This is your main tool in the hunt for new acquisitions for your squad. Once you've found a player you're interested in buying you're then in a position to access the Make Offer screen.
Searching for talent on this screen enables you to scour the world for well-known players and then assess their worth as transfer targets. The number of people that will come up in each search depends on the size of the database you are running (see New Game).
The default display shows the unfiltered list of players, starting with the most valuable at the top. Because this view is ordered according to player value it usually begins with a mouth-watering selection of global stars, many of whom will be either too expensive to buy or simply not interested in moving to your club. They may also be unsuitable if you're looking for a certain type of player to fulfill a special role in your side.
It's worth noting that you don't necessarily have to seek new players in order to improve your squad. Asking your coaches to use more intense training regimes could result in significant improvements in your current crop of players. If your coaches aren't delivering the goods, you can always replace them.

Sorting Targets
To help you zero in on affordable and suitable players, Football Manager arms you with a few search tools. First of all you can use the View drop-down menu to alter the displayed stats for each player. It's unlikely, for instance, that one of the default settings, Form, is going to be a major consideration when it comes to signing someone, unless you are looking to bring in a player to make an instant impact in, say, a relegation battle.
Once you've selected the information you want to view, such as a player's physical abilities, you can click on any of the category headings to sort players according to that criteria.
The Filter drop down gives you a string of options that allow you to create a new filter for players, manage your filter settings and apply some broad filters to help you examine potential targets. You should save your filters here if you waiver from the preset positional ones and those on the Transfer List option, which shows which players are being actively offered for sale by their clubs.

Transfer Tools
If you want to make a more precise search of the list you should use the Customise option on the Filter drop-down menu. This will bring up an option that will enable you to add a raft of criteria to your player search.
Probably the most useful tool is the Ask Assistant to Filter out Unrealistic Targets button. Check this to eliminate players from your search who could not be tempted to join your club by all but the most unfeasible financial package. This should stop you from wasting time in the pursuit of transfer targets that will never sign for your club.
Click Add Condition and select from the menu of search conditions to begin whittling down your list of players. Selecting attributes will enable you to choose a player attribute to base your search on. Once you've done this you can set a minimum, maximum or range condition for your criterion clicking on the raised panel to adjust the settings or using the plus and minus button to raise or lower the number manually.
If you click the Add button, you'll add a criterion field for your player search. This remains blank until you specify what grounds you want to search for. Note that you can search for both the criteria or click the setting to adjust the search to seek one OR the other.
When searching for a player you may want to concern yourself with more than the basics, such as their position and a key attribute. You must consider the tactical balance of your side as you sign players. You may want, for instance, to seek out an aggressive player to balance a more cultured partner on the field, or insist that everyone on your side is a good passer, irrespective of their position, to fit in with your passing ethos.
Other useful tools here include being able to set a price limit so you can eliminate targets that are beyond your budget (see Finances), though you should note that clubs may be prepared to accept less than the full market value for a player if they are keen to sell him.
Other factors in the myriad of search options will help you to find a player who is more likely to settle in to life at your club. Choosing to filter out players who don't speak the native language of your side will eliminate the language barrier. Plus, trying to find players who count your side among their favourites could ensure you're pursuing stars who are more predisposed to joining you than another outfit. Every such advantage will prove helpful when it comes to seeing off the challenge of clubs vying for your target's signature.

Quick Search
If you have a specific player in mind you are best advised to use the Search tool indicated by a magnifying glass icon on the top menu bar. Typing in the space provided and clicking the magnifying glass icon will perform a search by name and can help you cut to a target you favour from the real world or a recommended player. Football Manager's burgeoning community is often a source for player recommendations. See Community for website addresses where you'll find advice on good signings, or visit Sports Interactive's official community forums for further information.

Quick Comparison
The Include Own Players option is useful for making a quick comparison between players at other clubs and your own squad members. Selecting this option also enables you to perform a Player Comparison more quickly.