of transfer gossip surrounding the French World Cup-winner, so we can only assume he is set to stay in Turin. A few clubs probably wouldn’t mind attempting an approach, though. Chances of staying: Likely. Potential suitors: Manchester United, Paris Saint-Germain, Monaco. Getty Images

Pedro Rodriguez – Of the two veteran wingers on dwindling contracts at Chelsea, it looks like Pedro is the more likely to depart. The Spaniard has been a fine servant of the Premier League club, but has found himself down the pecking order this season, due to both injury and the emergence of Christian Pulisic and Callum Hudson-Odoi. The Stamford Bridge exit looms. Chances of staying: Unlikely. Potential suitors: New York City FC, Inter Miami, Barcelona. Getty Images

Alexander Nubel – Germany have a deserved reputation for producing fine goalkeepers and the Schalke No 1 looks to be the next off the production line. Schalke have confirmed that the 23-year-old stopper will leave at the end of his contract and as with any bright German talent, there is one club leading the race for his signature. Chances of staying: Zero. Potential suitors: Bayern Munich, RB Leipzig, Borussia Dortmund. Getty Images

Artem Dzyuba – The powerful striker has spent his entire career in Russia and boasts a goal every other game for his national team. With his contract set to expire, the 31-year-old is sure to attract interest from other European clubs and there has been speculation in recent months linking him with various teams. Chances of staying: Unsure. Potential suitors: Everton, Galatasaray, Glasgow Rangers. AP Photo

Layvin Kurzawa – The French left-back has been at PSG since 2015 but has never quite cemented a regular place in the first team. Reports suggest the capital club are ready to let 27-year-old Kurzawa leave either in January or at the end of his contract in the summer. Chances of staying: Unlikely. Potential suitors: Inter Milan, AC Milan, Tottenham, Chelsea. EPA

Josip Ilicic - The Slovenian striker has been at the forefront of Atalanta’s remarkable rise in Serie A so it would seem strange for the club to let him leave on a free transfer in the summer. However, his form is sure to have alerted other clubs looking for a bargain. Chances of staying: Unsure. Potential suitors: Roma and Napoli. EPA

Nacho – Considered a versatile squad player at Real Madrid, Nacho has been limited to just four La Liga games this season due to a knee injury. Still, he is not a first choice under Zinedine Zidane so could leave in search of regular football at the end of the season. Chances of staying: Unsure. Potential suitors: Arsenal, Sevilla, Valencia. Reuters

David Silva – Now in his 10th season at Manchester City and regarded by many as the club’s greatest ever player, Silva has made it clear that this will be his final campaign at the Etihad. A return to Spain could be on the cards, while the riches of the MLS could also tempt the 33-year-old midfielder. Chances of staying: Highly unlikely. Potential suitors: Inter Miami, Orlando City FC, LA Galaxy, Valencia. Getty Images

Luka Modric – The 2018 Ballon d’Or winner has said he is “very happy” at Real Madrid, although the lack of movement over a new contract is hardly encouraging for his future prospects at the club. The 34-year-old Croatian is still a regular in midfield, although given his age it would not be surprising to see him leave the Bernabeu at the end of the season. Could he join Silva in the United States? Chances of staying: Unsure. Potential suitors: Inter Miami, Inter Milan, Napoli. AFP

Ever Banega – The Argentine midfielder has established himself as one of Sevilla’s most important players since joining the club in 2017, playing a key role in their back-to-back Europa League triumphs in 2015 and 2016. Sevilla are understood to want him to stay, but reports claim there is widespread interest in the 31-year-old’s signature. Chances of staying: Unsure. Potential suitors: Fiorentina, Galatasaray, Fenerbahce. AFP

Adam Lallana – The English midfielder may be a favourite of Jurgen Klopp’s at Liverpool but that has not translated into a regular first-team place. Some of that is down to long-term injury, but much is due to the fierce competition in the Reds’ midfield. Reports claim Lallana will leave Anfield at the end of the season, despite Klopp keen on the 31-year-old signing a one-year extension. A surprise club has been linked with Lallana in recent weeks, too. Chances of staying: Unlikely. Potential suitors: Paris Saint-Germain, MLS, Chinese Super League. Getty Images

Fernandinho – The Brazilian has been a mainstay in the Manchester City midfield since joining in 2013, but at the age of 34, he could be leaving the Etihad at the end of the season. There has been little speculation regarding Fernandinho’s future, so it’s tough to gauge where he could be next season, although the Chinese Super League or Japan’s J-League could be options. Chances of staying: Unsure. Potential suitors: CSL and J-League. AP Photo

Olivier Giroud – Vital to Chelsea’s Europa League-winning campaign last season and a constant for France’s World Cup champions, but Giroud is struggling for minutes this campaign. Now entering the final six months of his contract, speculation is rife that the 33-year-old striker could be on the move in January. Chances of staying: Highly unlikely. Potential suitors: Lyon, West Ham, Bordeaux, Inter Milan. Reuters

John Lundstram – A few months ago, many football fans would have known little about the Sheffield United full-back-turned-midfielder, but Lundstram’s bright start to the Premier League season has brought him to nationwide attention (and blessed many a Fantasy Premier League team). Sheffield United are understandably keen to tie the 25-year-old down to a new deal. Chances of staying: Likely. Potential suitors: Everton, West Ham, Bournemouth. AP Photo

Thiago Silva – The Brazilian defender has been PSG captain for much of their dominant period, but after eight years at the club, it looks like his time is coming to an end. He could still stay for another year, although the lack of movement over a new contract is telling. Despite being in the latter stages of his career, the 35-year-old Brazilian would still be an attractive option for many clubs. Chances of staying: Unsure. Potential suitors: Barcelona, CSL, AC Milan. AFP

In 1995, a rule was introduced that would change football transfers forever. Commonly known as the Bosman ruling, it allows footballers to move clubs at the end of a contract without a transfer fee being paid.

The rule also means that players with six months remaining on their contracts are free to discuss terms with clubs outside the country they are currently employed.

While a key moment for the rights of footballers and their free movement of labour, it has also provided clubs many opportunities to pick up bargains and sign players on free transfers who otherwise would require large transfer fees.

The majority of footballers' contracts, particularly in Europe, expire at the end of June on any given year, which means on January 1, 2020 a host of players will be free to negotiate contracts with other clubs.

With that in mind, we have put together a gallery of 27 of the best footballers who are entering the final months of their contracts, predicted the likelihood of them remaining at their current clubs, and selected potential suitors who could be interested in landing themselves a bargain.

To move on to the next image, click on the arrows or thumbnails, or if using a mobile device, simply swipe.