Big names head released list

Manchester City midfielder Patrick Vieira, Manchester United's Owen Hargreaves, West Ham defender Matthew Upson and Tottenham's Jonathan Woodgate are some of the bigger names to be released by their clubs this summer.

The Premier League has published its lists of retained players and those available on a free transfer this summer and it is no surprise to see the three relegated clubs - Birmingham, West Ham and Blackpool - offloading 32 players between them.

Age has finally caught up with Vieira, who is 35 next week, and he is joined on the exit list at Eastlands by former academy graduates Shaleum Logan and Javan Vidal.

Hargreaves' departure from United was fully expected as injury restricted him to just 11 minutes' football in the last two seasons. Woodgate suffered similar problems, making just four appearances in two years.

Birmingham have let a dozen players go, with the likes of Lee Bowyer, Sebastian Larsson, James McFadden, Kevin Phillips and Maik Taylor on their list of free transfers.

West Ham's England international Upson, Wales centre-back Danny Gabbidon, defender Lars Jacobsen and Jonathan Spector have all been put on the open market, while Blackpool midfielder David Vaughan's rejection of a new contract means he joins 11 others leaving Bloomfield Road.

Aston Villa have released John Carew, Robert Pires and Nigel Reo-Coker, while Blackburn have done similar with Jason Brown and Benjani Mwaruwari. Bolton had already announced Johan Elmander, Ricardo Gardner and Jlloyd Samuel would be leaving.

Everton's third-choice goalkeeper Iain Turner has been released while Fulham have let go of Zoltan Gera, Diomansy Kamara and John Pantsil and Sol Campbell has left Newcastle.

Stoke have released Eidur Gudjohnsen and Ibrahima Sonko, with veteran Dutchman Bolo Zenden leaving Sunderland and Abdoulaye Meite West Brom.

Wolves midfielder Dave Jones, veteran defender Jody Craddock and goalkeeper Marcus Hahnemann are all departing Molineux, while Wigan have released Steven Caldwell, Daniel de Ridder, Jason Koumas and veteran goalkeeper Mike Pollitt.