Liverpool and Bayern Munich have THREE stars out of contract next summer… and Neymar is also available – so, will they follow in the footsteps of Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe and leave for nothing?

The busy Christmas period is fast approaching, and we are already a third of the way through another season.

Many players will hardly have time to think between matches, but for those out of contract next summer, they will be seriously considering their futures.

From January, Premier League players out of contract in 2025 will be able to talk to clubs outside of England about potentially reaching a pre-contract agreement.

That option is only just over a month away, and clubs will face an anxious wait over whether they could lose some of their biggest stars.

Liverpool and Bayern Munich both have three major players that could move on and significantly weaken their respective squads.

With this in mind, Mail Sport has taken a look at 10 players who could leave for nothing next year… 

Vincent Kompany’s Bayern Munich also have three key players coming to the end of their deals

1. Mo Salah (Liverpool)

Let’s start with the player on everyone’s lips right now.

Mo Salah has arguably been the best player in the Premier League this season, but his future is more uncertain than ever after he revealed over the weekend that he is ‘more out than in’ at Liverpool.

He claimed that he is yet to receive a serious offer to remain at Liverpool, and admitted he is ‘disappointed’ with the lack of progress in negotiations over a new deal.

Salah has been linked with a lucrative switch to Saudi Arabia in a move that would likely see his wages increase significantly.

But he is still at the peak of his powers at 32, and may feel he has more to offer in one of Europe’s top divisions.

He is into his eighth season at Anfield and has shown no signs of slowing down, but can Liverpool do enough to convince him to put pen to paper?

2. Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool)

Sorry Liverpool fans, it’s your club again. And this one would hurt badly.

Trent Alexander-Arnold is the local hero who rose through the academy to become a first team star, and he has an argument for being the best right back on the planet at the moment.

But does he fancy a new challenge?

Real Madrid are reportedly targeting the England full back, and Alexander-Arnold could team up with his international team-mate and good friend Jude Bellingham at the Santiago Bernabeu.

He appears the natural replacement for the ageing Dani Carvajal, and the lure of Madrid is an appealing one for almost any footballer.

Leaving his hometown would be a huge call by Alexander-Arnold, and he is going to have to make a final decision on his future very soon. 

Trent Alexander-Arnold (left) and Virgil van Dijk (right) are both out of contract at the end of the season

3. Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool)

Let’s get the misery out the way for the Reds. Would Virgil van Dijk be the biggest loss of the lot?

He has been a transformative figure at the back since joining Liverpool from Southampton for £75m in 2018, and is possibly even more important to the team than Salah and Alexander-Arnold.

Van Dijk took the captain’s armband at the start of last season and has continued to lead by example, with Arne Slot’s men racing into an eight-point lead at the top of the Premier League this term.

The Dutch defender will be 34 next summer, and there may be some doubts about how long he has left at the highest level.

But he has struck up a formidable partnership with Ibrahima Konate this season, and it seems the obvious move for Liverpool to do everything they can to keep hold of him for at least another couple of years. 

4. Alphonso Davies (Bayern Munich)

Let’s move on to Bayern, who find themselves in a similarly precarious position to Liverpool.

First up, we have Alphonso Davies. The speedy full back only turned 24 earlier this month and is still likely to have his best years ahead of him.

But he has been heavily linked with Real Madrid, and the Spanish giants usually get what they want.

Bayern look on course to regain their domestic crown this season, but are still having problems in Europe, and Davies may feel he needs to go elsewhere to win the Champions League for a second time.

This could make a transfer to Madrid all the more attractive, while Manchester United are also reportedly tracking Davies as they look to fix their problems at left back.

Bayern full back Alphonso Davies has been heavily linked with a switch to Real Madrid

5. Joshua Kimmich (Bayern Munich)

This would be another blow for Vincent Kompany and his side.

Joshua Kimmich will be 30 by next summer, but his game has always been more reliant on his speed of thought rather than his turn of pace.

The German international can play at full back or in central midfield, and his versatility means he is likely to receive a number of offers over the coming months.

He has achieved everything at Bayern, and this could be the moment for him to try something new.

Pep Guardiola is an admirer of Kimmich, and he could be the type of player that Manchester City identify to solve some of their issues in the middle of the park. 

Joshua Kimmich could be an appealing option for clubs due to his versatility

6. Leroy Sane (Bayern Munich) 

Could Leroy Sane return to the Premier League?

Manchester United and Arsenal are both reportedly tracking the former Manchester City winger, and he is no longer a guaranteed starter at Bayern.

Following the summer arrival of Michael Olise, Sane has slipped down the pecking order, but he is still a massive talent.

He will be 29 in January, and his career has stagnated somewhat in recent seasons, but a transfer could be exactly what he needs to click back into top gear.

Sane was a popular figure at the Etihad during Guardiola’s early days, and he could be back in England ahead of next season. 

7. Neymar (Al-Hilal)

Will someone take a gamble on Neymar?

The Brazilian forward was one of the best players in the world during his time at Barcelona and PSG, but injuries have taken their toll in recent years.

After joining Al-Hilal last summer, Neymar suffered an ACL injury, and he has only played seven times for the Saudi Arabian outfit.

There have been rumours that they could look to terminate his contract in January, which could put him on the market even sooner than expected.

But for now, he will be available next summer, and a return to Brazil could be on the cards. His boyhood club Santos looks his most likely destination right now. 

Neymar has had a disastrous spell in Saudi Arabia and may return to boyhood club Santos

8. Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City)

Kevin De Bruyne has a claim for being the best midfielder in Premier League history. But has Father Time caught up with him?

The Belgian star has been plagued by injuries in recent years, and has struggled to get back up to speed after returning from the sidelines this season.

He was asked about his future at a press conference on Monday, but kept his cards close to his chest and instead largely focused on Manchester City’s alarming slump in form.

De Bruyne will be 34 next June, and is one of a number of players in City’s squad that look like they may have seen better days. 

It could still be worth City offering him a new short-term deal as he is capable of producing magic moments. But it would not be a surprise to see the two parties go their separate ways.

Kevin De Bruyne was coy on his future at a press conference on Monday, but has struggled to overcome injuries in recent years

9. Harry Maguire (Manchester United)

Harry Maguire has always been up against it at United ever since they decided to spend £80m to sign him from Leicester City in 2019. 

He has battled with inconsistent form, injuries and off-field issues over the past five years, but has still made over 200 appearances for the Red Devils.

There have been times in the past where it looked like Maguire’s days at Old Trafford were numbered, but he has stuck around and remained professional throughout.

Indeed, he was arguably United’s best central defender last season as the club struggled with an injury crisis.

Maguire is vastly experienced with 64 England caps to his name, but does he fit into Ruben Amorim’s future plans?

The answer to that question will determine whether he sticks around at United or not. 

Harry Maguire could move on if he is not part of Ruben Amorim’s future plans at Man United

10. Angel Gomes (Lille)

Angel Gomes had been quietly going about his work in France before Lee Carsley threw him into the England senior squad back in September.

It was a sink or swim moment for the midfielder, and he looked the part straight away. 

His decision to leave Manchester United as a teenager in 2020 has paid off, and he has developed into a well-rounded player over the last four years.

The 24-year-old’s contract at Lille is running down, and United have been linked with bringing Gomes back to Old Trafford next summer.

He has proved that he does not get overawed by the big occasion, and he is the right age profile for United as they look to get back to challenging for major honours under Ruben Amorim.

Angel Gomes has looked at ease in an England shirt and could return to his homeland when his Lille contract expires

… And who has left for nothing in the past?

Free transfers happen in every window, but some stand out more than others. Here’s three high-profile cases of players leaving for nothing that shocked the football world…

1. Lionel Messi (Barcelona to PSG)

Lionel Messi will always be synonymous with Barcelona, and he looked destined to be a one-club man.

That all changed in 2021, though, as he bid a tearful farewell to the Nou Camp after a breakdown in talks over a new contract.

PSG sensed their moment and snapped the Argentine icon up without paying a penny. 

Messi won two Ligue 1 titles and the World Cup with Argentina during his two years in the French capital, but failed to hit the same heights that he reached at Barcelona before moving on to Inter Miami last year. 

Lionel Messi shocked the world when he left Barcelona to join PSG in 2021

2. Kylian Mbappe (PSG to Real Madrid)

PSG have been stung by a free transfer themselves, and it only happened this summer.

After years of toying with the idea, Kylian Mbappe finally completed his move to Real Madrid when his PSG contract expired.

It was hardly a smooth departure from the French giants, and Mbappe has since accused his former club of owing him money in unpaid wages and bonuses.

The case is expected to be settled in court, while Mbappe is now trying to find his feet at Madrid after a slow start to the season.

Kylian Mbappe finally joined Real Madrid this summer after his PSG contract expired

3. Sol Campbell (Tottenham to Arsenal)  

We may be going back over two decades, but this transfer still remains one of the most controversial in Premier League history.

Sol Campbell was Tottenham captain back in 2001 and famously stated in a TV interview that he was going to stay at the club.

However, he performed a sensational U-turn and signed for their fiercest rivals Arsenal just days later.

The move worked out for Campbell as he went on to win two league titles and three FA Cups with the Gunners, and was part of their ‘Invincibles’ team.

But he has still not been forgiven by the Spurs faithful.