David Alaba joins Udinese as high-profile free agents remain available

The transfer window may have closed, but clubs seeking defensive cover or replacements for injured players can still turn to a number of prominent free agents.

Former Real Madrid defender David Alaba became the latest notable name to find a club on Thursday, signing for Serie A side Udinese until the end of the season.

The 34-year-old Austria captain is a four-time Champions League winner, claimed 10 Bundesliga titles with Bayern Munich and won LaLiga twice during his five-year spell at Real Madrid.

However, his career has been disrupted by injury in recent seasons. Alaba suffered an anterior cruciate ligament rupture in his left knee in December 2023, ruling him out for more than a year, and experienced several further setbacks after returning.

His contract with Real Madrid expired at the end of last season.

Udinese have lost their past three matches and are looking to strengthen a defence that has conceded 11 goals in its opening five league games without recording a clean sheet.

Carvajal linked with Premier League move

Another former Real Madrid defender, Dani Carvajal, is also available after ending a highly successful 13-year association with the club at the conclusion of last season.

Carvajal won the Champions League six times and collected four league titles during his time in Madrid. However, injuries have affected the 34-year-old over the past two seasons, and the Euro 2024 winner was not included in Spain’s World Cup squad.

Media reports have linked him with a possible move to the Premier League.

Sancho offers European experience

Jadon Sancho is another high-profile free agent who could leave the Premier League after his five-year Manchester United contract ended in June.

The England forward joined United from Dortmund in 2021 but struggled to establish a regular place in the team. His relationship with manager Erik ten Hag deteriorated after the Dutchman criticised Sancho’s training performances.

Sancho subsequently had several loan spells, returning to Dortmund and also spending time at Chelsea and Aston Villa, but none resulted in a permanent transfer.

The 26-year-old could appeal to clubs targeting a lengthy European campaign. He has played in the final of three different European competitions with three different clubs over the past three seasons.

He was part of Dortmund’s Champions League final defeat, scored in Chelsea’s Conference League final victory and came on as a substitute in Aston Villa’s Europa League final win over Freiburg last season.

Benzema and Pogba among others available

Former Ballon d’Or winner Karim Benzema is also without a club after leaving Saudi side Al-Hilal by mutual consent at the end of August.

His France team-mate Paul Pogba is available after ending his contract with AS Monaco. The former Manchester United and Juventus midfielder and World Cup winner was suspended for more than two years following a doping ban, while fitness issues after his return in November contributed to Monaco terminating his deal in August.

Other notable players still seeking clubs include Algerian winger Riyad Mahrez, who won the Premier League with Leicester City and Manchester City, former Inter Milan and Paris Saint-Germain striker Mauro Icardi, and Italian defenders Francesco Acerbi and Matteo Darmian.