Despite the financial downturn across the globe, clubs in Europe's top five leagues still spent over €4.6 billion in the summer window -- a drop of 43% when compared with 2019. And as the economic reality of COVID-19 hits hard in the next few months, free transfers will become even more important.
Some big-name players will be available on a free transfer in 2021 if they don't put pen to paper soon.
Here are 10 top players who can be picked up for nothing -- and can start to negotiate with other clubs outside their own leagues in January -- with the help of Transfermarkt.