Bosman Boys

Dennis Bergkamp 

Nationality: Dutch
Place of Birth: Amsterdam, Holland 
Date of Birth: 18 May 1969 
Weight: 12 05 
Height: 6' 0'' 
Club: Arsenal
Position: Forward

Pedigree: Ranks alongside Cantona, Schmeichel and Zola as the greatest import to grace the Premiership. Dennis has become synonymous with the new Arsenal after being signed by Bruce Rioch from Inter Milan for £7.5million in 1995.

His vision, flair and great goals made him the key man in Arsene Wenger's first Double side of 1998 with the Dutchman voted Footballer of the Year despite missing out on the end of the season through injury. His World Cup goal for Holland against Argentina in 1998 was hailed as an all-time classic, his strike against Newcastle was in contention to the best scored in the Premiership over the last decade. Won a second double with the Gunners last season.

Pros and cons: One of the most naturally-gifted players ever seen in the English game. Perfect technique and can score fantastic goals, his fear of flying has prevented him taking a full role in the ever-increasingly important European competition and maybe it's no coincidence that Arsenal have struggled in the Champions League without him.

Options: Arsenal will only keep him at a fraction of his current £35,000-a-week deal. More likely is a return to his native Holland before hanging up his boots.

He says: "I will listen to my body and see what it says."

Colin Cooper 

Nationality: English
Place of Birth: Sedgefield, England 
Date of Birth: 28 February 1967 
Weight: 11 11 
Height: 5' 11'' 
Club: Middlesbrough
Position: Defender

Pedigree: Played for Millwall and Nottingham Forest before moving to Teesside. He has now played more than 300 games for Boro, experiencing all the highs and lows under Bryan Robson - two cup finals, relegation and promotion - before becoming the senior member of Steve McClaren's new side.

Pros and cons: Wealth of experience and earned a lot of respect for the way he dealt with the tragic death of his two-year-old son last year. At 36, one would have to question his pace against some of the game's quickest strikers.

Options: Boro may still see him as cover for Gareth Southgate and Ugo Ehiougu, or even Stuart Parnaby at right-back; his experience might be invaluable for north-east neighbours Hartlepool as they compete in Division Two next season following promotion.

They say: "We have opened contract talks with Colin, whose current agreement runs out at the end of the season. He has proved a valuable deputy this season." Middlesbrough FC

Steve Davis 

Nationality: English
Place of Birth: Hexham, England 
Date of Birth: 30 October 1968 
Weight: 14 07 
Height: 6' 2'' 
Club: Burnley
Position: Defender

Pedigree: One of 13 players being let go by cash-strapped Burnley boss Stan Ternent and probably the most popular, having played 382 games for the Claret and Blues. Davis skippered the team's Second Division promotion-winning side and this season helped them beat Spurs and Fulham in two great cup runs, eventually going out to Watford in the FA Cup quarter-finals. He was Burnley record signing at £750,000 when he rejoined the club from Luton in 1998.

Pros and cons: Old-style defender, very dogged, determined and read the game very well. Excellent in the air and a good leader, the pace of First Division football may get to him.

Options: Burnley's Lancashire neighbours Oldham and Bury may go up through the play-offs and be looking for a steadying hand as they attempt a higher grade of football.

They say: "Steve has been a credit to himself and the club" Burnley assistant-manager Sam Ellis

by Joe Bernstein
Statistics by James Wright

Previous Bosman Boys

29/04/2003:  Patrik Berger, Steven Caldwell, Jamie Cureton
30/04/2003:  Paolo di Canio, Bernard Diomede, Marco Gabbiadini
01/04/2003:  Nigel Jemson, Ian Taylor, Gifton Noel-Williams
02/04/2003:  Teddy Sheringham, Allan Nielsen, Adrian Littlejohn
07/05/2003:  Lee Bowyer, Nigel Winterburn, Steffan Freund