Top 10 potential Premier League free transfers of summer 2012

Demba Ba's move to Newcastle last summer has proved to be one of the bargains of the season

As always, big money transfers are likely to grab the headlines this summer.

That was certainly the case last year, with the likes of Sergio Aguero, Juan Mata, Samir Nasri, Phil Jones, Ashley Young and Stewart Downing all switching clubs for extravagant sums.

Most of the aforementioned players have went on to succeed at their new homes, but over the years it has been proved clubs don't always need to spend big to sign quality players.

Last summer, Demba Ba, Sebastian Larsson, Craig Bellamy and Brad Friedel were among the free signings on offer, and all have proved to be fantastic acquisitions.

But who are the freebies on offer this summer? Here is a list of the top 10 stars who should be available.

10 - Maynor Figueroa (Wigan)

Figueroa initially joined Wigan on loan before securing a permanent switch

Honduran left-back Figueroa was a reported target of both Manchester United and Liverpool a matter of two years ago but his form nose-dived after the 2010 World Cup.

This season, he has been more consistent without excelling and if he is to leave Wigan he should have top-flight suitors.

Figueroa, 28, is perhaps best remembered for a stunning goal from inside his own half against Stoke in 2009 which was later named Goal of the Season.

He also set up Hugo Rodallega's winner at Stoke last May as the Latics survived in the Premier League with a 1-0 win.

9. Ivan Klasnic (Bolton)

Klasnic's finishing ability has been particularly impressive this season

Klasnic joined Bolton on loan in 2009 and signed a permanent two-year deal a year later.

He has shown his ability in patches at the Reebok Stadium, but could be a useful acquisition for a mid-to-lower table team.

Croatian striker Klasnic started this season in great form and currently has eight goals to his name for the campaign, although a red card against Norwich certainly did not please his manager Owen Coyle.

The 32-year-old joined the Trotters from French side Nantes and also enjoyed a fruitful spell with German outfit Werder Bremen, while he is well known for recovering from two kidney transplants to continue his football career.

8. Hugo Rodallega (Wigan)

Rodallega has not been a prolific scorer during his time in England

Rodallega's reputation has taken something of a battering over the last year or so, but he has been rated in the £10-15million bracket in the past.

He scored the crucial goal which kept Wigan in the Premier League last season and contributed a decent number of strikes in 2009/10 and 2010/11, but has only scored twice so far this season.

The Colombian striker is talented but his form has not been convincing over the last year and it remains to be seen whether a top club will be willing to make a move for him.

However, his availability on a free transfer may just make signing Rodallega a decent option, with Everton, Tottenham and Aston Villa said to be interested in the 26-year-old.

7. Mohamed Diame (Wigan)

Diame was born in France but qualifies for Senegal through his father

Diame is the third Wigan player to make this list and is said to be interesting Everton and Newcastle.

The strong defensive midfielder, 24, has found himself on the bench in recent weeks but has impressed when called upon all season and would be a decent squad player for most Premier League clubs.

Before moving to the DW Stadium, the Senegal international was reportedly tracked by Spanish giants Barcelona and Real Madrid.

His wonder goal at Chelsea earlier this month looked like handing Wigan a crucial point in their battle for survival, only for the draw to be snatched away when the Stamford Bridge club scored a last-gasp winner which looked suspiciously offside.

During his time in Lancashire he has slated the town of Wigan, English women and the weather.

6. Michael Owen (Manchester United)

Owen has become something of a forgotten man in recent months

Injury has blighted Owen's spell with the Red Devils, but he still possesses the instincts of a goalscorer and is sure to have plenty of suitors if his deal at Old Trafford is not renewed in the summer.

The days of Owen terrorising defences and scoring goals for fun as he did at Liverpool are now long gone but if he can stay fit and hold down a regular starting place at a Premier League club, he will still be an asset.

Owen is now 32 but there will surely be very few strikers with a CV like his available on a free this summer.

He isn't fondly remembered by fans of Newcastle though due to an injury-ravaged and costly spell on Tyneside, while it remains to be seen how sharp he will be following a run of just 12 league appearances in the last two seasons.

5. Danny Guthrie (Newcastle)

Guthrie has been an under-rated part of Newcastle's success this season

Guthrie has grown frustrated by a lack of opportunities at Newcastle and looks set to leave St James' Park on a free transfer at the end of the season.

Aston Villa are among the clubs interested in the midfielder, who turned 25 today and has impressed when called upon by the Magpies over the years.

Guthrie is a player who deserves regular first-team football and Newcastle may yet tempt him to sign a new deal with the promise of more opportunities as manager Alan Pardew knows how important he has been at times this season.

The former Liverpool man is a tremendous passer and not afraid to attempt killer passes at appropriate times. He should turn out to be one of the bargains of the summer if he leaves Newcastle.

4. Salomon Kalou (Chelsea)

Kalou has stalled over signing a new Chelsea contract for some months now

Chelsea are thought to be keen to extend Kalou's deal beyond this summer, and he may yet decide to stay after becoming a more important member of Roberto Di Matteo's squad.

The 26-year-old Ivorian moved to Stamford Bridge in 2006 and has been a good squad player for most of that time, although he found himself unwanted under Andre Villas-Boas.

Kalou scored the only goal in Chelsea's 1-0 win at Benfica in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final this season and is thought to see himself as a central striker rather than a wide player.

However, future opportunities as a central striker appear unlikely for Kalou at Chelsea, meaning a free transfer move to a club like Tottenham, Arsenal or Milan may yet materialise.

3. Dimitar Berbatov (Manchester United)

Berbatov proved last season he is still extremely dangerous when in form

Berbatov has been largely frozen out at Old Trafford this season after finishing the previous campaign as the Premier League's joint-top scorer, but his qualities should not be forgotten.

The Bulgarian striker is still just 31 and there are not many others with his football intelligence and ability, but his style often leads observers to call him lazy.

Berbatov has been extremely unlucky to find his opportunities limited at Manchester United this season and has proved in his few appearances he is still more than good enough to play at the top level.

Bayer Leverkusen are thought to be favourites to land Berbatov in the summer, but he could also be a superb signing for top Premier League clubs. A return to Tottenham or a move to a club like Liverpool or Arsenal may not be as unlikely as it sounds.

2. Junior Hoilett (Blackburn)

Blackburn twice sent Hoilett out on loan to German clubs to help him obtain a work permit

Hoilett is sure to have no shortage of suitors this summer and he seems certain to leave Blackburn, regardless of whether they are relegated.

As a player who can play wide or central and aged just 21, the Canadian seems to have everything going for him.

Without him this season, Blackburn could have been cast adrift and his form will have attracted the interest of the likes of Arsenal, Chelsea, Newcastle, Liverpool and Tottenham among others.

Players of his age and quality do not become available on free transfers very often so his signature will be much sought-after at the end of the season, with the majority of Premier League clubs sniffing around him.

1. Didier Drogba (Chelsea)

Drogba recently became the first African to score 100 goals in the Premier League

Drogba wants a two-year contract extension at Chelsea and they'd be mad not to give him it, but if he is to leave Stamford Bridge this summer he would be a magnificent free signing for someone.

He may be 34 now but he remains a powerhouse and a striker defenders dread playing against.

Drogba's performance was the catalyst for Chelsea's Champions League comeback win against Napoli and Sunday's FA Cup semi-final mauling of Tottenham, where he proved there is plenty more life left in him yet.

The Ivorian's play-acting diverts the attention away from his superb football talent at times but, on his day, there are very few better strikers in world football.

Drogba ought to go down as a Chelsea legend with 154 goals - 100 of those in the league - since joining from Marseille in 2004 and may yet feel he has one challenge left in him, which should alert the likes of Tottenham.

Best of the rest

Emile Heskey and Jussi Jaaskelainen look set to be released by their respective clubs at the end of the season

The above names would all make great signings for Premier League clubs, while there is a raft of others who will be available for nothing this summer.

Those names include the likes of Fulham's Andy Johnson, Aston Villa's Carlos Cuellar and Tottenham's Louis Saha.

Also expected to be available are Jussi Jaaskelainen, Craig Gordon, Kevin Davies, Emile Heskey, Heurelho Gomes and Martin Petrov, so there will certainly be plenty of free transfers taking place this summer.

Pavel Pogrebnyak is expected to sign a new deal with Fulham but could yet become a free agent, while Aston Villa have already secured the signature of AZ Alkmaar's Brett Holman.

Free transfers look set to be a key aspect of this summer's transfer window, while the list has not even touched on free transfers available from overseas clubs.

Who would you like your club to snap up on a free transfer this summer? Who is your favourite free signing of all-time for your club? Please leave your comments below...