Football Manager 2022 top bargains: All the best cheap signings

Martin Macdonald
Martin Macdonald
  • Updated: 31 Dec 2021 16:21 GMT
  • 5 min read
Isco: Everton target’s recent statistics
© ProShots

Football Manager 2022 has been released since November, with users all around the globe eager to start building new squads in the pursuit of glory.

Article continues under the video

Success awaits managers who master their tactics, man management, and of course recruitment.

One of the best aspects of FM 2022 is trying to identify and sign the ‘next big thing’ – a wonderkid who can be moulded into the player to take your team to trophies.

Or, you can target more established players who will give a greater likelihood of immediate success.

The big clubs will naturally spend hundreds of millions to put together their Dream Team, but what if you can't afford that?

Here are some bargain signings ranging from the very cheap to the reasonable.

Football Manager 2022 best bargain goalkeepers

FM Goalkeepers

PlayerClubLikely Transfer Fee
Esteban AndradaMonterrey£8m
Joel RoblesBetis£6m
Loris KariusLiverpool£3.1m
Sergio RicoPSG£2.9m
Silviu LungKayserispor£190k

Two goalkeepers at very high profile clubs in Liverpool and Paris Saint-Germain are available for small fees.

Loris Karius may be best known for his calamitous display in the 2018 Champions League final, but there is a decent goalkeeper in there so maybe you can be the manager to get him back to form.

Sergio Rico, meanwhile, is a very competent goalkeeper but happens to find himself behind Keylor Navas and Gianluigi Donnarumma in the pecking order at the Ligue 1 giants, so unlucky him.

Esteban Andrada of Monterrey is an option if you want to go for someone less known.

Football Manager 2022 best bargain defenders

FM Defenders

PlayerClubLikely Transfer Fee
Samuel Umtiti (CB)Barcelona£9.4m
Zeki Celik (RB)Lille£8m
Alberto Moreno (LB)Villarreal£7m
Alfonso Espino (LB)Cadiz£6.8m
Sead Kolasinac (LB)Arsenal£5.2m
Bernardo (RB)Salzburg£3.4m
Rick van Drongelen (LB)Union Berlin£3.4m
Willyan Rocha (CB)Portimonense£1.5m
Dino Peric (CB)Dinamo£1.2m
Marcelo (LB)Real Madrid£350k

Samuel Umtiti has been frozen out of the picture at Barcelona, and even though Ronald Koeman has left which may lead to him returning to the fold, at the start of play he is available for less than £10m.

Zeki Celik is one of the most competent right-backs in the game and has been for a few years. He can be purchased from Lille for £8m.

Towards the cheaper end of the scale, Willyan Rocha of Portimonense is an interesting acquisition at centre-back, while you can sign veteran Real Madrid star Marcelo for £350k, though he will likely command big wages.

Football Manager 2022 best bargain midfielders

FM midfielders

PlayerClubLikely Transfer Fee
IscoReal Madrid£10m
Erik PulgarFiorentina£10m
Geoffrey KondogbiaAtletico£9.8m
Angelo StillerHoffenheim£9m
Haris HajradinovicKasimpasa£8m
Ruben Loftus-CheekChelsea£6m
Jerdy SchoutenBologna£6m
Marco BenassiFiorentina£2.1m
Dani CeballosReal Madrid£1.1m
Blaise MatuidiInter Miami£250k

Real Madrid attempt to conduct a firesale at the start of the game as they have a number of high-profile players for sale.

Isco was previously the golden boy of the club, but you can sign him now for just £10m, while Dani Ceballos is available for only £1m at the start of play.

Jerdy Schouten, Erik Pulgar and Marco Benassi represent good options from Serie A.

Angelo Stiller is a terrific young wonderkid, previously at Bayern and now at Hoffenheim, while Blaise Matuidi is easily bought if you want a midfield enforcer.

Football Manager 2022 best bargain forwards

FM Attackers

PlayerClubLikely Transfer Fee
Anthony MartialMan Utd£28m
Joao PedroCagliari£14m
Mariano DiazReal Madrid£14m
Jeremie BogaSassuolo£12m
MunirSevilla£5.2m
JoelintonNewcastle£4.9m
Carlos VelaLA FC£1.9m
Matias ArezoRiver£1.5m
Dani RabaVillarreal£800k
Vincent AboubakarAl-Nassr£475k

While £28 million is a lot of money to be considered a bargain, Man Utd are keen to let Anthony Martial go at the start of the game.

All you need to do is look at the teams interested in signing him to highlight that he is still excellent in-game, as he routinely goes to Chelsea at the start of each save.

Joao Pedro of Cagliari has made a flying start to the season at Cagliari and could be a very useful acquisition. The Brazilian has been one of the most underrated attackers for years in real life and more than capable of playing at a better level.

Towards the other end of the scale, Dani Raba is a superb buy at £800k if you are a medium to smaller sized club, while Vincent Aboubakar is also cheap, though would ask for a high salary.

To view the bargain buys from Football Manager 2021, click here.

Never miss the next big transfer!

Get the latest transfer insights and analyses directly in your mailbox.