Want to know who was recruited by 'Big Six' for free?

The Premier League transfer market is not only about money. Some participants also often look for opportunities to get quality players without having to pay a transfer fee.

Usually, players labeled 'free' are imported at the end of the summer. This scheme was then facilitated by the 'Bosman Rules' which allowed players to negotiate with other teams with only six months left on their contract.

If observant, the club can get quality players with this free transfer scheme. As what Juventus did in 2011 when they brought in Andrea Pirlo from AC Milan.

That's what happened in Serie A. What about the Premier League? Especially the club with the 'Big Six' which often deals with big value transfers? It turns out, in history, they have also done free transactions to get quality players.

Manchester United, Chelsea, and Manchester City will not be ashamed if there is an opportunity to recruit players for free. Want to know who was recruited by 'Big Six' for free?

Sol Campbell is a solid Arsenal defense that has won the Premier League without defeat. The British-born man worked at Highbury from 2001 to 2006. He had returned in 2010.

Arsenal are lucky enough to get Sol Campbell for free. The reason, Campbell has been regarded as an important player at another London club, Tottenham. Campbell left and made Spurs fans rampage uncontrollably.

The move is quite interesting. Campbell once said that he was reluctant to strengthen Arsenal. Journalists and the media did not divulge the matter of the closeness of Arsenal and Campbell. Clearly, Campbell's arrival surprised people.

Ballack let his contract with Bayern Munich just end. Because in 2006, he had agreed to move to Stamford Bridge.

Chelsea was lucky enough to get the services of the German man. Because, Ballack has been monitored by several giant clubs including rivals Chelsea, Manchester United. In the end, he chose to be 'the Blues'.

Ballack managed to present all the domestic trophies to Chelsea. Starting from the Premier League, FA Cup, Carabao Cup, to the Community Shield. Unfortunately, he was only able to bring Chelsea to become runner-up in the 2007/08 Champions League.

James Milner shows off the 2018-19 Champions League trophy. © AP Photo

Almost all the players brought in by Brendan Rodgers have been evicted by Jurgen Klopp. But there is one name, which is not so flashy, can survive in the Liverpool championship squad. He is James Milner.

In 2015, Milner's contract with Manchester City ended and Liverpool got his signature. He is maintained until now even though he has arrived at the number of three heads.

Milner was involved in two Champions League final matches followed by Liverpool. He also helped in the final season last season which was won by the Reds despite playing as a substitute.

Since the arrival of Sheikh Mansour in 2008, Manchester City has often been involved in buying big-value players. But there is one player that they brought for free in 2014, namely Bacary Sagna.

Sagna spent most of his career in England with Arsenal. However, he decided to move to Etihad after his contract ended in 2014. Sagna lasted for three seasons.

2015/16 was his best season with Manchester City, where he was played 45 times in all competitions. At that time, the Citizens successfully ended the season with the Carabao Cup trophy in his grasp.

Ibrahimovic arrived at Old Trafford at the age of three. Manchester United won the services of the Swedish blooded player when his contract with French giants PSG was completed in 2016.

Ibrahimovic's first season was a success. His age is not a barrier, as evidenced by the notch 28 goals from 46 appearances in all competitions. Ibrahimovic even managed to help MU win the Carabao Cup and Europa League trophy in the same season.

Unfortunately, injuries make the chance to play even thinner. Romelu Lukaku's arrival also made him more often marginalized. In the end, Ibrahimovic chose to move to the MLS club, LA Galaxy.

Brad Friedel came without the burden of excessive expectations from Tottenham fans. It's 40 years old and was released free of charge by West Ham, what else can be expected besides being a coating for Carlo Cudicini and Heurelho Gomes?

Apparently, the man born in the United States still has a lot of things that can be given to Spurs. He actually became the main goalkeeper and in his inaugural season in 2011/12, Friedel managed to record a total of 38 appearances in the Premier League.

In the end, Tottenham should not depend on him any longer. Hugo Lloris came and evicted Cudicini and Gomes. But Friedel still survived until his retirement in 2015.

(Football365)