The Cricketer has pointed out that from the beginning of June, players in the last year of their contract can talk to other counties.
They have mentioned:
"Among those nearing the end of their contracts are Gloucestershire and England Lions seamers Ajeet Singh Dale and Zaman Akhter, both of whom are understood by The Cricketer to have interested suitors beyond Bristol should they choose to move on, while Kent pair Tawanda Muyeye and Nathan Gilchrist are also likely to be in demand should they opt not to remain at Canterbury.
Kasey Aldridge, the Somerset allrounder and another who has represented England Lions, is currently on loan at Durham for the T20 Blast and is expected to have plenty of takers should his future lie beyond Taunton. It is also anticipated that Shoaib Bashir will move on from Somerset."

With our ageing bowling attack it would be remiss of the Bears not to be interested in some of those players.

The Daily Mail has published an update on out-of contract players. Ajeet Singh Dale and Tawenda Muyeye are in demand.
Muyeye in particular would be an excellent addition as a quality all format top order batsman.
I assume Miles will be released and we could use that salary for Singh Dale. Lancashire are apparently in the running.

Muyeye seems to get runs whenever I look at the Kent scorecard

I would have Singh Dale and Muyeye - think they would both strengthen us. And I think they're both possible even if Bashir comes in as I expect Miles, Briggs (we know), Rushworth and Sylvester all to be leaving, in addition to Moeen who's already gone.

Zaman Akhtar is signing for Essex while Ajeet Singh Dale is choosing between Yorkshire and Lancashire.

Gloucestershire's Tom Price is joining Sussex.
He almost doomed the Bears to relegation in 2022 when he took 8-27; but overall,he hasn't quite fulfilled that potential.

Rumours that Ben Foakes is leaving Surrey. He would be ideal to fill the gap left by Burgess. Smith is our long term prospect but it's unfair to expect him to continue learning his trade in the spotlight.

KingofSpain wrote:

Rumours that Ben Foakes is leaving Surrey. He would be ideal to fill the gap left by Burgess. Smith is our long term prospect but it's unfair to expect him to continue learning his trade in the spotlight.

Difficult to imagine anyone who would strengthen the squad more. An exceptionally talented glove man; strong county level batter; and available all year as England don't want him and he doesn't get franchise gigs.
Any county would want him so, if he is leaving Surrey, I expect he's already got something lined up.

Looking about, the only first division counties who may be in the market for a quality keeper/batsman are Warwickshire and Nottinghamshire. Usually when it a choice between the Bears and the Outlaws they end up at Trent Bridge because they pay more.

The latest edition of The Cricketer suggests that when Chris Rushworth's contract ends in September, he won't be offered another. It also suggests that OH-D "may be phased out." I hope that, if OH-D does go, he will be given the kind of send-off appropriate for one who has done so much for the Club - "phased out" doesn't seem right.

The writing is on the wall for the older seamers with new blood having been recruited. Nevertheless, OHD deserves to leave with honour. He's never been in the first rank of seam bowlers but he's carried our attack for a few years and there's no doubting his effort. I, too, hope that is just an unfortunate journalistic choice of words.

Three players on the move who apparently have contracts with other counties lined up:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/articles/cvgvp30r7p2o

GerryShedd wrote:

Three players on the move who apparently have contracts with other counties lined up:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/articles/cvgvp30r7p2o

Davey and Green are both joining Leicestershire and Aldridge is likely to end up at Durham. All have been on loans with those counties.

Andy Umeed is also leaving Somerset and currently playing for SACA. As others have opined before, there aren't too many former Bears who dramatically shine brighter elsewhere - Ethan Brookes being the current exception to that rule. His brother Henry, meanwhile, doesn't seem to have flourished since moving to Middlesex and I noticed that Will Rhodes didn't appear in the last couple of Durham matches having ironically done better in T20 than four day cricket since making the move. I haven't seen Ed Pollock's name too often this season either, so unless he's carrying an injury suspect his days with Worcs may be limited.

Solbear wrote:
. I haven't seen Ed Pollock's name too often this season either, so unless he's carrying an injury suspect his days with Worcs may be limited.

yeah I have mostly tried to follow Pollock's 'progress' since he left and he's been given plenty of chances at Worcs but it seems he never managed to develop his game to add to the raw potential he flashed with us at first. If anything Worcs were more patient with him than we were because it felt like the occasional times he came off were even more occasional with them.

The club are teasing an Australian signing. Webster for next year maybe?

Or the Rock star

Solbear wrote:

Andy Umeed is also leaving Somerset and currently playing for SACA. As others have opined before, there aren't too many former Bears who dramatically shine brighter elsewhere - Ethan Brookes being the current exception to that rule. His brother Henry, meanwhile, doesn't seem to have flourished since moving to Middlesex and I noticed that Will Rhodes didn't appear in the last couple of Durham matches having ironically done better in T20 than four day cricket since making the move. I haven't seen Ed Pollock's name too often this season either, so unless he's carrying an injury suspect his days with Worcs may be limited.

Have a look at yesterdays Durham v Sussex game and the whole scorecard.

Another 100 for Will Rhodes plus three wickets in a losing cause for Durham v Somerset.