The best bargains to sign in Football Manager 2023
By Tom Gott
We can't all have the luxury of splashing out £50m or £60m on a backup right-back to bolster our squads on Football Manager 2023.
Many teams are strapped for cash these days and need to be smart about their signings, but there are plenty of bargains to be found on FM23 with a little digging.
Here's a look at the best bargain signings for every position.
Table Of Contents
- The best teams to start a save with on Football Manager 2023
- The best free agents to sign on Football Manager 2023
- The best wonderkids to sign on Football Manager 2023
- The cheapest wonderkids to sign on Football Manager 2023
Goalkeeper
Small Budget - Alexander Nubel
Any seasoned FM player will be well aware of Nubel by this point. 'Baby Manuel Neuer' is out on loan with Monaco but Bayern Munich are prepared to sell him immediately for as little as £3.1m.
He's 25 years old with excellent reflexes, and he'd be an excellent signing for a team on a budget.
Bigger budget - Ugurcan Cakir
£6.75m is an absolute steal for Cakir.
The Trabzonspor stopper is one of very few elite goalkeepers who represents a smart investment because of the fact he is just 26 years old and capable of leading your side for the next decade.
Right-back
Small budget - Dani Alves
Alves may be 39 but he's still good enough for one or two more years at the highest level.
The former Barcelona, PSG and Juventus man is available for just £775,000.
Bigger budget - Danilo
Danilo is one of the top right-backs on the game but his price tag of £7.5m would suggest otherwise.
To add to his appeal, Danilo is comfortable anywhere across the back line and would make a valuable squad addition as a result.
Centre-back
Small budget - Doria
Former Marseille man Doria is the best centre-back you'll find without breaking the bank.
Now playing with Santos Laguna, his 15 heading and 14 tackling should be worth far more than the £1.4m it'll take to sign him.
If your budget is even smaller than that, Cruz Azul's Juan Escobar will cost you just £60,000.
Bigger budget - Nicolas Otamendi
With a current ability of 158, Otamendi is one of the best centre-backs on the game, but his age means he is available for as little as £3.5m.
The 34-year-old has 18 marking and 16 tackling and so can slot into any defence on the planet with real ease.
Left-back
Small budget - Adria Pedrosa
Espanyol's Adria Pedrosa will set you back just £3.1m initially and he'll justify that very quickly.
He comes with the potential to grow into a top left-back, meaning you've either found your man for the future or you've made a quick profit.
Bigger budget - Javi Galan
In a world in which elite left-backs are hard to find without mortaging your future away, Galan is an absolute steal.
Valued at just £11.5m, you won't find another player who offers anywhere remotely close to his sort of value.
Defensive midfielder
Small budget - Souza
Valued at £2.1m, Souza is good enough to start for most mid-table top-flight sides.
He may be 33 but this is a position in which age doesn't really matter, so don't hesitate to pull the trigger.
Bigger budget - Renato Tapia
You won't find many defensive midfielders better than Tapia available for a bargain £6m.
The 26-year-old has 15 tackling and 14 passing so there are plenty of different ways to fit him into your system.
Central midfielder
Small budget - Alvaro Fidalgo
£400,000.
Fidalgo is one of the biggest bargains on the entire game and, regardless of who you're managing, you should sign him.
Bigger budget - Mateus Uribe
Uribe will set you back about £10m but you'll find nobody else close to his current ability of 150 for that sort of fee.
The Porto man brings 16 tackling and 14 passing, and he looks ideal for a ball winning midfielder.
Attacking midfielder
Small budget - Juan Fernando Quintero
At £2.3m, Quintero is a real bargain. Just look at those stats.
The River creator has some outrageous stats in nearly every area you'd look for in this position, and you won't have to break the bank to get him.
Bigger budget - Thomas Lemar
Lemar begins the game valued at £10m but quickly hits the transfer market as Atletico look to slash their wage budget.
If you play your cards right, Lemar will end up worth closer to £4m, which is outrageous for a player of his quality.
Right winger
Small budget - Jovane Cabral
What Cabral brings for £2.2m is some nice dribbling stats and some intriguing potential.
You've got a dangerous, top-flight winger on your hands if you play your cards right.
Bigger budget - Florian Thauvin
With all due respect to the Mexican league, Thauvin is more than good enough to be playing in a bigger division.
For £9.25m, you can enjoy his 16 dribbling and 15 passing.
Striker
Small budget - Luis Suarez
Yes, the Luis Suarez is valued at just £550,000 and earns as little as £7,000 per week.
The Nacional man is approaching the end of his career but still has some unreal stats and the capability to score goals in a top division.
Bigger budget - Maximilano Gomez
If you can't stretch to Paulo Dybala's £17.25m release clause, settling for Gomez is a nice alternative.
At £8.75m, he's a starting striker for most sides across Europe.
Left winger
Small budget - Derlis Gonzalez
If you can't afford everyone's favourite new wonderkid, Andreas Schjelderup, then £800,000 will buy you Gonzalez instead.
The Olimpia winger is a danger with his 15 dribbling and 14 finishing.
Bigger budget - Gerard Deulofeu
At £11m, Deulofeu represents excellent value for money.
Thomas Lemar is another to consider for this position, but with their combined price tags, why not get both?