The transfer window may have closed but there’s still opportunities for clubs to recruit before it reopens in January.
Namely, the free agent market, which although lacking the glitz and glamour of the lucrative multi-million pound deals we’ve become acclimatised to throughout the Premier League and yonder, still has a knack of churning out a few transfer gems.
In fact, with no fee involved, free transfers often represent fantastic value for money provided you’re not investing mega wages in a 36-year-old – a mistake I’m sure we’ve all made on Football Manager.
This article takes a look at Leeds United, and the FIVE free agents they’d be simply mad to ignore.
[ffc-gallery]CLICK ON MASSIMO CELLINO TO REVEAL ALL
[/ffc-gallery]
[ad_pod id=’ricco’ align=’center’]
JERMAINE PENNANT
The Elland Road squad is lacking a conventional wide-man of the old-school, touchline hugging variety, and one free agent who could fill that void is former Liverpool star Jermaine Pennant.
The 31 year-old is no spring chicken and has spent the last few years in the wilderness, amassing just nine Premier League appearances since summer 2012 – although he did net this free kick in the top flight for previous employers Stoke City last season:
//www.youtube.com/embed/Uokhy_UwENg?rel=0
Pennant offers fantastic pedigree – he rose through the academy ranks at Arsenal and spent three years at Liverpool, where he reached the 2007 Champions League final. The winger’s Anfield stay is probably best remembered for this goal against Chelsea:
Since leaving the Britannia in January after having his contract terminated, the former Birmingham and Real Zaragoza star has been training with Millwall. But he shocked Ian Holloway earlier this month by cutting his trial short:
Influence from Pennant’s agent was allegedly the issue, but that shouldn’t put Leeds off. Mrs Pennant, aka Alice Goodwin,is another major selling point. Imagine this Lass in a Leeds jersey.
//www.youtube.com/embed/CPUvL81chpo?rel=0
TOMASZ KUSZCZAK
Leeds are already pretty strong in the goalkeeping department – in fact, they signed two goalies this summer in No.1 Marco Silvestri and understudy Stuart Taylor.
But free agent Tomasz Kuszczak represents a fantastic opportunity to further strengthen at little cost.
The Poland international hasn’t enjoyed a plethora of game time throughout his career, having spent much of it as second fiddle to Edwin van der Sar at Manchester United.
But he was always a reliable performer for the Red Devils – making eleven appearances in the Champions League – and proved his quality with a prior spell at West Brom, where this incredible stop won Match of the Day’s Save of the Season award in 2005/06:
//www.youtube.com/embed/IuhTuGJ09GE?rel=0
Kuszczak spent the last two years at Brighton as their No.1, and many were surprised that the Seagulls decided against keeping him on despite claiming 20 clean sheets in the Championship last season. Here’s a look at him in action for the Amex outfit:
//www.youtube.com/embed/KoN8MwdzWJk?rel=0
The former United stalwart has more than proved himself in the second tier and at 32 years of age is still relatively young in goalkeeping terms.
DIEGO LUGANO
Centre-back veteran Diego Lugano looked desperately slow in the Premier League last year, but the free agent offers an eclectic mix of pedigree and experience and would certainly find himself more comfortable in the English second tier.
The 33 year-old has plied his trade with Sao Paolo, Fenerbahce, PSG and Malaga over the years, in addition to amassing 95 caps and nine goals with Uruguay, for whom he’s often worn the captain’s armband.
The 6 foot 2 defender, who featured in the 2010 World Cup play-off, spent last season with West Brom, aiding their Premier League survival with twelve appearances in the top flight. And although he wasn’t the most popular figure at the Hawthorns, Lugano’s stats from the campaign are largely impressive:
Here’s a look at the defender in action, bizarrely to Guns n Roses anthem ‘Don’t Cry’:
//www.youtube.com/embed/qSAxHmqNUGU?rel=0
But Leeds could find themselves rivalled to the South American’s signature by an unlikely source – recent reports claim he’s being targeted by Arsene Wenger to solve Arsenal’s injury crisis:
JACK COLLISON
Former West Ham midfielder Jack Collison was once tipped for great things – a regular for club and country in his early twenties. It’s safe to say things haven’t quite worked out for the 25 year-old, whose career has been continually disrupted by injuries, with him released by the Upton Park side at the end of last season. Collison has since been training with QPR in a bid to keep fit, but no contract materialised and he’s now on trial at Birmingham City:
Collison is well experienced in the Championship and the top flight and also boasts 17 caps for Wales. He’s a hard-working yet technical midfielder, capable of scoring goals or providing them, with a career return of 14 goals and nine assists in 117 appearances. That includes this strike against Arsenal back in 2013:
//www.youtube.com/embed/JYnUQCKyU08?rel=0
There’s still time for Leeds to weigh in but they’ll have to act quickly – recent speculation suggests he’s just been offered a contract by Ipswich Town:
CHRIS EAGLES
Another unemployed creative midfielder the Whites should be trying to get their hands on is former Bolton star Chris Eagles.
The 28 year-old never quite hit the heights expected of him as he rose through Manchester United’s academy, once netting this stunning curler for the Red Devils against Everton:
//www.youtube.com/embed/XyhBI7rnP-E?rel=0
But he’s enjoyed decent spells in the Premier League and the Championship with Watford, Sheffield Wednesday, Burnley and the Wanderers.
Indeed, he found 19 goals in 105 appearances during three years at the Reebok. Here’s a look at all his goals for Bolton:
//www.youtube.com/embed/tdXsYyh3nH0?rel=0
Eagles struggled for fitness and form last season but the campaign previous he found twelve goals and twelve assists in 43 Championship appearances – topping Bolton’s charts in both departments.
With alleged moves to Sheffield United and Cardiff City falling through, the midfielder is likely to jump at the chance of joining the Elland Road roster.
