Football Manager 2018: 15 Release Clause Bargains You Need To Exploit
Making contracts work for you.
There aren't as many bargains to be found in the release clause market as there used to be in previous games - though anyone with their own oil field could try and stump up the few hundred million it would take to get Barcelona to part with Lionel Messi. But heading to the scouting filters and uncovering those players who can be bought for guaranteed prices is still part and parcel of the game.
Everyone loves a bargain in the game - hence the culture around identifying wonderkids, free transfers and players with the most potential to increase in value - and those clauses mean you can get away from selling clubs whacking their own valuations up to squeeze as much out of their assets as possible.
Looking at the market to find bargains and clauses to exploit is part of the pleasure of the scouting system, and there are some guaranteed good options who won't cost a fortune and who will add real value to your squad. Make sure to check the Spanish market in particular, as clauses in contracts there remain mandatory (even if some of them are cartoonish in size)...
15. Michael Bradley
Team: Toronto
Release Clause: £6.25m
Position: DMC/MC
He might be a little on the older side compared to others on this list, but American veteran Michael Bradley is a ready made Premier League player with great stats for a defensive midfielder (both defensively and in terms of passing) and the stamina and fitness of a proper engine player.
His stats should warrant far more than the £6.25m he'd cost you thanks to his clause and you really ought to go in and try your luck early on. Bear in mind, however, that he's ambitious and he won't be afraid to tell you if he doesn't think your squad quality matches his aspirations.