Unlike the majority of elite level footballers, a small handful of players don’t have a cushty job to go back to when their summer holidays come to an end.
The Premier League clubs revealed their released lists last week with a number of high-profile stars looking for pastures new.
But where will the major names up?
We’ve detailed which club we think they all should move to this summer…
Zlatan Ibrahimovic – LA Galaxy
Ibrahimovic’s heroic single season in England was horribly cut short by that potentially career ending knee injury in late April.
Of all players, he likely has the best physical credentials to recover from such a setback but we think his time in the Premier League might be over.
In fact, Zlatan’s imperious era of dominance in Europe can’t really be bettered after he proved his doubters wrong with Manchester United, so a rosy pay day in the USA would be a nice way to end an incredible career.
Bacary Sagna – Barcelona
Sagna wasn’t part of Pep Guardiola’s long-term plans at Manchester City but the Frenchman is still as solid as they come at right back.
He hasn’t lost his pace and still possess a mean delivery from wide, so a move to Barcelona would make sense given their struggles to replace Dani Alves since he departed for Juventus.
John Terry – Bournemouth
Terry barely featured for Chelsea in his swansong season but he’s too good a defender to drop down the leagues.
Frank Lampard proved a wise move can extend a career by another season after his one season at Manchester City, and Bournemouth’s defensive problems are crying out for the organisation and leadership Terry exudes.
Gael Clichy – Liverpool
Clichy, like Sagna, certainly isn’t old news quite yet but has also been sent on his way by the ruthless Guardiola.
His former team-mate James Milner was transformed into a auxiliary left-back last season but Liverpool became too predictable due to his tendency to cut inside.
Clichy, as a natural left-footer, would solve that issue and act as a decent rotation player ahead of their return to the Champions League.
Mario Balotelli – RB Leipzig
Balotelli and English football aren’t exactly a match made in heaven after his tumultuous time at Liverpool, but he completely reignited his career at Nice.
Should he opt not to extend his stay in the south of France, how about a move that would guarantee Champions League football with Germany’s newest powerhouses?
A new country and a new challenge for Balotelli, too.
Rachid Ghezzal – Southampton
Ghezzal had an electric 2016 for Lyon but faded somewhat after the arrival of Memphis Depay from Manchester United in January.
His ongoing contract rumbles though provides a club with a great opportunity to capitalise, and Southampton are asking for a winger of his creative ability after Sofiane Boufal flattered to deceive last season.
Victor Anichebe – Brighton
Anichebe was criminally under used by Sunderland last season, but when he was he proved pretty effective.
The big Nigerian striker is still an absolute handful on his day and would certainly beef about Brighton’s attack on their return to the big time.
Jesus Navas – Barcelona
Navas has been a useful asset for City in the last few seasons but his inability to put a cross in was always his downfall.
So how about a side who barely cross the ball at all?
A return to Spain would fit Navas and his pace off the bench could still prove useful for the Catalan giants.