Out-of-contract XI: Man City could lose two treble winners and Liverpool face decisions in defence

 Several high-profile stars will be free to talk to clubs abroad when January begins as they enter the final six months of their contracts.

This comes following the Bosman ruling passed in 1995, which allows players aged 24 or over to leave their clubs without a transfer fee at the end of their contracts.

A number of players can follow that path with Crystal Palace's Marc Guehi and Liverpool's Ibrahima Konate among those to have been the subject of speculation in the past.

There will be decisions to make for clubs as well, as they may look to use January as a final chance to cash in on those players or offer new deals to resolve their situations.

In many cases though, these situations look set to drag on until their deals expire in the summer. 

Here Daily Mail Sport takes a look at a strong XI of players who are currently set to be out of contract this summer.

Goalkeeper: Mike Maignan

The 30-year-old is heading into a crucial summer as France's first choice goalkeeper going into the World Cup and having a decision to make over his future.

Reports in recent days suggested AC Milan have made a renewed contract offer to Maignan in a bid to convince their club captain to stay.

The Frenchman has been with the club since 2021 and was a key part of their title winning side in his first season.

AC Milan remain firmly in the Serie A title hunt this season and could be in the position to offer Champions League football.

Given that he turns 31 in July, Maignan may view the summer as a final chance to move to another elite club in Europe and add to the league titles he has won in France with Lille and Italy with AC Milan.

Maignan was the subject of an approach from Chelsea last summer, but the Blues declined to pay AC Milan's £20m asking price. Could Chelsea be tempted to return for Maignan this summer if he is available on a free?

Right back: John Stones

A limited pool of right back options has led to us deploying Stones in the position, as Pep Guardiola has done at times in the past.

The six-time Premier League champion has been a key part of Guardiola's side for much of the last decade, but his time at Man City could be coming to an end.

Stones has started just four Premier League matches so far this season, but only one since the opening three weeks of the campaign.

He has started the same number in the Champions League and demonstrated why he is likely to be a major part of Thomas Tuchel's World Cup squad come the summer - if fit.

Stones has been out injured since the start of December and admitted earlier this year his fitness issues had led to him considering retirement last season.

Will Man City look to keep the 31-year-old around or could Stones move on in the summer? 

Centre Back: Ibrahima Konate

Konate's partnership with Virgil van Dijk was a crucial part of Liverpool's title winning team last season, leading to the Frenchman being heavily linked to Real Madrid.

The Spanish giants were reported to have been considering an attempt to lure another Liverpool defender to the Spanish capital, after signing Trent Alexander-Arnold in the summer.

Real Madrid's interest is understood to have cooled in recent weeks, with the club understood to be happy with Dean Huijsen and Eder Militao as their defensive duo.

Konate's patch form for Liverpool this season may have been a contributing factor in Real Madrid's decision to move on.

Daily Mail Sport's Liverpool Confidential reported earlier this month that the Reds remain committed to offering Konate a new deal, but other clubs remain in active talks with his camp. 

Centre Back: Marc Guehi

While Konate could be on his way out of Liverpool, could Guehi be moving to Anfield?

The Crystal Palace and England defender saw a £35m transfer to the Premier League champions collapse on deadline day in the summer.

Guehi has continued to perform well for Palace this season, with manager Oliver Glasner praising how his captain handled missing out on a move to Liverpool at the last moment.

Links to the Reds have persisted, although Crystal Palace are expected to try to resist offers in January.

Liverpool could face more competition for Guehi in the summer when he is available on a free. 

The likes of Bayern Munich and Real Madrid could steal a march given they are able to begin speaking to Guehi from January 1.