Several top RPL players have officially received the status of free agents. The list includes players whose contracts expired on June 30 (according to Transfermarkt). Today, July 1, they are among the unemployed. Let’s say right away: Georgy Dzhikia is not on the list, as his contract with Spartak expired on May 31.
Anton Miranchuk
Anton Miranchuk
Photo: Dmitry Golubovich, “Championship”
Lokomotiv is continuing negotiations with Miranchuk, but so far they have not led to anything. The player’s agent, Vadim Shpinev, has described the club’s offer for a new contract as completely frivolous. The conditions do not suit either the player or his representative. According to RB Sport, the 28-year-old Miranchuk is considering only two options: to renew his contract with the railway company or to go abroad. Anton played 217 matches for Lokomotiv and scored 51 goals, and it is possible that these figures will remain unchanged for several years (if the Russian leaves for another club). “Until June 30, Anton Miranchuk is a Lokomotiv player. I can definitely say that. And then there will be more,” Shpinev laconically comments.
Who does Lokomotiv plan to strengthen its squad with?
Lokomotiv is losing its leaders. Who will replace them?
Rifat Zhemaletdinov
Rifat Zhemaletdinov
Photo: Dmitry Golubovich, “Championship”
Let’s make a reservation right away: Zhemaletdinov, apparently, will very soon leave the list of unemployed footballers. Now the 27-year-old footballer is in a training camp with CSKA, where he went after leaving Lokomotiv. Rifat participated in the friendly match against Shinnik (2:1): the coaching staff let him enter the field for half an hour. According to our data, Zhemaletdinov has already passed a medical examination at CSKA. However, the parties are still negotiating, so we can say that for now Rifat is on trial. If an agreement is reached, it will be a logical step for the footballer. There was a time when Zhemaletdinov famously played for Lokomotiv under the leadership of Marko Nikolic, the current head coach of CSKA.
Mohamed Konate
Mohamed Konate (right)
Photo: Alexander Safonov, “Championship”
The African spent the past five years in Russia and played for three clubs (Tambov, Khimki, Akhmat). He joined the Caucasian club in the summer of 2021 and has since made 90 appearances (34 goals, three assists). Konate’s departure became known at the end of May; it was then that Akhmat announced their departure due to the expiration of the contract. “If Akhmat had as much money as Zenit, they would become champions and Konate would never leave there. Now we want to find a good club both in terms of level and salary,” said the player’s agent Dmitry Selyuk. According to him, Konate has offers from Turkey, Greece, and mid-level Spanish and Italian teams.
Don’t forget to read the interview with the Akhmat coach:
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Artem Timofeev
Artem Timofeev
Photo: Alexander Safonov, “Championship”
In 2020, Akhmat hired Timofeev from Spartak, and a year later the Grozny club bought the player for 800 thousand euros. The midfielder played 118 matches for the Chechen team and is now likely to be promoted. According to our data, Timofeev can continue his career at Lokomotiv. The Moscow club will sign a contract with the player if Dmitry Barinov leaves for Europe. “Akhmat”, in turn, offered Timofeev a new contract – this was announced by the club’s sporting director Ruslan Gazzaev. We will soon find out where Artyom will continue his career.
Artyom Dzyuba
Artyom Dzyuba
Photo: Dmitry Golubovich, “Championship”
One of the main intrigues of the summer transfer market: where will Dzyuba continue his career? On July 1, Artyom officially became one of the unemployed footballers. He previously left Lokomotiv, where he has been playing since the beginning of 2023. Last season was not the best for the striker: 26 matches in all competitions, four goals and four assists. In mid-June, Artyom traveled to China, where he met with Shanghai Shenhua coach Leonid Slutsky. They went to an amusement park, so the striker had a good time. Representatives of several RPL clubs have already stated that they are not negotiating with Dzyuba. True, these are teams that do not aspire to high places (Paris NN, Khimki, Dynamo Makhachkala). So where will Artyom go?
Lazar Randjelovic
Lazar Randjelovic (right)
Photo: RIA Novosti
The Serbian footballer returned to Russia in September 2023: Rubin bought him from Olympiacos for 1 million euros. Randjelovic stayed in Kazan for only one season (23 games, one goal). A few days ago it became known that Randjelovic leaves Rubin as a free agent: his contract expired on June 30. I wonder where the 26-year-old attacking footballer will end up now. He already played in Russia for Ural and Rubin. Maybe some of the other RPL clubs will pay attention to Randjelovic.
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Daniil Khudyakov
Daniil Khudyakov
Photo: Dmitry Golubovich, “Championship”
Another former Lokomotiv player ended up on this list. The 20-year-old goalkeeper did not play a single match last season. Ilya Lantratov’s position as Lokomotiv’s main goalkeeper looks pretty solid. And then the red-greens also agreed with Anton Mitryushkin, who, apparently, will be Lantratov’s replacement. In this situation, it would be quite difficult for Khudyakov to get at least some kind of game practice. According to the championship, Daniil is close to moving to Sturm. Khudyakov will sign a four-year contract after resolving the issue of moving to Austria. In the meantime, he is listed as unemployed.
