Sunday, December 22, 2024

Who is available to Scotland’s free agent hunters?

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From former Manchester United forward Anthony Martial to released Everton midfield duo Dele Alli and Andre Gomez and Netherlands forward Memphis Depay, ex of Atletico Madrid.

The transfer window closed on Friday, but you could still form a pretty nifty fantasy team from the list of players still without clubs this summer.

Willing to go down the veteran route, there’s Mats Hummels, released by Borussia Dortmund, fellow centre-back Sergio Ramos, who has left Sevilla, former Manchester United midfielder Juan Mata has exited Vissel Kobe, while ex-Italy striker Mario Balotelli has left Adana Demirspor.

Scottish Premiership clubs can only dream of attracting such big names from the list of free agents, but Rangers manager Philippe Clement and Hibernian counterpart David Gray are just two who have admitted they are considering bolstering their beleaguered squads from the ranks of the unemployed.

Not long since valued at £29.5m, former Juventus midfielder Adrien Rabiot tops the list of those on Transfermarkt.com, but it is further down – way further down probably – where most Scottish clubs will be shopping for bargains.

Of course, there are a quartet of Scotland internationals among those – and some other intriguing names crop up too.

There’s Brandon Williams, the 23-year-old left-back who has just left Manchester United and has previously been linked with Rangers, and centre-back Filip Benkovic, who joined Celtic on a season-long loan from Leicester City and has had his contract terminated early by Udinese at the age of 27 after a loan spell with Trabzonspor.

Then there’s 32-year-old Paul Dummett, the former St Mirren loanee being linked with Portsmouth after being released by Newcastle United.

So, to whom might Premiership managers turn to fill problem positions among Scottish players or those most recently involved in Scotland’s top flight?

Goalkeeper

Truth is, there are not many experienced free agent goalkeepers around.

Mark Birighitti isn’t just without a club. The 33-year-old Australian hasn’t pulled on his gloves competitively since Dundee United suffered a 2-1 defeat by Livingston in May last year – not even during his emergency, seven-day loan to Kilmarnock in January.

Right-back

English pair Jayden Richardson and Liam Grimshaw have been released by Aberdeen and Dundee United, respectively.

Richardson failed to cement a place at Pittodrie and the 23-year-old spent last season on loan in League Two with Stockport County and Colchester United.

Former Motherwell 29-year-old Grimshaw played 40 times as Dundee United won the Scottish Championship title but was released last month midway through his two-year contract to allow him to find a new club.

Ryan Fredericks is probably only in the price range of the Old Firm, who both have plenty of right-back cover, but the 31-year-old released by Premier League club Bournemouth was once touted for a national call-up due to his Scottish grandfather.

Left-back

Barry Douglas is facing his first summer without a club in 18 years but has no thoughts of retiring after the former Leeds United and Wolverhampton Wanderers 34-year-old Scotland cap was released from his latest stint helping Lech Poznan finish fifth in the Ekstraklasa.

Also exiting Poland is Cameron Borthwick-Jackson after the 27-year-old Englishman’s fruitless loan spell to Ross County from Slask Wroclaw.

Once famously bought by Liverpool from Falkirk, 25-year-old Tony Gallacher has been released after two years with St Johnstone.

Centre-back

Liam CooperLiam Cooper

[BBC]

Liam Cooper looked poised to rejoin Hull City after his release by Championship rivals Leeds United but the 33-year-old Scotland defender reportedly failed to agree a deal despite making a guest appearance at his hometown club.

Englishman Charles Dunne is looking for a new club after the 31-year-old’s seven years in Scotland’s top flight with Motherwell then St Mirren.

Like compatriot Dunne, 33-year-old Calum Butcher found himself mainly on the bench at the end of last season with Motherwell.

Central midfield

There’s plenty of midfield talent available, although again mainly on the wrong side of 30.

Stuart Armstrong has been on trial with Brentford and was linked with Premier League rivals Fulham and Italian clubs since his release by promoted Southampton.

Fellow 32-year-old Scotland cap Ryan Jack recently teased by being spotted in the St Mirren stand after exiting Rangers.

A year older, John Fleck has been training back with the Ibrox club as the former Scotland midfielder tries to prove he is fully fit after injury blighted his short-term deal with Blackburn Rovers.

Emiliano Marcondes wages no doubt ruled out a permanent stay despite the 29-year impressing on loan to Hibernian but the Dane has admitted he would prefer to stay in UK football after being released by Bournemouth.

Scott Fraser only managed four starts on loan to Heart of Midlothian but the 29-year-old Scot has been linked with hometown club Dundee after his release by Charlton Athletic.

Wingers

Connor McLennan was viewed as a player of much promise when he broke through at a young age with Aberdeen but struggled on loan to St Johnstone and, now 25, was released after being in and out of the Salford City side in League Two.

After falling out of favour on loan to Queen’s Park from Bayern Munich last season, former Celtic youth Barry Hepburn was sent out to Leoben and struggled for starts in the Austrian second tier before the 20-year-old was released by the German club.

Strikers

A fully fit Kemar Roofe would surely have a new club by now, but the 31-year-old Walsall-born Jamaica international only managed seven starts for Rangers during another injury troubled season last term and will look outside Scotland for a new start.

Dapo Mebude has not had his troubles to seek since the Scotland Under-21 cap joined Watford in 2021 after being one of five Rangers players fined by Scottish police for breaking Covid lockdown rules.

The 23-year-old was out of the picture at Belgian second-tier club Oostende even before being sidelined by a car accident in January after which he required heart surgery. However, he was recently training with Livingston.

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