Players have been able to talk to other clubs from when they have only 6 months left on their present contract. They can sign for another club if they have 6 months or less left. It is a pre contract which is made permanent once their last contract is up. It does work a bit different though for younger players. If they are offered a worse contract by their present club they are free to leave for nothing. But if they are offered a better contract.....even £1 a week.......they can refuse the contract but it means a fee will be payable.
Just about every player has an agent these days. The agents will have been trying to sort them out a new contract wherever as they normally get a cut of the players wage. So there is a good chance that our club/TM have already had talks on players coming in.