Football Manager 27 is here at last - well, almost. The hugely popular game which allows players to step into the virtual managerial hotseat is now available for a free early release period, which allows gamers to get stuck into the eagerly anticipated follow-up to FM26 with a whole weekend of access, which ends on November 3rd.

The full game will be launched on November 10th, and the early buzz suggests that the game will be a significant improvement on FM26, which drew heavy criticism from gamers and professional streamers alike - many of whom had issues with the radically overhauled user interface that was a stark departure from the style of its universally beloved predecessors.

This weekend will see hundreds of thousands of players get stuck into their first saves on the cripplingly addictive management simulation franchise. With that in mind, we’ve loaded up the game and trawled through the extensive player database to find the ten best free agents you could sign on FM27 without spending a single penny of your transfer budget.

FM27 best free agents - Paul Pogba to Sergio Ramos

Where better to start than with Ex-Manchester United and Juventus superstar Paul Pogba? The 33-year-old is in the twilight of his career, but could be up for one last challenge after leaving Monaco following pre-season. He’s still got some tasty attributes to offer, with high teen scores for flair, technique, passing and free-kicks. A gamble, of course, but for a mid-level club with the necessary financial muscle he could be dynamite.

Speaking of gambles - let’s be honest, the entire list of ten players here are shots in the dark - ex-Inter and Galatasaray striker Mauro Icardi is also up for grabs. He’s been linked with a host of Premier League sides, but still hasn’t found a new club. His physical stats aren’t great, but his finishing ones are phenomenal, and he netted 16 goals for Galatasaray just last season.

Jadon Sancho is another top quality player on the free agent market, having been released by Manchester United at the end of last season. He was a Europa League winner on loan at Aston Villa last season, and at 26-years-old, he’d be an excellent investment. His agility, technique, dribbling and first touch all sit in the coveted green attribute colour scheme.

Another free agent name who could be considered is ex-Chelsea star Raheem Sterling, who clearly still has unfinished business as a footballer following his release from Ajax. The four-time Premier League winner has bags of experience at the highest level, and surely just needs to the right environment to get back to his best.

Fancy doing your bit for the aged? Then look no further than football icon Sergio Ramos, who is still up for grabs at the grand old age of forty. You wouldn’t be sticking him in an Ange Postecoglu style kamikaze high defensive line any time soon, but with a 20 for determination and 19 for leadership, he could have one last hurrah in a suitably stodgy back line.

FM27 best free agents - Oleksandr Zinchenko to Conor Coady

Oleksandr Zinchenko’s career has been cruelly derailed by a knee injury, but with that now behind him, the former Arsenal and Nottingham Forest gem is very much up for grabs. His work rate, passing, composure and teamwork numbers are all top notch, and he could still do a decent job for a mid-level Premier League side or a higher profile team in Europe.

Ex-Manchester City sensation Riyad Mahrez is also on the star-studded free agents list. He’s getting on a bit in footballing terms at 35-years-old, but still has respectable physical stats, a whopping 20/20 rating for first touch, and pleasing scores for crossing, dribbling, and technique. He could be a lot of fun at a club like Celtic, say.

Anthony Martial is also well worth a look. Since leaving Man United’s he’s been off playing in both Greece and Mexico, so he’s clearly willing to cover some miles to find a new club. His dribbling, first touch and physical stats are all pretty tasty, plus with a 15 rating for penalties, you’d get yourself a reliable scorer from the spot too.

Raphael Guerreiro is a real FM favourite, and now he could be yours for nothing more than a signing fee and a few thousand quid in a suitcase begrudgingly handed over to his agent. He’s got some phenomenal technical attribute numbers for a free agent, and does pretty well on the mental and physical front too. Sign him quickly: there will be plenty of competition.

Rounding us off, why not take a leaf out of Chelsea’s book and bring in an aging English war horse to get your dressing room under control? 33-year-old Conor Coady is there for the taking, and has some splendid mental attributes guaranteed to bring some order to the squad. Like Ramos, however, you’d need to work your tactics around him if he’s going to get regular minutes.