Monday 2 January 2017 15:36, UK
The January transfer window is now open, but these 11 players are free to sign if clubs' targets don't materialise.
Whether looking to recruit for that title push or for survival, bosses up and down the country will have already drafted a shortlist of players they are targeting for the short window in the new year.
But if they don't come off, there are a number of free agents waiting in the wings to be snapped up...
The former England, Liverpool and Wigan stopper joined Bury in the summer on a one-year deal, but left the club for personal reasons.
He insisted he had not retired from football completely and could return either as a player or coach, and has recently been on Sky Sports News HQ as a pundit.
The Republic of Ireland full-back is yet to find a club after being released in June by West Ham, where he made 105 appearances over five seasons.
He was blighted by injuries throughout his time at Upton Park, but at 30 years of age, if he can keep himself fit, O'Brien could still be a useful squad player across the Premier League and Sky Bet Championship.
The former Man City and England centre-half left relegated Aston Villa under a cloud in the summer, seeking reprieve in Greece with AEK Athens.
But after picking up an injury in his home that would rule him out for months, Lescott left the club and is back in England undergoing rehabilitation as a free agent.
Most recently plying his trade with Kilmarnock, the former West Ham man and Real Madrid loanee is now a free agent after being released by the Scottish club.
The 33-year-old can play in defence or midfield, and has a glittering international career, scoring in his one and only appearance for France.
Tiendalli, who had a loan spell at Middlesbrough in 2015, is a free agent after struggling with injury for the past two seasons.
He flew out to Marbella for a trial with Birmingham City in the summer, but wasn't signed up. He picked up two Dutch caps in 2013, but hasn't had a full season of football since 2011/12.
The Ghanaian midfielder is maintaining his fitness at Chelsea's Cobham training ground, but is still looking for a club after leaving Panathinaikos.
Essien, who Jose Mourinho once described as being able to play in "every position but goalkeeper and striker", spent nine years at the Blues, and Irish club Limerick rejected bizarre speculation that he was planning to buy the club earlier this month.
The former West Ham and Villa man was most recently playing for Montreal Impact in MLS, but agreed to leave the club in January this year following a three-year stint in the US.
He was then linked with moves to both Celtic and Rangers in September, but is yet to find a club, and at 32, has plenty left in the tank.
The heavily-tattooed Portuguese midfielder was linked with a move to Bournemouth in the summer, but is still without a club, most recently being touted as a replacement for Barton at Rangers.
It seems he is fighting fit, having played over 20 games each season for the past 11, and gained cult status at Liverpool, Chelsea and Fenerbahce.
The Frenchman saw out a bumper five-year contract at Aston Villa until the summer, and was training with Sunderland after their Premier League survival.
But new manager David Moyes decided against giving him a contract, and N'Zogbia's desire to then play in Ligue 1 hit a snag as team doctors at Nantes noticed that the winger has a serious heart condition. He is yet to retire, however.
The Togolese striker divides opinion up and down the country, and his nine-appearance stint at Crystal Palace last season did little to convince the doubters.
Still without a club, he doesn't seem too sad to be away from the training ground at present, posting a photo of himself sat atop his customised Rolls Royce Phantom earlier this month. Will a British club take another expensive punt on the 32-year-old in the next month?
Carlton Cole was back training with West Ham in November after leaving US third-tier side Sacramento Republic, and said he would be keeping fit with the team until January.
After that, the striker's future is anyone's guess, but at 33, the former England striker has plenty to give.
