With the release of Football Manager 2022, every man and his dog is on the hunt for those bargain buys, and everyone thinks they’ve uncovered the next Messi on their sofa on a Tuesday afternoon, and we’re no different. There are hundreds of ‘bargain buys’, ‘wonderkid signings’ and ‘superstar watchlists’ and so we are jumping well and truly on that bandwagon to start a new series of posts and creating our own FM22 watchlist for the season.

In the posts, we will highlight 3 potential signings, 1 bargain buy for a lower league side, 1 medium priced player for the Championship/League 1 level and a signing for the ‘big spenders’ of the top-divisions.

We are making notes of every player we like the look of through playing the game and our online research, however if you have uncovered a real gem, please feel free to let us know over on Twitter (@NextGoalWinBlog) and we will be sure to feature them.

So, unroll the car window and tell Jim White these lot are ‘triffic…

Big Money: Shola Shoretire (Manchester United – £5,000,000+)

This signing fits the bill of both big money and wonderkid, as 17 year old Shola Shoretire is on many watchlists both in-game and real life. Not perhaps the easiest of signings to get across the line due to being such a sought-after talent, he may be available early in the game for a loan move which could become permanent if the price is right. In return for the tough negotiations, you will get a real superstar in return, with stats of 18 flair and 15’s in agility, acceleration, determination and first touch, these will shoot up instantly with a run in the first-team. It’s highly likely he will be on any top sides’ watchlist, but if not, get saving your pocket money and invest in this incredibly talented attacking midfielder.

Medium Money: Blaise Matuidi (Inter Miami – £250,000)

Now this is no ‘wonderkid’ signing to say the least, however if you are a Championship level side looking for the experience of a World Cup winner who can give a decent 1/2 seasons in a rotation role, Matuidi is the man. I initially was shocked when he actually moved across to Miami, however if you can tempt him back to Europe, he would be a brilliant and massively underrated player to bring in, with some really decent stats for his price. His headline stats include 20 teamwork, 17 positioning, 16 in strength and natural fitness and then 15’s almost across the board in many other areas. With wages of around £25,000 a week, this transfer-wage ratio is quite one-sided, however if you can adjust the budget to allow for this move, I would have him as the ‘talismanic’ signing that will simply either give you a real promotion push, or flop and put you out of a job. But I guess that’s just the risk of Football Manager, so go ahead, treat yourself to a new DM/CM and see what happens.

Little Money: Harry Cardwell (Chorley – £15,000)

This choice is a little bit biased, as this is my personal gem signing that I made in the lower leagues in FM21, and have made my first signing in FM22, as he simply cannot scoring for my sides. Netting 40+ in each of 3 seasons for my side in FM21, he ensured back-to-back promotions to League 2 with some ease and created perfect strike partnerships’ with whoever he was paired with.

Statistically not the most impressive of course, with 11 finishing and 11 technique, the Scottish forward is a quality target man and can really add guaranteed goals in the lower leagues from Conference South/North upwards.