da mrbet： The France captain will undoubtedly dominate headlines, but a host of big names could be sorting free agent deals this winter.

da wazamba： It's negotiation time.

The January transfer window is an admittedly funny time in football. Big deals tend to dry up, and with the Saudi Pro League season already in full swing, it's unlikely that there will be any huge Middle Eastern ventures in the next 30 days.

Instead, it's often a month rife with speculation, especially surrounding those few big names who could find themselves out of contract in the summer. Most players, of course, lock up new deals before that time comes; if they're good enough, their parent clubs will want to keep them around, or at least do something to ensure they don't leave for free.

This winter, the discussion will certainly, once again, surround the future of Kylian Mbappe. The talk, in fact, has already begun. Real Madrid are supposedly in for the Frenchman once again, while PSG will certainly be reluctant to sell. Either way, it's one to watch.

And Mbappe isn't alone, either. A host of intriguing names could leave their clubs in the summer, and sort their future before the month ends. GOAL takes a look at some European stars who could negotiate their futures starting today…

GettyKylian Mbappe (PSG)

PSG are a bit paranoid when it comes to Mbappe, claiming – with apparently little evidence – that the France winger has been negotiating with Real Madrid behind the scenes for some time now.

True or not, he will likely start doing so in earnest now the January window is open. His Madrid move has been regarded as a matter of time for almost two years now. The only point of contention is whether he leaves on a free transfer, or does as promised and pens a deal that would force Los Blancos to cough up. Either way, let the discussions begin.

AdvertisementGettyThiago Alcantara (Liverpool)

Thiago is an admittedly hard player to gauge at this point. He's still immensely talented and capable of running games all by himself. But this is a player, on the wrong side of 30, who has been sidelined for almost a year with a hip injury. These aren't the kind of things that centre midfielders – who have to cover a lot of ground – tend to recover from quickly.

But he is supposedly nearing a return, and, if used correctly, could be a massive asset for Jurgen Klopp's side, especially as they try to stay alive in four competitions. A good run in the middle of the park, as well as an extended period of fitness, could see him land one last contract with a top European club.

GettyAdrien Rabiot (Juventus)

Not a glamorous player, but Rabiot is a sneakily good one. The French midfielder was on the verge of joining Manchester United, and has been linked with a few top European clubs since.

Rabiot may not be a game-changing presence, but he's an experienced operator in central midfield, and won't be blamed for wanting to get out of Serie A. And at 28, he still has enough football left to allure the watchful eyes of a top club.

GettyRafa (Benfica)

Rafa's numbers have been in steady decline for five years, but his ability to offer quality minutes, and change games with his pace and trickery have gone nowhere. A rapid forward who can also play on the wing, Rafa has been a crucial part of several iterations of Benfica, a constant as top class strikers have come and gone.

Reports from Portugal have suggested that a renewal is unlikely, and that the 30-year-old could be on the market for free next summer. He may be up there in age, but could certainly function as a reliable backup, or solid starter for an upper mid level team with aspirations of playing European football.