The summer of 2026 is shaping up to be one of the most unusual free agent windows in Premier League history. A cluster of players who were, until very recently, considered elite-level starters at major clubs are entering the final weeks of their contracts — and the list includes names that would have commanded fees north of £60m just two or three years ago. Bernardo Silva, Ibrahima Konate, and Mohamed Salah are three of the biggest, and each one represents a genuinely different kind of opportunity for the clubs willing to move for them.
Bernardo Silva — the creative midfielder nobody expects to be free
Bernardo Silva has been at Manchester City since 2017 and has been linked with a move away almost every summer since 2021. He has always stayed. This time, his contract genuinely expires in June and City have not announced an extension. At 31, he is entering the period where players at his level typically have one or two big contracts left in them. Barcelona, who have wanted him for years, are the most credible destination. A Premier League club willing to offer the right terms could also be in the conversation. He remains one of the most technically gifted midfielders in European football.
Ibrahima Konate — the centre-back Liverpool cannot afford to lose for nothing
Konate's contract situation at Liverpool has been running in the background for several months. The French international has been inconsistent this season — injury-affected and not always at his best when fit — but his ceiling remains extremely high and at 26, he should be hitting his peak years. Liverpool want to keep him. The question is whether he signs an extension before the window opens or whether clubs start approaching him directly. Paris Saint-Germain have been mentioned, along with Bayern Munich. If Liverpool cannot secure a deal quickly, they risk losing a significant asset for nothing.
Mohamed Salah — the farewell that nobody wanted to see this way
Salah's departure was confirmed months ago. He will not be renewing at Liverpool and will leave at the end of this season, almost certainly for Saudi Arabia or a club in a different league entirely. The sadness around his exit is real — he is Liverpool's record scorer and one of the Premier League's genuinely great players of the past decade. His final weeks at Anfield have been tinged with frustration rather than celebration, which is not the send-off anyone would have chosen. But the numbers he leaves behind will speak for themselves long after the contract dust settles.
Premier League free agents summer 2026: Bernardo Silva (Man City, 31) — Barcelona linked. Ibrahima Konate (Liverpool, 26) — extension talks ongoing, PSG and Bayern interested. Mohamed Salah (Liverpool, 33) — confirmed departure, Saudi Arabia expected destination. All contracts expire June 2026.
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