There are a whole host of left backs that can be picked up on the cheap in Football Manager 2018. If your scouts aren’t doing the trick, we’ve managed to find all the best ones on the game who can be bought for less than £5 million, so the only question is – who are you going to sign on FM?
For a full list of ALL our bargain left backs, visit the table at the bottom of this page.
Adriano (CA 140 – PA 155)
Age: 32
Positions: D (LR), WB (RL)
Club: Besiktas
Country: Brazil
Best attributes: 19 versatility, 15 balance, 15 positioning
Value: £3.2 million
Wage: £37,300 a week
You may remember Brazilian left back Adriano from his time at Barcelona where he won five league titles and two Champions Leagues during one of the most successful spells in the club’s history. The 32-year-old moved on to Turkish giants Besiktas in 2016, and success followed, lifting the Super Lig trophy at the end of his first season in Istanbul.
On FM 18 the former Brazil international can be yours for just £4.5 million and wages of £37,300 a week. That’s a pretty decent price for his 140 current ability rating, which has fallen by 15 from his 155 potential. His attributes include 19 versatility, 15 balance and 15 positioning.
Milton Casco (CA 135 – PA 145)
Age: 29
Positions: D (LR), WB (RL)
Club: River Plate
Country: Argentina
Best attributes: 16 acceleration, 16 pressure, 15 off the ball
Value: £2.2 million
Wage: £6,400 a week
Over in Argentina we find River Plate left back Milton Casco. The 29-year-old has progressed well in his homeland, starting at Gimnasia then moving on to Newell’s Old Boys and then finally giants River Plate. His performances did earn him a call up to the national team in 2015, but he has fallen behind Marcos Rojo and Emiliano Insua in the pecking order.
Casco can operate on either side of the defence, and he can be bought for just over £3 million. His wages are currently £6,400 a week, which will get you his 135 current ability and 145 potential. His best attributes are 16 acceleration, 16 pressure and 15 off the ball.
Jose Holebas (CA 134 – PA 145)
Age: 33
Positions: D (L), WB (L), M (L)
Club: Watford
Country: Greece
Best attributes: 18 natural fitness, 16 long throws, 16 work rate
Value: £3.9 million
Wage: £30,000 a week
Jose Holebas is out of favour at Watford, providing the perfect opportunity for you to sign him on FM. The left back, wing back or midfielder has an impressive CV, winning four Greek Superleagues with Olympiakos before moving on to Italian giants Roma. He was a regular for Watford in the Premier League last season, but currently finds himself more often on the bench for The Hornets.
18 natural fitness, 16 long throws and 16 work rate give Holebas a 134 current ability score, a fall from his 145 potential. You’ll need just under £5 million for the Greek international with wages of £30,000 a week.
Joo-Ho Park (CA 134 – PA 138)
Age: 30
Positions: D (L), DM, WB (L), M (C)
Club: Borussia Dortmund
Country: South Korea
Best attributes: 18 temperament, 16 anticipation, 16 versatility
Value: £1.9 million
Wage: £51,300 a week
Joo-Ho Park has been released for Borussia Dortmund after struggling for game time behind Marcel Schmelzer and Raphael Guerreiro at left back. The versatile South Korean ins still at the club on FM 18, and he could be a useful acquisition to your squad thanks to his experience.
The former Mainz man will set you back just £3 million, and you should be able to reduce his £51,300 a week wages. 18 temperament, 16 anticipation and 16 versatility give him a CA of 134, four short of his 138 potential.
Vitaly Denisov (CA 134 – PA 137)
Age: 30
Positions: D (L), WB (L)
Club: Lokomotiv Moscow
Country: Uzbekistan
Best attributes: 16 long throws, 15 natural fitness, 15 bravery
Value: £2.5 million
Wage: £20,500 a week
How many Uzbek footballers can you name? Vitaly Denisov may be the best in country’s history, but the 30-year-old has spent most his career in Russia. After failing to make the grade at CSKA Moscow, Denisov headed to Ukrainian side Dnipro before returning to Moscow with Lokomotiv in 2013. The league title may have eluded him this far, but he has claimed two Russian Cups with the club.
Denisov is priced at around £4 million on FM 18, with wages of £20,500 a week. That will give you his 16 long throws, 15 natural fitness and 15 bravery, making up a 134 current ability score, just three of a 137 potential.
Luisinho (CA 133 – PA 140)
Age: 32
Positions: D (L), WB (L), M (L), AM (L)
Club: Deportivo La Coruna
Country: Portugal
Best attributes: 16 flair, 15 accelerations, 15 off the ball
Value: £2.2 million
Wage: £12,200 a week
It’s been a strong and steady career for Portuguese left back Luisinho, but you wonder if the 32-year-old had taken his opportunity at giants Benfica, things could have been different. The fully left sided Luisinho moved to Lisbon in 2012, but moved on after just a year at the club, and he has found a home at Spanish side Deportivo La Coruna, with over 100 games for the club.
16 flair, 15 acceleration and 15 off the ball give Luisinho a 133 CA score, just eight shy of his 140 potential. You will need around £3.5 million to bring him your club with wages of £12,200 a week.
Frank Fabra (CA 133 – PA 140)
Age: 26
Positions: D (L), WB (L)
Club: Boca Juniors
Country: Colombia
Best attributes: 15 crossing, 15 pace, 14 agility
Value: £1.6 million
Wage: £4,400 a week
The 26-year-old Frank Fabra will be looking to lay down a marker at the World Cup in Russia. The Colombian has impressed since moving to Argentine heavyweights Boca Juniors in 2016, and some strong performances in the summer could get the attentions of a number of clubs in Europe.
The left back or wing back has 15 crossing, 15 pace and 14 agility on FM, which give him a current ability score of 133. His 140 PA can be yours for just £4 million, with his current wages only £4,400 a week.
Miguel Trauco (CA 132 – PA 140)
Age: 24
Positions: D (L), WB (L)
Club: FLA (Flamengo)
Country: Peru
Best attributes: 16 creativity, 15 technique, 15 pace
Value: £2.9 million
Wage: £7,300 a week
The 2018 World Cup in Russia will be the first tournament Peru have qualified for since 1982. Left back Miguel Trauco is one of their shining lights, and at the age of 24 he can make a real name for himself in the summer. He has had made a smooth transition to Brazilian football after joining Flamengo in December 2016, but the World Cup would be a whole different ball game.
16 creativity, 15 technique and 15 pace give the hot talent a 132 CA score, with his potential at 140. You are looking at a very reasonable price of £4.5 million for Trauco with wages of £7,300 a week.
Nick Viergever (CA 132 – PA 133)
Age: 27
Positions: D (LC), DM, WB (L)
Club: Ajax
Country: Holland
Best attributes: 16 ambition, 16 natural fitness, 16 work rate
Value: £3.5 million
Wage: £10,300 a week
A great servant of the Dutch game, 27-year-old defender Nick Viergever has played for Sparta Rotterdam, AZ Alkmaar and Ajax during his career. The left back, centre back, defensive midfielder or wing back was part of the young Ajax squad that got to the Europa League final last season, but he is yet to win a trophy with the Eredivisie since joining in 2014.
The versatile Viergever offers a 132 CA score, just one short of is 133 potential on the game. 16 ambition, 16 natural fitness and 16 work rate are his best attributes, which can be yours for just £5 million and wages of £10,300 a week.
Cristian Ramirez (CA 130 – PA 145)
Age: 22
Positions: D (L), WB (L), M (L), AM (L)
Club: Krasnodar
Country: Ecuador
Best attributes: 16 ambition, 15 dribbling, 15 stamina
Value: £2.5 million
Wage: £14,100 a week
If you are looking for a young option, Cristian Ramirez is your man. The 22-year-old left sided player has moved around a lot in his career already, having plied his trade for Independiente, Fortuna Dusseldorf, Nurnberg, Ferencvaros and now Krasnodar. A period of stability is now required for the attacking left back to fulfil his potential.
Ecuadorian international Ramirez has a 130 CA on FM 18, consisting of 16 ambition, 15 dribbling and 15 stamina. With a potential of 145, his fee of just under £5 million is a fantastic one, as is his wage of £14,100 a week.
More bargain left backs
Player | A | Pos | Club | Country | CA/ PA | V | W |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Aaron | 20 | D (L) WB (L) | Espanyol | Spain | 130/ 144 | £3m | £11k |
Jonathan Silva | 23 | D (L) WB (L) | Sporting | Argentina | 130/ 144 | £1m | £11k |
Cener Erkin | 28 | D (L) WB (L) M (L) | Besiktas | Turkey | 130/ 140 | £3m | £35k |
Tono | 27 | D (L) WB (L) | Levante | Spain | 130/ 137 | £3m | £9k |
Massimo Gobbi | 36 | D (L) WB (L) M (L) | Chievo | Italy | 130/ 136 | £400k | £13k |
Ruben Duarte | 21 | D (LC) WB (L) | Alaves | Spain | 129/ 136 | £3m | £10k |
Eliseu | 33 | D (L) WB (L) | SLB | Portugal | 129/ 141 | £200k | £20k |
Eugenio Mena | 28 | D (L) WB (L) M (L) AM (L) | SPT | Chile | 129/ 140 | £1m | £16k |
Antonio Luna | 26 | D (L) WB (L) | Levante | Spain | 129/ 135 | £2m | £12k |
Ludovic Baal | 31 | D (L) DM WB (L) M (L) | Rennes | French Guiana | 129/ 131 | £4m | £13k |
Who have you signed on FM? Let us know in the comments section below.
Looking for wonderkids?
Best Wonderkid Attacking Midfielders
On a tight budget?