The launch of the next instalment of EA Sports' FIFA series will be complete this month and anticipation is mounting as fans ponder how developers will follow up FIFA 19.
Questions range from what sort of features will be included and how much it will cost to whether or not the game will be available to play on Google Stadia.
It will be interesting to see what changes will be applied in Career Mode of FIFA 20, particularly when it comes to the navigation of the transfer market. Football Manager has led the way in terms of simulating the real-world mechanics of transfers and as EA Sports attempt to increase the authenticity of their product it is surely an area they will be researching thoroughly.
When it comes to transfers in FIFA, budgets are of chief concern to gamers wishing to assemble the strongest possible squad. With that in mind, Goal takes a look at the clubs who are expected to have the biggest budgets in FIFA 20.
Who will be the richest teams in FIFA 20?
Very little has changed in the landscape of real-world elite level football when it comes to financial might since the launch of FIFA 19 in September 2018. That means there is not going to be too much change when it comes to transfer budgets in FIFA 20 and we can expect the usual suspects to be among the teams with the most money in the bank.
Habitual big spenders such as Manchester City, Manchester United, Paris Saint-Germain, Real Madrid and Barcelona have the top five transfer budgets in FIFA 20, just as they did in FIFA 19. While the top five remain the same, there have been some slight changes, with Manchester City and Manchester United being overtaken by Clasico duo Real Madrid and Barcelona.
Real Madrid have the biggest war chest in the game as they attempt to come to terms with the post-Cristiano Ronaldo era and big-money signings such as Eden Hazard and Luka Jovic suggest that they are returning to the Galacticos transfer policy that served them well in the past. Madrid's eternal rivals Barcelona are not too far behind, breaching the £169 million mark.
Manchester United's real-world transfer business this season has not exactly been characterised by lavish spending, but they have overtaken their rivals City when it comes to buying power, if only marginally.
Paris Saint-Germain have consistently flexed their muscles in the transfer market over the past few years, setting records with the acquisition of Neymar and Kylian Mbappe, and their modus operandi isn't going to change any time soon. The Qatar Sports Investments-backed Ligue 1 giants came up short once again in the Champions League, so a dive into the transfer market is naturally expected as they persist in their quest for the holy grail of Europe's top prize.
Top 10 FIFA 20 transfer budgets
| Pos | Club | FIFA 19 transfer budget |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Real Madrid | £169,610,000 |
| 2 | Barcelona | £169,074,000 |
| 3 | Manchester United | £167,488,480 |
| 4 | Manchester City | £167,020,320 |
| 5 | PSG | £165,460,000 |
| 6 | Bayern Munich | £124,537,000 |
| 7 | Juventus | £103,806,000 |
| 8 | Liverpool | £97,823,296 |
| 9 | Chelsea | £86,145,024 |
| 10 | Tottenham | £72,000,000 |
The above table gives an idea of who the big hitters will be in FIFA 20. As you can see, outside of the top five, there is a dramatic drop in terms of purses, with three of the top 10 not breaching the £100 million mark.
There has only been one change, with Arsenal dropping out of the top 10 after missing out on Champions League football once again and they are replaced by their north London rivals Tottenham, who are buoyed financially after reaching the Champions League final and having their new stadium completed.
Europa League winners Chelsea remain in the top 10, though their budget has fallen by roughly £30 million. Liverpool's, meanwhile, is roughly the same.
Other clubs who should have respectable transfer budgets include Inter, Borussia Dortmund and Atletico Madrid, while Premier League clubs continue to dominate the top end of the table thanks to the wealth generated by television revenue.
FIFA career mode transfer market tips
If you want to get the best out of your budget in the transfer market of FIFA games it is usually a good idea to take a measured approach; simply throwing money at things won't always work.
We've compiled a few tips below to help you negotiate smartly in the game.
Use your scouts
It's never a good idea to go into transfer negotiations without knowing where you stand. That's where scouting comes in. Gaining an extensive understanding of a player's value and their wage demands is key to ensuring you get your money's worth and don't go over the odds in pursuit of a player.
Include sell-on fee
If you're after a player who you believe will be a long-term addition to your squad then adding a sell-on fee in negotiations is a shrewd way to help convince a club to lower their asking price. It's a little sneaky but a sell-on fee doesn't impact you if you don't actually sell a player on.
Consider player swaps
Another way in which you can get a club to accept a lower transfer fee is by adding a player to the deal. Generally speaking players who are not in your plans or on the fringes of the squad are good choices to serve as the makeweight. There's a double benefit involved here too because not only can you lower the cost of your target but it will also free up space on your wage budget.
Know who you're negotiating with
If Barcelona or PSG come knocking and they really want a player chances are they will be willing to pay for them. In those cases you can afford to push your asking prices up a little. Be careful though, ask for too much from anyone and they will tell you where to go. The same logic applies when dealing with clubs who clearly cannot afford your demands. If you really want - or need - to offload a player, you may have to compromise.
Have patience
This should go without saying but we're all guilty of jumping the gun on occasion. Basically, try not get too greedy and do your best to maintain good relations. The last thing you want is for negotiations to break down.
Click here to check out our guide to the transfer market in FIFA 19 career mode.
Who will be the best players to buy on FIFA 20?
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Which players you should buy depends entirely on the club you are in control of and what your aims are. It may be tempting to do a PSG or Juventus and go all out to buy a Neymar or Ronaldo, but that calibre of players can be extremely difficult to lure, not to mention take up the bulk of your budget.
The likes of Lionel Messi, Ronaldo and Neymar among the highest rated players in FIFA 20, with others such as Mohamed Salah, Virgil van Dijk and Kevin De Bruyne coming in with ratings of over 90 too. All of these players are already firmly established as being the best in the world though, so their transfer prices may be out of reach.
Bargains can certainly be found and it is a good idea to use your scouts to help establish who has the potential to reach the level you and your team aspire to. Young players with high potential are dotted across the world and can sometimes be bought on the cheap, while free agents or players whose contracts are expiring are inexpensive acquisitions.
Keep an eye on the contractual situations of Willian, Eric Bailly and Toby Alderweireld - basically any big-name player who is delaying the signing of a new deal. Borussia Dortmund star Jadon Sancho and Chelsea's Callum Hudson-Odoi are youthful options to consider, but they may be costly.