One of the most exciting yet risky aspects of football management in Football Manager and real life is the act of buying and selling players. A handful of smart purchases and sales can completely revitalize a team, while a run of bad decisions in the market can hinder a team for years to come and ultimately cost the manager their job. Although many managers in real life are starting to have less of a say in their team's transfers, Football Manager 22 still gives the person in charge full control.
Big money and major name signings are always a temptation, though the most rewarding feeling in the transfer market comes from signing a player on the cheap who goes on to become a significant success, increasing their value 10-fold in the process. This year's edition of Football Manager has a handful of fantastic budget-midfielder options that will greatly improve most teams in the center of the park for an excellent price.
Updated May 21, 2022 by Ritwik Mitra: Football Manager is considered by many to be one of the most realistic and engaging football simulators around. The learning curve for this game is immense, but fans who finally get a grasp of the game's mechanics will be able to enjoy one of the greatest football video games ever made. Football Manager 22 carries forward the esteemed legacy of this series and is approachable enough for new players to test this game out.
A big part of Football Manager is nailing the best signings around to make a player's run through the game easier. This is especially true in the case of the midfield, which needs to boast a high level of quality at all times. However, the best players in the world cost a pretty penny, and most people would prefer not to blow their entire transfer budget on just one player. Keeping this in mind, here are some great budget midfield options for players managing a team with a shoestring budget.
10 Corentin Tolisso
For a player of his amazing quality, it's surprising to see that Corentin Tolisso can be available for a fairly cheap rate in Football Manager 22. This is mainly due to the fact that his contract is expiring this year, meaning that players can grab him for as low as just £5.75 million!
This is a massive bargain, and players will be rewarded for their smart spending with one of the best central midfielders in the game. Just keep in mind to seal this deal sooner rather than later, otherwise, some other fast mover will pounce on the opportunity to sign this midfielder instead.
9 Luka Modric
Luka Modric is one of the greatest midfielders of all time. The fact that he's still spearheading Real Madrid's amazing romp through the Champions League shows just how effective this midfielder is, with his stats being pretty great too.
It might seem surprising at first glance that a player like Luka Modric is available for such a low price in the game, but this is mainly to do with his age. Old players don't really sell for high amounts on Football Manager, and even a great player like Luka Modric is no exception here.
8 Fernandinho
Speaking of old players that age like fine wine, Fernandinho is another player that deserves all the plaudits in the world. This midfield player is playing through the last year of his contract and is also pretty old, making him ripe for a signing if players have a tight budget and need a world-class midfielder on their team.
There's a reason why Fernandinho has been one of the most important players in Manchester City, with his quality both on and off the ball pretty much speaking for itself. It's one of the biggest reasons why he's a perfect signing for a team that needs to bolster their midfield without spending too much money.
7 Santi Cazorla
Most people would assume that Santi Cazorla is way past his prime...and there's definitely some truth to this statement. He's a pretty old midfielder who will probably serve a team well for a few years before his age starts catching up to him.
However, at this point in time, the player can be bought for chump change. The fact that his stats are also pretty decent means that a team with a poor budget can still get a ton of mileage from this experienced player.
6 Blaise Matuidi
Blaise Matuidi is an experienced defensive-minded midfielder that is known for his high work rate, tackling, and tactical awareness. Matuidi begins the game at age 34 and is undeniably coming to the end of his career, which may make the Frenchman sound like an odd choice for this list.
However, Blaise Matuidi still has plenty left to offer, best exemplified by his Natural Fitness stat of 16, Stamina of 14, and Acceleration of 13, which show that the central midfielder could still perform at a top-level for two or even three more years barring any serious injuries. Matuidi's excellent range of Mental stats, which include maxed-out Bravery and Teamwork attributes, are particularly noteworthy, showing that he can lead a team's midfield, have a positive impact on youth players, and still win his side the midfield battle.
Matuidi's is currently at David Beckham's recently-formed MLS-side Inter Miami and will only cost around $1m - $3m, making the experienced midfielder a tantalizing option.
5 Aaron Ramsey
In 2019, Welsh midfielder Aaron Ramsey became a surprise figurehead in the way in which major players handle their contracts. Previously, it was very rare for a notable player in their peak to let their contract expire. However, that all changed when Aaron Ramsey's contract expired at Arsenal and Juventus offered him a whopping contract that reportedly earns him $534k per week - the idea being that a club will be happy to offer inflated wages to a free agent, as they don't have to pay a transfer fee for them.
As for the player himself, Aaron Ramsey made his name at Arsenal, where he was a persistent goalscoring threat with his late runs into the box, while also being one of the team's main creative outlets. Unfortunately, Ramsey's time at Juventus hasn't gone as planned, and he begins Football Manager 22 transfer listed for just $12.3m. If a manager is able to get Ramsey back to his best and ensures that his wage bill isn't too high, the Welshman could be an absolute steal.
4 João Carvalho
João Carvalho is a 24-year-old attacking midfielder who is currently playing in the Championship for Nottingham Forest. Carvalho has fantastic playmaking stats, particularly Passing, Flair, and Technique, that make it a surprise that he is still playing in England's second tier.
There is, however, a notable downside to Carvalho, as the Portuguese playmaker has a Work Rate stat of just 8. Half a decade ago, this wasn't too much of an issue for a playmaker, but the game has moved on quickly since, and most teams now expect all ten outfield players to work hard and press the opposition when required. For teams that don't demand hard-working CAM's or perhaps can afford to carry one luxury player defensively, Carvalho is an incredible signing for his minimal price of around $4m, which is all that Forest is likely to request for him.
3 Ruben Loftus-Cheek
When Ruben Loftus-Cheek first burst onto the scene in 2014, the Englishman soon had a large weight of expectations placed on his shoulders, with comparisons being made to Premier League greats like Yaya Toure and Ruben's former manager Frank Lampard. Unfortunately, it soon became clear that Loftus-Cheek would fall short of this mark, as he struggled to nail down a starting spot and had a couple of underwhelming loans at Crystal Palace and Fulham.
However, Loftus-Cheek seems to have earned the trust of current manager Thomas Tuchel and is finally starting to see some more game time at Chelsea. The game starts with him Transfer Listed for $13.4m, though, and at the age of just 25, Loftus-Cheek is a low-risk signing for teams with cash to spare, and he could still become a dominant central midfielder.
2 Isco
When Isco made his move to Real Madrid in 2013, he was considered to be one of the best young players in the world. For some time, Isco lived up to his hype and made his $30.7m price look like a bargain.
However, Isco has become a sporadic member of the Real Madrid squad in recent years, and it's believed that the Spanish side has been actively trying to sell the playmaker for the last few seasons. Although Isco's time in Madrid may have petered out, the Spaniard would still be an incredible signing for most sides, and a change of scenery could see him recapture his best form.
Isco begins Football Manager 22 on the Transfer List for just $17.3m. This is a great price already, but there could be a chance to get Isco for absolutely nothing, as his contract expires in June 2022. Players should be careful, however, as waiting for his contract to expire is a risky game when another club could be willing to pay his listed price.
1 Marc Roca
Bayern Munich's Marc Roca is an extremely versatile midfielder. He is natural in the CDM and CM positions and has a great combination of playmaking and defensive stats, including 16 Work Rate, 15 Teamwork, 16 Passing, and 14 Positioning. Believe it or not, Bayern Munich is willing to accept around $6m for the midfielder in Football Manager 22, making the Spaniard one of the best bargains in the entire game.
Roca begins the game injured for somewhere between 6 weeks and 2 months, which will likely see him miss pre-season and possibly even the start of the season. Although this is frustrating, his cut-price makes the midfielder worth the wait.
Football Manager 22 is out now for PC, Xbox, and Mobile.