Finding an elite full-back is crucial these days, and top players in that position have never been more valuable.

As soon as you start your new Football Manager 2022 save, you want to make sure that you’re set up at full-back. Once you’re done picking up your new right-back, it’s time to focus on the left.

Regardless of your budget, here’s a run through some of the best options available on FM22 after the Winter Update.

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Layvin Kurzawa
Paris SG

On the transfer list in Paris, you can pick up Kurzawa for just £2.4m. He’s no longer the elite option he once was, but for a smaller side, he’s perfect. At 28, he’s got a good few years left in his legs.

Christian Gunter
SC Freiburg

Gunter’s £6m price tag is pretty high but not too far from what you’ll have to pay to find a decent left-back on a budget.

Mikel Balenziaga
A. Bilbao

On an expiring contract in Bilbao, 33-year-old Balenziaga is available for just £3.1m. With 15 tackling and 14 marking, he’s a capable signing.

Ashley Young
Aston Villa

With so many years of high-level experience under his belt, Young is a nice pick-up at £1.8m. Enjoy him now because he’ll soon turn 36 and starting winding his career down.

Nacho Monreal
Real San Sebastian

Monreal is the best player in this bunch, but he’s dealing with a nasty knee injury which will rule him out for an entire year, at which point his contract will have expired. Keep an eye on free agency if you still find yourself in need in 2022.

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Stefan Radu
Lazio

In a world with very few bargain left-backs, it’s hard to look past Radu. Available for just £500,000, the 34-year-old will offer you some nice help both on the left and at centre-back.

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Federico Dimarco
Inter

£9m isn’t particularly cheap but Dimarco justifies that spend. He’s already good enough to feature for a top side and will only keep improving at 23 years old. If you can make your budget stretch that little bit more, he’s your man.

Filipe Luis
FLA

Former Chelsea and Atletico man Luis can be picked up for just £600,000, making him one of the better value-for-money options.

Jesus Gallardo
Monterrey

For your £5m spend on 26-year-old Gallardo, you’ll be getting a great wing-back option who could still get a little better with the right management.

Eugenio Mena
Racing Club

Another £5m option, Mena is the better player right now but is 32 years old and only one for the short term.

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Alex Grimaldo
Benfica

You’ll often see Grimaldo transfer in the first few months of a save. His £14m asking price is more than fair and he’ll likely improve over the next few years as well.

Ramy Bensebaini
Borussia M’gladbach

A smart signing at £11m, Bensebaini brings 15 crossing and 15 tackling, making him an ideal wing-back in the modern game.

Cristiano Biraghi
Fiorentina

Speaking of excellent crossing, Biraghi boasts a 17 for that stat. If you’re looking for that threat from your full-back, he’s available for £12m.

Alfonso Pedraza
Villarreal

At just 25, Pedraza still has time and room to improve so your £15m could end up looking like a smart investment.

Mattia De Sciglio
Zebre

A top option on both the left and the right, it’ll cost you £12.5m to sign De Sciglio right away, or you can wait until his contract expires next summer.

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Douglas Santos
Zenit

Douglas is one of the better options available at this price range and, at just £12m, doesn’t have to deal with the inflation that comes with players from top leagues. He won’t get any better but you shouldn’t need him to.

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Mario Rui
Napoli

Rui doesn’t excel at any one thing and is instead one of the more well-rounded players available for this price. He’ll set you back around £14m.

Juan Bernat
Paris SG

There’s a left-back sale in Paris and you’d be wise to take a look. Bernat is a step above Kurzawa and that is reflected in his £16.5m price tag. For that money, you won’t find much better.

Javi Galan
Vigo

Statistically the best option for under £20m, Galan has just sealed a bargain £3.4m move to Vigo and can be yours for £16.5m if you wait a little while. It’s tough to hand Vigo that kind of immediate profit, but you won’t regret it.

Philipp Max
PSV

If you’re lucky, you might be able to grab Max for under £20m. His 17 work rate makes him a valuable asset, as does his 16 crossing.

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Renan Lodi
A. Madrid

Lodi can leave Madrid for around the £20m, which isn’t bad for a 23-year-old with a lot of room left to grow.

Nicolas Tagliafico
Ajax

Tagliafico is regularly snapped up by top sides early on in any save because you don’t find many left-backs of his ability for the £30m.

Oleksandr Zinchenko
Man City

One of the most versatile players you’ll find, Zinchenko is free to leave City for around £32m. For that price, you’ll get a left-back who can fill in as high as attacking midfield.

Miguel Gutierrez
R. Madrid B

If you’re super rich, you’ll want to take a look at Gutierrez. The 19-year-old will cost you around £24m, and while he’s nowhere near that good now, he’ll grow into the best left-back on the game in a few years.

Marcos Acuna
Sevilla

The finished article at 29 years old, you won’t find many better left-backs than Acuna for anywhere close to the £24m it’ll cost you to sign him.

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Angelino
RB Leipzig

At just 24, Angelino has plenty of time and room to grow. He won’t be available for £21m for long so you better move in soon. You’ll get an immediate return for that money and may never need to buy another left-back if you nurture him.

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Lucas Hernandez
FC Bayern

He’s been more of a centre-back recently, but Lucas is a left-back at heart and available for a cool £40m.

Theo Hernandez
Milan

The better Hernandez brother according to FM, Theo is one of the best left-backs on the game. To sign someone of that quality will cost you £62m which, compared to others of his quality, is a bit of a steal. He’s the one to go for if you’re blowing a big budget.

Alphonso Davies
FC Bayern

If you’re going big, why not go for the best left-back on the game? Davies will cost you £86m, which is obviously huge, but players of his ability don’t come around too often.

Raphael Guerreiro
Borussia Dortmund

Finally, we have Dortmund man Guerreiro, who will set you back a cool £37m. Not bad.

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