Picture this. You’ve just started a new career, picked a second or third-tier team that you want to push to new heights, only to find out that you’ve got a budget so small that the thought of paying actual money for anyone is a non-starter. Working on a shoestring budget, or with a squad full of newly signed deadwood can be a nightmare beginning for any manager.

But fear not, as the start of the new season doesn’t need to be fraught with a lack of progress. At the beginning of the 2019/20 season, it’s fair to say that you’re not going to get world beaters for free on sensible wages, but you will be able to pick up a number of players that can offer you some squad depth, and maybe even in some cases push for a first-team spot.

Here are the best free signings at the start of the season in Football Manager 2020.

Goalkeepers:

Emiliano Viviano

Key Stats:

  • Reflexes – 16One On Ones – 16Command of Area – 14Positioning – 13

Gianluca Curci

  • Handling – 14One On Ones – 13Anticipation – 14Positioning – 14

Gorka Iraizoz

  • Reflexes – 14Communication – 14Anticipation – 14Positioning – 15

Roberto Santamaría

  • Reflexes – 14Handling – 13One On Ones – 13Agility – 13

Defenders:

Adil Rami (CB)

  • Marking – 16 / Tackling – 14Heading – 16 / Jumping Reach – 15Anticipation – 14Positioning – 15

Nicolás Pareja (CB)

  • Marking & Tackling – 15Heading – 13 / Jumping Reach – 12Decisions & Composure – 15Positioning – 16

Raúl Rodríguez (CB/RB)

  • Marking – 13 / Tackling – 15Heading – 13 / Jumping Reach – 12Concentration – 14Positioning – 14

Bacary Sagna (RB/RWB)

  • Marking – 14 / Tackling – 15Heading – 14 / Jumping Reach – 12Dribbling – 11 / Crossing – 13 Positioning – 14Work Rate – 13

Jefferson (LB/LWB)

  • Marking & Tackling – 11Acceleration – 13 / Pace – 12Dribbling – 12 / Crossing – 15Off The Ball – 15Work Rate – 13

Fábio Coentrão (LB/LWB)

  • Marking – 10 / Tackling – 14Acceleration & Pace – 13Dribbling & Crossing – 15Off The Ball – 16Work Rate – 13

Midfielders:

Yaya Touré (CM/DM/AMC)

  • Passing – 17 / Vision – 16Long Shots & Free Kick Taking – 15 Dribbling & Crossing – 14Technique – 16Composure – 17

Ben Marshall (RM/RW/Utility Midfielder)

  • Passing – 14 / Vision – 13Stamina – 15Dribbling – 12 / Crossing – 15Technique – 13Composure – 13

Ki Sung-Yeung (DM/CM)

  • Passing & Vision – 14Stamina – 14 / Natural Fitness – 15Dribbling & Crossing – 13Balance – 15Teamwork & Decisions – 14

Youssouf Mulumbu (DM/CM)

  • Passing – 14 / Vision – 11Strength & Natural Fitness – 15 Tackling – 15 / Marking – 14Anticipation – 15Positioning – 14

Marco Fabián (AMC/LW/RW)

  • Passing – 14 / Vision – 16Long Shots & Flair – 17Dribbling – 13 / Crossing – 15Technique – 16Agility – 16

Samu (RM/RW)

  • Passing – 13 / Vision – 15Acceleration & Pace – 14 Dribbling – 12 / Crossing – 14Off The Ball – 14Technique – 15

Aarón Ñíguez (LW/AMC)

  • Passing & Vision – 14Acceleration – 15 / Pace – 12Dribbling – 15 / Crossing – 14Off The Ball – 14Technique – 16

Strikers:

Daniel Sturridge

  • Finishing & Anticipation – 15First Touch – 15 / Composure – 16Dribbling – 13 / Technique 16Off The Ball – 15Flair – 15

Diafra Sakho

  • Finishing – 14 / Anticipation – 13First Touch – 12 / Composure – 11Heading – 16 / Jumping Reach – 13Off The Ball – 14Work Rate – 14

Marcus Pedersen

  • Finishing – 15 / Anticipation – 14 Heading – 14 / Jumping Reach – 13 Strength & Stamina – 14Off The Ball – 14Work Rate – 18

Ikechukwu Uche

  • Finishing – 15 / Anticipation – 13Dribbling – 14 / First Touch – 12 Decisions – 12 / Teamwork – 14Off The Ball – 15Work Rate – 14