Not every save has money to spend. So the FM Blog put together two lists that help any manager on a tight budget: ready-made players valued at up to €11.5m and wonderkids valued under €5.8m. The numbers we use come from the FM Blog database, and we converted the values from pounds to euros, at an approximate rate of £1 = €1.15.
We will not repeat the full lists. Instead, we picked the names that caught our eye and added the Portuguese angle. That way, you know who to look for when you go hunting for FM27 bargains.
How to read the ABI and POT ratings
Before the names, a quick note. The FM Blog gives every player two ratings: ABI, current ability, and POT, potential. However, it is their own scale, from 1 to 99, and not the game’s CA/PA. In other words, it helps you compare players with each other, but you will not find it on the FM screen.
The best bargains up to €11.5m
The first list brings together 188 players aged 32 or under and valued at up to €11.5m. Many are close to 30, and age helps bring the price down. But if you want to win now, they are exactly what you need.
| Player | Club | Age | Pos. | ABI/POT | Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marcel Sabitzer | Dortmund | 32 | CM | 74/79 | €4.6m |
| Emre Can | Dortmund | 32 | CB | 72/78 | €4.1m |
| Lucas Digne | PSG | 32 | DL | 73/78 | €9.8m |
| Ivan Provedel | Inter | 32 | GK | 72/78 | €10.8m |
| Finn Dahmen | Augsburg | 28 | GK | 74/75 | €11.4m |
| Alexis Vega | Toluca | 28 | AML | 73/75 | €10.8m |
| Raphaël Guerreiro | free agent | 32 | DL | 72/80 | €0 |
| Séko Fofana | FC Porto | 31 | CM | 70/76 | €8.4m |
| Nehuén Pérez | FC Porto | 26 | CB | 69/72 | €9.7m |
| Nélson Semedo | Fenerbahçe | 32 | WBR | 69/83 | €7.7m |
| João Mário | Fiorentina | 26 | DR | 69/72 | €8.4m |
The best FM27 bargains up to €11.5m. Data: FM Blog
- Marcel Sabitzer (Dortmund, CM, 32): the find of the list. He is rated 74/79 and valued at just €4.6m, less than half of other players with the same current rating.
- Emre Can (Dortmund, CB, 32): rated 72/78 for €4.1m. So he is the cheapest at the top of the list, free agents aside.
- Lucas Digne (PSG, LB, 32): rated 73/78 and valued at €9.8m. Plus, he is a ready-made option for the left flank.
- Ivan Provedel (Inter, GK, 32): rated 72/78 for €10.8m. But if you want a younger goalkeeper, Augsburg’s Finn Dahmen is 28 and rated 74/75 for €11.4m.
- Zinchenko (LB, 29): he is a free agent rated 72/83, the highest potential at the top of the list.
The bargains with a Portuguese link
What if you manage in Portugal? The list has several names you know well. First, Raphaël Guerreiro: at 32, he is a free agent, rated 72/80 and costs €0. So he is perhaps the most obvious signing for a Liga Portugal club that wants experience.
Next, FC Porto have two players on the list. Séko Fofana, a 31-year-old midfielder, is rated 70/76 and valued at €8.4m. Meanwhile, Nehuén Pérez, a 26-year-old centre-back, is rated 69/72 and valued at €9.7m. If you manage a rival, you now know both are under €11.5m. However, if you manage Porto, you can also sell them to raise money.
- Nélson Semedo (Fenerbahçe, RWB, 32): rated 69/83 and valued at €7.7m. In other words, he has the highest potential in this group.
- João Mário (Fiorentina, RB, 26): rated 69/72 for €8.4m, a solid option on the right.
- Thierry Correia (Venezia, RB, 27): rated 68/78 and valued at €7m, the cheapest in this group.
- Jonas Wind (Braga, ST, 27): Braga’s striker is rated 69/76 and valued at €8.9m.
Wonderkids under €5.8m
The second list is for those who think long term. It has 241 wonderkids valued under €5.8m. In other words, players who are still cheap but can grow a lot in your save.
| Player | Club | Age | Pos. | ABI/POT | Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marko Soldić | Nürnberg | 16 | CM | 50/85 | €2.9m |
| Cavan Sullivan | Philadelphia | 16 | AMC | 57/85 | €0 |
| Andria Bartishvili | Iberia 1999 | 17 | AML | 54/85 | €4.5m |
| Rui Araki | Gamba Osaka | 18 | GK | 57/84 | €3.7m |
| Ângelo | São Paulo | 17 | WBR | 44/84 | €944k |
| Edwin Quintero | Ind. del Valle | 16 | AMR | 54/83 | €4.7m |
| Jorge Domínguez | Atlético | 16 | CB | 53/82 | €1.6m |
| Gonçalo Santos | FC Porto | 16 | AMC | 38/80 | €712k |
| Romário Cunha | Braga B | 18 | GK | 44/79 | €5.3m |
| Martim Ribeiro | Sporting | 16 | ST | 39/78 | €2.5m |
| André Machado | Sporting | 18 | DR | 44/76 | €3.0m |
FM27 wonderkids valued under €5.8m. Data: FM Blog
- Marko Soldić (Nürnberg, CM, 16): rated 50/85 and valued at €2.9m. So he shares the highest potential on the list.
- Cavan Sullivan (Philadelphia, AM, 16): also has 85 potential, with a current rating of 57, and is listed at a value of €0.
- Andria Bartishvili (Iberia 1999, LW, 17): completes the trio on 85, rated 54/85 for €4.5m.
- Rui Araki (Gamba Osaka, GK, 18): rated 57/84 for €3.7m. Still, goalkeepers tend to peak later, so he needs patience.
- Ângelo (São Paulo, RWB, 17): rated 44/84 and valued at only €944k, the cheapest of these highlights.
- Jorge Domínguez (Atlético, CB, 16): rated 53/82 for €1.6m, a good bet for the heart of the defence.
The cheap young Portuguese players
There are Portuguese players on this list too, all at Portuguese clubs. Gonçalo Santos, a 16-year-old attacking midfielder at FC Porto, is rated 38/80 and valued at just €712k. Sporting have two: Martim Ribeiro, a 16-year-old striker rated 39/78 for €2.5m, and André Machado, an 18-year-old right-back rated 44/76 for €3m.
Finally, Romário Cunha, an 18-year-old goalkeeper at Braga B, is rated 44/79. However, he is valued at €5.3m, close to the list’s limit. Be careful: value is not price. Clubs usually ask for more than the market value, especially for academy players. For more names, see our best young Portuguese players in FM27.
How to make the most of these lists
These lists are a starting point, not a guarantee. In your save, values change and some players may sign for another club before you. So get your scouts tracking the names you like right at the start. Then negotiate calmly: our article on the director of football and negotiations in FM27 helps with that.
Our take
For anyone managing a Portuguese club, the best deal is right there: a free Guerreiro rated 72/80 is hard to beat. Also, Sabitzer and Emre Can show that 32-year-olds can still deliver a lot for little money. Among the youngsters, Gonçalo Santos and Martim Ribeiro are the cheapest bets. But since they come from rival academies, be ready to pay more than their value. Still, it is worth a try.
