Each summer season, the free agent market is filled with names you recognise, half of which you assumed had already retired. However as a substitute of leaving them to float off to Turkey or MLS, we’ve constructed a free agent XI that might (perhaps?) scrap its strategy to Premier League survival.
The purpose isn’t to make a title-winning facet and even one which performs enticing soccer. That is about survival: bruising 1-0 wins, time-wasting, and the odd late-season smash-and-grab to hit the magic 35 factors.
We’ve gone with a 3-5-2 system, packing the center, squeezing the pitch, and hoping the entrance two stumble into sufficient objectives to maintain us up.
GK: Lukasz Fabianski
Fabianski is precisely the type of veteran keeper you need in a survival XI. Skilled, calm below stress, and nonetheless able to these reflex saves that purchase you factors.
He spent seven years at West Ham, racking up over 200 appearances after spells at Arsenal and Swansea. Hammer of the 12 months in 2018–19, he grew to become one of many Premier League’s most dependable shot-stoppers.
At 40, he’s nearer to his testimonial than his prime, however his professionalism and penalty-saving file imply he’d nonetheless pull off the odd heroic show.
RCB: Takehiro Tomiyasu
Tomiyasu slots into the precise facet of our again three, providing the composure and flexibility wanted in a relegation scrap. Snug at full-back or centre-back, he brings stability and intelligence to the defence.
The Japan worldwide joined Arsenal in 2021 from Bologna and shortly grew to become a fan favorite, successful Participant of the Month in his first weeks.
Accidents repeatedly disrupted his progress, and by July 2025, his deal was terminated.
Nonetheless solely 26, Tomiyasu has time to rebuild. If he can keep match, he’s the kind to close down huge threats and preserve issues easy below stress.
CB: Jason Denayer
With Kurt Zouma now off the market, Denayer steps in to anchor the again three. He gives mobility to cowl, and his passing vary offers us a strategy to transfer the ball ahead.
He constructed his popularity with Celtic and Lyon, successful trophies and even reaching a Champions League quarter-final. Premier League followers will largely bear in mind his struggles at Sunderland.
Since then, it’s been a world tour of Dubai and Saudi Arabia. At 30, he may very well be a intelligent rescue job — or an unmitigated catastrophe.
LCB: Samuel Umtiti
Each survival defence wants a left-footed possibility, and Umtiti is ours. He brings stability to the left of a again three.
A €25m signing for Barcelona in 2016, he received La Liga titles, performed within the PSG comeback and lifted the World Cup with France. Extra just lately, he helped Lecce to security.
The issue is apparent. Years of knee bother depart him getting ready to retirement, and this might collapse by Christmas. If he stays match, we glance intelligent. If not, we’re again in the marketplace.
RWB: Rick Karsdorp
Karsdorp takes the precise wing-back slot in our free agent XI, giving us an outlet who can defend, bomb ahead and ship a cross when required.
He left Roma in 2024 after a combined spell that included accidents, flashes of high quality and even a public fallout with Jose Mourinho.
The accidents are a continuing fear, however when match, Karsdorp gives stability and expertise in a key space. If nothing else, he’ll give us the occasional help earlier than breaking down once more.
CDM: Jairo Riedewald
Riedewald anchors our free agent XI, sitting in entrance of the again three and attempting to maintain issues regular. It’s very a lot the very best of a nasty bunch territory.
He broke by means of at Ajax as their youngest scoring debutant and later performed seven years with Crystal Palace. Extra just lately, he joined Royal Antwerp after his Premier League contract expired.
The fear is apparent. Good midfields will stroll by means of him, however with no different choices, we simply should hope he clogs house and makes a number of tackles.
CM: Josh Brownhill
Brownhill offers this XI its engine. He’ll run, press, sort out, and customarily make a nuisance of himself within the center, the type of participant each survival facet leans on.
He signed for Burnley in 2020, changing into captain and finally main them again to the Premier League in 2025 with 18 objectives from midfield.
At 29, he must be in his prime. Dependable, constant, and hard-working, Brownhill brings struggle and self-discipline.
Reportedly on the verge of a transfer to Saudi Arabia, Brownhill is free on the time of writing and will get into our XI because of this wonderful technicality.
CM: Christian Eriksen
Eriksen is the artistic spark on this XI, tasked with discovering our strikers earlier than they offer the ball away. His passing vary and set-pieces preserve him priceless.
He rebuilt his profession at Brentford after the cardiac arrest, then made near 100 appearances for Manchester United. Earlier silverware with Inter and a Champions League last.
The legs have slowed at 33, however he nonetheless created 2.6 possibilities per 90 final season. In a group constructed to undergo, he provides slightly class.
LWB: Sergio Reguilon
Reguilon fills the left wing-back slot, providing tempo and power down the flank. He can defend nicely sufficient to outlive and nonetheless get ahead to whip in a cross.
He joined Tottenham from Actual Madrid in 2020 for £27.5m and performed over 60 league video games. Since then, he has been on mortgage at Atletico Madrid, Man Utd and Brentford earlier than Spurs lastly launched him in 2025.
At 28, Reguilon ought to nonetheless be in his prime, however sport time has been scarce. If he will get match and finds rhythm, he could be a sensible pick-up.
ST: Emmanuel Dennis
Dennis provides tempo and unpredictability to this XI. He’ll run the channels, trouble defenders and ensure opponents by no means settle on the again.
His greatest spell got here at Watford in 2021–22, when he scored 10 Premier League objectives. Since then, he has bounced between Forest, Turkey, and the Championship.
Consistency is the concern, however he can nonetheless change a sport with one burst of pace or second of chaos. In a survival struggle, that is likely to be sufficient.
ST: Patrick Bamford
Bamford is the free agent XI goal man, main the road subsequent to Dennis. He’ll press and provides defenders a tough afternoon, offered his hamstrings don’t ping within the warm-up.
The excessive level of his profession got here in lockdown, when he scored 17 Premier League objectives and briefly morphed into prime Harry Kane. Since then, it has been accidents and inconsistency.
This can be a gamble, but it surely’s our fantasy world. On this model of actuality, Bamford by no means stops working, by no means limps off, and retains us within the division.
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