This is where you can get the ball rolling on your approach for a player. A successful Football Manager will only swoop for a player once he has total confidence that the target will be a good acquisition for the club. Using scouts and careful player searches is essential if you are to sign a player who will please your fans, fit into your squad and actually improve your chances of success on the field.
Once you're satisfied you've got the right target, making a transfer bid is a potentially complex tactical affair in itself. Barging in with a straight bid for the asking price is not always the best way forward.

Overview
In the overview box you can see three vital pieces of information: the value of the player, the funds you have left in your transfer kitty and, if they are not closed to offers, the amount the club are asking for their player.
It's really down to you to assess the true value of that player's services. He may be on the wane or in a full squad of players and unlikely to feature for his rivals, and therefore potentially available in a cut-price deal. Similarly, you might see him as the final piece in the jigsaw to complete your side and therefore worth many times his actual value. You choose the player and make the offer, so as long as you're prepared to face the wrath of the fans and your chairman, it's your decision how to value him.

Basic Offer
Be smart. Many clubs will hide their true valuation of a player and it may take careful negotiation to acquire a player without paying through the nose. You certainly don't have to go in all guns blazing with a full bid, or even try to sign a player permanently at all.
The Offer type option enables you to simply enquire about a player in a bid to defer the opening shot in any transfer negotiation. And remember - even if a club responds in the News section that a player is not available at any price - every player has their price. It's simply a question of finding a level of offer that will tempt the club to sell. Be aware of your other options before you bid too highly, however. Getting carried away with a £50m bid for a top striker could mean you miss out on two £25m players who are just as good, but at clubs more willing to cash-in on their assets.
If you are unsure of a player's ability it pays to offer him a trial. Do so and you can select him in the reserve team to see how he performs and directly compare his ability with your current crop of players. The Loan route enables you to take the player on a temporary basis, often avoiding a huge transfer fee that you may not be able to afford. This latter option is ideal for newly promoted clubs looking to establish a foothold in a division but without the funds to land performers at their new level on a permanent deal.
Use the first option bid to earmark a player who is a hot prospect, or one who is currently happy at his club that you want to be first in the queue for, should he leave. You can always Declare Your Interest in a player on whom you have first refusal in order to unsettle him and make a move more likely.
Of course, the most straightforward bid is the Transfer offer. You can set a fee, a date for the transfer and make your offer non-negotiable if you wish to force the hand of the selling club. However, making non-negotiable offers and then returning with an improved proposal will do your reputation no good.
One key feature of all transfer approaches is the deadline. Though many clubs will welcome time to mull over a deal, and may refuse an offer as a knee-jerk reaction when pressurised, this is a good way of hurrying a move along. Use this option when you are hoping to steal ground on rivals who may also uncover your target and make bids, or when the transfer deadline is approaching and you need to push a deal through in double quick time.

Additional Clauses and Fees
Most clubs want cash up front for their players. Almost every club would prefer such a deal, so if you decide to avoid an up front cash deal to ease the pressure on your coffers, be sure to compensate the selling club by bumping up the overall value of the transfer.
When selling a younger player it's always worth trying to build-in a sell on clause as the player's value is bound to rise and the likelihood of a young player transferring again is high. Such boosts to your finances will be welcomed down the line.
It also pays not to become too frivolous with dishing out additional fees. Putting off large payments based on appearances, for instance, may help to sway a deal now, but it could come back to haunt you.
The same cannot be said for spreading payments, which will help you to remain active in the transfer market and take advantage of the interest accrued from having money in the bank. Such concerns will be in the mind of all top Football Managers who seek to use every aspect of the game to help their quest for glory, no matter how small.

Players To Exchange
This is not necessarily an easy way to offload a player you either don't want or you can't sell. Rival clubs will not see an exchange player purely in financial terms and will only be interested in acquiring a player who fits into their squad. If you can offer a player who is on the selling club's wanted list, there'll be a good chance they'll be interested in a deal, provided you have sweetened the offer elsewhere in the smallprint. Failing this, a player who could step into the gap left by the one you are acquiring from a club may suit them better as it will prevent them from the costly process of seeking a suitable replacement.
If you are looking to swiftly conclude a transfer it often pays to leave third parties out of the deal. After all, even if the other club is interested in your player he may not be interested in them and, even if he is, he may not be prepared to accept the contract deal they're offering him.

Comments
This box summarises the total value of any transfer and highlights any crucial points of information, such as indicating joint ownership, a situation where more than one club owns a player's contract. In this latter scenario you'll be forced to negotiate with all parties involved in the deal.