Bosman Boys

Lee Bowyer

Nationality: English
Place of Birth: London, England 
Date of Birth: 3 January 1977 
Weight: 10 04 
Height: 5' 9''
Club: West Ham United
Position: Midfielder 

Pedigree: Started at Charlton and became one of England's most highly-rated midfield players after he went to Leeds United, helping the team reach the Uefa Cup and Champions League semi-finals. However, a high-profile court case seemed to lead to problems for Lee at the club; a proposed move to Liverpool fell through and with just six months left on his contract he moved to boyhood heroes West Ham. However, an ankle injury has prevented him playing in the club's fixtures to avoid relegation.

Pros and cons: His aggression and energy in the middle park won him his first England cap at the start of the season, that can lead sometimes to over-aggression and he received a six-match ban from Uefa earlier this season for a stamp on Gerardo.

Options: West Ham won't be able to afford to keep him if they go down; a year ago Lee was one of the hottest properties around - a long European ban reduces his attractiveness to top Continental clubs but easily good enough to stay in the Premiership, maybe at a London club like Spurs.

They say: "Lee turned down a number of lucrative offers to join West Ham" Agent David Giess.

Nigel Winterburn

Nationality: English
Place of Birth: Coventry, England 
Date of Birth: 11 December 1963 
Weight: 11 04
Height: 5' 8''
Club: West Ham United
Position: Defender 

Pedigree: Part of the most-famous defensive unit of all-time, the legendary Arsenal back-five that won championships under George Graham and Arsene Wenger. Nigel is the last of the outfield players - Dixon, Bould, Adams, Winterburn - to be playing although he has had to undergo a wrist operation with West Ham fighting for their Premiership lives. Also won two England caps, George Graham thinks Nigel was one of his best-ever signings at £350,000 from Wimbledon.

Pros and cons: Still has a massive enthusiasm for the game and is regarded as the model professional, his body won't allow him to play two games a week every week!

Options: He is seriously thinking about retiring although his injury might tempt him into one more season. Maybe a First Division club with ambitions like Reading would be an ideal solution.

He says: I'm not sure about what I will do. It's possible a First Division club might tempt me but I wouldn't want to drop down any lower.

Steffan Freund 

Nationality: German
Place of Birth: Brandenburg, Germany 
Date of Birth: 19 January 1970 
Weight: 12 08 
Height: 5' 11'' 
Club: Tottenham Hotspur 
Position: Midfielder

Pedigree: A member of Germany's winning squad at Euro 96 although he missed the final through injury. George Graham signed him for Spurs in 1998 from Borussia Dortmund to stiffen up the engine room. Freund's no-nonsense style and ability to do the simple things well earned him the affectionate chant from Spurs fans of "Steffen Freund... football genius".

Pros and cons: Holding midfield players are all the rage these days and nobody is more biting in the tackle than Steffen. His goalscoring ability leaves a little to be desired - 99 games, no goals.

Options: Was told by Glenn Hoddle in January that his contract wouldn't be renewed, Steffen is odds-on to return to Germany to finish his career though although he personally wouldn't mind another crack at the Premiership. Maybe that's something newly-promoted clubs Leicester and Portsmouth might be interested in.

He says: "It was the manager's decision to say 'we won't renew'. I was very disappointed."