With another transfer window now over, this is the point in the year when supporters of clubs that still have obvious gaps in the squad begin looking closely at the free-agent market.

And there are still several high-profile names available for nothing. Most of them may be beyond their peak years, but there is little doubt they could still offer something to the right side.

Set up in a 4-4-2 shape, here is our XI of free agents who have Champions League experience.

It is not the most eye-catching choice to begin with in goal, but Neto earns the spot after making 11 appearances in the Champions League.

Those outings came across his spells with Juventus, Valencia, Barcelona and Arsenal.

The 37-year-old was last on the books of Botafogo in his native Brazil.

That gets the goalkeeper slot sorted, and now the bigger names start arriving. Carvajal brings genuine Champions League pedigree, having featured 96 times in the competition and lifted the trophy on six occasions.

All of that came during his 13-year stay at Real Madrid, which ended this summer.

Another defender released by Real Madrid this summer, Alaba has taken part in each of the last 15 Champions League campaigns.

The left-footed defender spent five seasons in Madrid after previously enjoying a lengthy spell with Bayern Munich. He won the Champions League twice with each club.

Our XI includes an all-left-footed central defensive pairing, with Leite lining up alongside Alaba.

He is not nearly as experienced in Champions League football, having made only 10 appearances compared to Alaba’s 125, but at 27 years old, the former Porto and Union Berlin player is regarded as one of the most valuable free agents currently available.

He may not remain unattached for long, with Lazio having arranged a medical for him.

Oleksandr Zinchenko could have been selected at left-back, but he is currently injured. In any case, Guerreiro has played more often in the Champions League.

All 63 of his appearances in the competition came during his years in Germany with Borussia Dortmund and Bayern Munich, the latter being the 32-year-old’s most recent club.

How the mighty have fallen.

Pogba has found himself back at the starting point after playing only six times for Monaco. He was named on the bench for a couple of their Champions League matches last season, but did not get onto the pitch.

Before that, of course, he was a regular in the UCL for Juventus and Manchester United. At one stage, he was the most expensive player in world football.

But his next club will not need to pay a transfer fee, after his Monaco contract was terminated.

We had considered putting Yves Bissouma into this side, because he appears to be one of the more attractive free-agent midfield options, but it is hard to believe he has played only three times in the Champions League.

That still technically qualifies as Champions League experience, of course, but there are several players available with far more involvement in the competition.

Take former Liverpool midfielder Wijnaldum, for instance. His three-year spell in Saudi Arabia with Al-Ettifaq has come to an end, and at the age of 35, the closing stages of his career are probably approaching.

He last appeared in the Champions League for PSG in the 2021-22 season and had previously played in two finals of the competition for Liverpool, winning it outright in 2019.

There were a few murmurs in recent days about a possible move to Chelsea, given their failure to replace Enzo Fernandez, but there does not appear to have been much substance to that talk.

Another player whose three-year contract in the Saudi Pro League has run its course, Mahrez was among the best-paid footballers in the world during his time with Al-Ahli.

After first reaching Champions League level with Leicester City 10 years ago, Mahrez went on to play in the competition in each of his five seasons with Manchester City.

City eventually won the tournament in his final year there. Is there time for one last dance?

The most valuable free agent of the lot, at least according to Transfermarkt’s algorithms, Sancho has endured a remarkable decline.

His move to Manchester United five years ago must rank among the most disastrous transfers in Premier League history.

Now 26, he is at a major turning point. Can he rediscover the promise he showed at Borussia Dortmund, where he made his first 21 Champions League appearances before moving to United?

Sancho later featured in the 2024 Champions League final while back on loan at Dortmund, only for his side to be beaten by Real Madrid.

Champions League royalty. Only three players in history have scored more goals in the competition than Benzema, who netted 12 for Lyon and then 78 for Real Madrid.

A member of five Champions League-winning squads, Benzema was once in the shadow of Cristiano Ronaldo at Madrid but eventually earned recognition as a legend in his own right.

He has spent the last three years in Saudi Arabia, but recently tore up his contract with Al Hilal.

At 38, retirement is not too far off for Benzema. But if he wants to keep going, we are sure he still has more goals left in him.

A return to Lyon has been suggested, though that may prove difficult.

Completing the line-up is another outstanding striker from an earlier era: former Inter, PSG and Galatasaray forward Icardi.

He produced his best football at Inter, but before moving to PSG he actually had only one season of Champions League action there.

Icardi, now 33, was recently released by Galatasaray after four seasons in Turkey.