This week it was announced by the Premier League Clubs who they will be releasing from their contracts as of this summer, and there were some huge names who will be looking for new clubs for the new season.
On the back of Jose Mourinho’s arrival Chelsea have released French international Florent Malouda, which was not too surprising considering he was frozen out last season thus not playing a single game. Another to be let go was Israeli international Yossi Benayoun who had a spell on loan at London rivals West Ham United last season, whilst Portuguese defender Paulo Ferreira and his compatriot Hilario were also released.
Fulham were another Club who announced numerous omissions as defender Chris Baird, Welsh midfielder Simon Davies, Greek International Georgios Karagkounis and former Real Madrid man Mahamadou Diarra were all freed from the Club. Veteran Australian Goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer was also among the players let go by Fulham, perhaps this was not too surprising given the West London side have signed Netherlands International Maarten Stekelenburg for the coming season.
Manchester City have released a total of five players from their books, with Ivory Coast international Kolo Toure, former England full back Wayne bridge and Paraguayan striker Roque Santa Cruz amongst them. None of the above departures were unexpected as they were not first team regulars and Bridge and Santa Cruz were on loan last season at Brighton and Malaga respectively.
Their city rivals and Champions Manchester United signalled a new dawn under David Moyes by not only releasing nine players, but making their first addition with the signing of young Uruguayan defender Guillermo Varela. The nine that were freed by the Champions were mainly young players who were on the fringes of the first team squad, apart from veteran Paul Scholes whose decision to retire meant he is one of the departed.
Norwich City planned for their third successive season in the top division by freeing ten players, strikers Simeon Jackson, Chris Martin and defender Elliott Ward amongst those not retained by manager Chris Hughton.
Relegated Queens Park Rangers unsurprisingly started planning for life in the Championship next year by also letting ten players go, including strikers D.J. Campbell and Rob Hulse who were both on loan at Ipswich Town and Millwall respectively last season.
Among the other Premier League Clubs, Stoke City started planning for next year under new boss Mark Hughes by releasing Rory Delap, Dean Whitehead, Matthew Upson, and Jermaine Pennant amongst others. Arsenal meanwhile let go of Russian international Andrey Arshavin, defender Sebastien Squillaci and Brazilian midfielder Denilson.
William Gallas and David Bentley were freed by Tottenham Hotspur, with another former England man Carlton Cole was amongst the players released by West Ham United. Other players looking for pastures new are Marc-Antoine Fortune and Zoltan Gera who have both departed West Bromwich Albion, whilst Titus Bramble has left Sunderland.
There will be plenty of movement over the next few months before the new season gets underway, and all the players above will all be targeting new Clubs during this time.
