Free agents Premier League clubs can sign as Man Utd look to solve key issue

The transfer window is closed but that doesn't mean Premier League clubs can't still strike deals with the several free agents still on the market.

A frantic deadline day meant that a number of clubs were able to plug gaps in their squad. The likes of Newcastle, Aston Villa and Manchester United all secured new arrivals that will aid problem areas, although there are still calls for Ruben Amorim to bolster his midfield. Others, namely Liverpool, further strengthened.

Any major deals will now have to wait until January, but a number of players are without clubs and can secure themselves a new home anytime now. Owing largely to their contracts expiring, several individuals will be seeking to prove that they can still cut it.

Even after three Premier League games it is abundantly clear that some clubs have issues in their squad that look set to remain until they get bodies through the door. That could motivate them to hand out, even a short-term contract, to see if they can get some serious value for money.

It is easy to dismiss free agents, especially those who still don't have clubs, as players who are simply surplus or past their best. But that is not always the case with personal circumstances or a desire to find the right environment meaning they still don't have an employers.

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Mirror Football takes a look at some of the names who are still on the market, but could do a job for a top flight club following the closure of the transfer window.

Josh Brownhill

The midfielder was integral in Burnley getting promoted back to the Premier League last season, but the 29-year-old immediately set his sights on something new. Brownhill scored 18 times for the Clarets, but when confirming his exit at the expiry of his contract he claimed it was the "right time for me to start the next part of my journey in football". He rejected a move to Leicester on deadline day with Saudi clubs still keen, but the midfielder looked like he could comfortably do a job in the top flight.

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain

His CV includes over a decade at Arsenal and Liverpool, including Premier League and Champions League winner's medals, but the Englishman is back on the market after leaving Besiktas.

Injuries have plagued him throughout his career yet Oxlade-Chamberlain would still have a lot to offer. Birmingham have been heavily linked as they push for the Premier League, but anyone with more than 300 top flight appearances who is just 32 represents great value.

Miralem Pjanic

The Bosnian has been a key figure at Roma, Juventus and Barcelona and whilst he's 35, experience still counts for a lot. Any team looking for legs in the middle of the pitch is unlikely to find that by signing Pjanic, but look no further if they want a general who is able to allow his brain to excel whilst age continues to take its toll. His stint with CSKA Moscow has just ended and he's never tried his hand at the Premier League, which could prove tempting.

Hakim Ziyech

Truly, we never saw the player that lit it up for Ajax when he did move to Chelsea, but he played in a congested environment where he was rarely made to feel like he had the backing of the manager, nor was his spot ever truly nailed down.

Loan moves never properly worked out but the Moroccan is still in his early 30s and his left foot has produced some highlight reel-worthy moments. The most prolific season of his career saw him score 22 times.

Jamal Lewis

Still just 27, he was part of the exciting Norwich side that gained promotion under Daniel Farke with his performances later earning him a switch to Newcastle. He fell down the pecking order at St James' Park and had to head out on loan to get minutes, spending last season with Sao Paulo in Brazil. Lewis' contract expired in the summer and he's on the market with the full-back still possessing his pace if a team is willing to take a punt on him.

Kurt Zouma

The French defender has left West Ham after spending last season on loan in Saudi Arabia. At his peak he was a hugely influential figure and his physicality and athleticism made him a stellar centre-half and he played for the Hammers as they claimed Europa Conference League glory. Zouma is still only 30, which is often entering the peak years for a defender, which could see a Premier League club make an approach.

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