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Malouda among Premier League free transfers

Florent Malouda last played for Chelsea in the 2012 Champions League final © Getty Images

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Florent Malouda, William Gallas, Roque Santa Cruz and Mark Schwarzer are among the biggest names to have been released by their clubs on a free transfer this summer.

The Premier League free transfer list, consisting of the players that each top-flight side have decided to dispense with, was unveiled on Friday.

Malouda had not played for Chelsea since their 2012 Champions League final win over Bayern Munich, having been frozen out of the first team since then.

The former France international, who was forced to train with the Blues' Under-21s, is reportedly set for a return to former club Lyon, who sold him to Chelsea for £13 million in 2007.

Gallas has been released by Tottenham after three seasons at White Hart Lane. David Bentley, who spent last term on loan at Russian outfit FK Rostov and former side Blackburn Rovers, is also set to depart the North London club.

Santa Cruz, who was loaned out to Malaga last season, where he played under Manuel Pellegrini, will not have a chance to reunite with the Chilean, who is reportedly set to take over at Manchester City.

Schwarzer, who has been linked with a move to Arsenal in the past, rejected a new deal at Fulham, and so will move on.

The Gunners announced earlier this week that Andrei Arshavin, Denilson and Sebastien Squillaci will all be leaving the Emirates Stadium this summer, which was confirmed on the Premier League list.

Chelsea, meanwhile, have decided to dispense with the services of midfielder Yossi Benayoun and defender Paulo Ferreira.

The retiring Michael Owen, as well as Rory Delap, Jermaine Pennant, Matthew Upson and Dean Whitehead, have all been released by Stoke.

Relegated Wigan, Queens Park Rangers and Reading all announced that a number of players are to be released as they prepare for life in the Championship next term.

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