AS ANYONE WHO has ever played Championship Manager knows, the secret to building a great team is as much about raiding the bargain basement as it is about splashing €20 million on the likes of Kim Källström or Freddy Adu.

The same is true in real life so, after the Premier League yesterday released its list of out-of-contract players, we couldn’t help but wade through the names to pick a starting XI destined to fight it out with Liverpool and West Brom for seventh place next year.

We’ve gone for a mixture of youth and experience but still couldn’t find a way to include the special teams talents of Ian Harte or Rory Delap. Additonally, we left out Kolo Toure as he’s practically a Liverpool player already.

Goalkeeper: Ross Turnbull – Age 28

Image: Andrew Matthews/PA Archive/Press Association Images

Right back: Danny Simpson – Age 26

Image: Steve Drew/EMPICS Sport

Centre half: Alex Pearce – Aged 24

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Centre half: Matthew Upson – Aged 34

Image: Lewis Stickley/EMPICS Sport

Left back: Maynor Figueroa – Aged 30

YouTube: MrProguitarist123

Right wing: Yossi Benayoun – Aged 33

Image: Adam Davy/EMPICS Sport

Centre midfield: Mahamadou Diarra – Aged 32

Image: Joe Giddens/EMPICS Sport

Centre midfield: Denílson – Aged 25

YouTube: AFCxSKiiLZx

Left midfield: Florent Malouda – Aged 32

Image: Nick Potts/PA Archive/Press Association Images

Striker: Roque Santa Cruz – Aged 31

Image: Fabio Well/Atlantico/Press Association Images

Striker: Franco Di Santo – Aged 24

YouTube: Adam Wallace

Well that’s us, what about you, who would you pick to boost your squad? Let us know in the comments below.

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