10) Andre-Pierre Gignac (Marseille)
Gignac feels like the ultimate close-but-just-not-quite striker, not dissimilar to Olivier Giroud at Arsenal. There are moments when he looks the real deal, before then falling short of those moments of majesty.

Since scoring 24 Ligue Un goals for Toulouse in 2008/9, Gignac managed only 30 more goals in 113 league games until the beginning of last season, but does now seem to have found form again. He has more goals than Zlatan this season.

Finally, you can marvel at just how much Gignac looks like a cross between Yohan Cabaye and MK Dons manager Karl Robinson here.

Perfect for: Newcastle, Southampton, Spurs.

9) Dani Alves (Barcelona)
Probably the best attacking full-back in the world over the last decade, Dani Alves would be far higher up our list if he wasn't turning 32 before next summer - and the end of his Barcelona contract - arrives.

"I am moving to England next year," Alves told Rio de Janeiro's O Globo newspaper in October. "I am going to play in the cradle of football. This will be my last year at Barcelona."

Just to confuse you, five days later Dinorah Santa Ana told Spanish radio that such thoughts were a little hasty. "His future is uncertain. Right now, we're not negotiating with anyone - not with Barca nor any other club," she told Catalunya Radio. "We would like to stay here, mainly because our children are here. No one has told us that they want him to go."

Santa Ana, you should probably be told, is Alves' agent and ex-wife. Read into that what you will.

Perfect for: No-one really needs him, but that doesn't mean they won't want him.

Yevhen Konoplyanka (FC Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk)
Winger Yevhen Konoplyanka has been flirting with the Premier League for the best part of three years, but he downright snogged Liverpool last January. A deal with Dnipro appeared complete, only for the Ukrainians to pull out at the last minute.

Soon Konoplyanka will be available for nothing, with Manchester United and Internazionale also reportedly showing a passing interest. He has impressed on both wings for club and country, and boasts great pace, trickery and long-range shooting. The latter was displayed impressively against England in September 2012.

Perfect for: Tottenham and Everton.

7) Sergio Romero (Sampdoria)
The World Cup saw a few goalkeepers dramatically enhance their reputation. Manuel Neuer made the Ballon D'Or top three, Guillermo Ochoa earned a move to Malaga, Keylor Navas joined Real Madrid, David Ospina moved to Arsenal and Thibaut Courtois cemented his place as Chelsea's No. 1.

Which all leaves Sergio Romero, World Cup final goalkeeper and Sampdoria want-away. The Argentinean's contract expires next June and he has made it pretty clear that he is off outta Genoa. With 54 caps for Argentina and just 27 years old, there really isn't much to dislike.

Perfect for: Liverpool, Spurs (if Hugo Lloris leaves)

6) Stephan Lichtsteiner (Juventus)
Juventus full-back Stephan Lichtsteiner might just be my shout for Europe's most underrated player. The 'Swiss Express' is a wonderful attacking right-back.

Since joining from Lazio in 2011, Lichtsteiner has remained largely unheralded, perhaps unsurprising in a team now boasting Carlos Tevez, Arturo Vidal, Paul Pogba and Andrea Pirlo. He is also humble and modest, blaming himself personally for Switzerland's World Cup exit.

Now 30, the defender probably has one more big move in him, but his fitness and stamina have never been in doubt. The Premier League's biggest clubs could do a lot, lot worse.

Perfect for: Manchester United, Liverpool

5) Luiz Adriano (Shakhtar Donetsk)
Before the season started, bookmakers offered their odds on the top Champions League scorer, and included any player at odds of 300/1 or less. Shakhtar Donetsk's Brazilian striker Luis Adriano didn't even merit a mention, but he's now the 2/1 second favourite behind Lionel Messi.

Evidently Adriano's total was assisted by the presence of BATE Borisov in Shakhtar's Champions League group, but he has also scored 24 goals in 38 league matches in Ukraine and is No. 47 on the list of highest-ever goalscorers in the European Cup, with 20. He also recently made his debut for Brazil, and will get his chance to impress against Bayern in the CL last-16.

Perfect for: Everton, Spurs, Newcastle

4) Fabian Schar (FC Basel)
With Arsene Wenger conceding that Laurent Koscielny's latest injury might tempt him into the transfer market, supporters would almost be forgiven for wishing the Frenchman delay in his recovery, should it signal Fabian Schaar's arrival at the Emirates.

In an age when defenders are moving for obscene fees (a summer transfer back four of Eliaquim Mangala, David Luiz, Luke Shaw and Mehdi Benatia sets you back a cool £145m), Basel defender Schar represents incredible value for money.

He's 22, he's quick, he has Champions League experience and he's available on the cheap. Just bloody do it, Arsene.

Perfect for: Arsenal, Arsenal and, er, Arsenal

3) Nigel de Jong (AC Milan)
De Jong has long held a special place in our hearts. We have great respect for a player who will happily say "that's what I think of your laws on hefty challenges". "Oooh, that isn't in the rulebook. Who's in charge here?" "Guilty. Get a new rulebook."

De Jong also has a magical quality, in that no matter what month or year you choose, he's always 30. Every website claims that he was still 29 three weeks ago and joined Manchester City at the age of just 24, but that simply must be witchcraft.

Anyway, the Dutchman has been wallowing in Milan, a city of lost footballing glory; someone surely must rescue him. You can hand him a four-year contract and then sell him for a tidy fee, just after he's turned 30.

Perfect for: Liverpool, Arsenal.

2) Klaas-Jan Huntelaar (Schalke)
Huntelaar hasn't quite reached the mythical status of Brazilian striker Leandro Damiao, but Tottenham supporters have heard rumours of the Dutchman's arrival at White Hart Lane more times than they would care to remember. A quick Google search brings up results from November 2012, June 2009 and October 2014 to name but three, and only three days ago Huntelaar's name was mentioned in passing.

If there was a time to sign the striker, it is now. Schalke have been publicly discussing a new contract for Huntelaar for three months, but no news has been forthcoming. Is the 31-year-old looking for a change of scene?

Whoever does sign the striker may be in for a treat. Rarely has a striker scored so many goals (288 in 453 club games in four countries) and yet flown so easily under the radar. He also has 39 goals for the Dutch national team at a quicker rate than Robin van Persie, Ruud van Nistelrooy, Patrick Kluivert and Marco van Basten. Wow.

Perfect for: Tottenham, Liverpool, Manchester City.

1) Sami Khedira (Real Madrid)
It isn't often that one of Europe's finest defensive midfielders becomes available, let alone on a free transfer, let alone let alone on a free transfer at the age of 27. Signing Khedira should be at the top of every big club manager's shopping list in January, even if he won't arrive until July.

A title winner in Germany and Spain. A double domestic cup winner. A Champions League winner. A UEFA Super Cup winner. A World Cup winner. For free.

The worry for Arsene Wenger, Jose Mourinho and Louis van Gaal (who seem to be the top three candidates to woo the German to England) is the desire of Real Madrid to sign Marco Reus from Borussia Dortmund, leading to talk of a swap deal. Which probably means Bayern Munich will swoop in at the last second to ruin all our fun.

Perfect for: Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester United, Liverpool.


Football365

arsenal really needs huntelear