So the transfer window is closed, and your team is in desperate need of added steel - what do you do?
Hunt down a free agent of course, and there are few free agents of a higher pedigree than Ghana midfielder and former Juventus, Udinese and Fenerbache star Stephen Appiah.
Appiah has been linked with a raft of Premier League clubs in recent times, including Tottenham, Arsenal, Fulham, Blackburn, Sunderland, West Ham and Everton - but just how good is he?
With the help of our friends at Championship Manager - we've compiled an in-depth scouting report into the African super-star...
Stephen Appiah
Date of Birth: 24th December 1980
Nationality: Ghanaian
Club: Unattached
Position: Central midfielder
Transfer Value: Free agent.
Career History
Appiah began his career at Ghanaian side Heart of Oak before moving to Italy where he had spells at Udinese, Parma, Brescia, and Juventus. Turkey was his next destination in 2005 when he signed for Fenerbahce, though he was released towards the end of 2008 after a year of injury problems. He has been a free agent since then and has had a number of unsuccessful trials, most notably at Tottenham in January.
Playing Style
Appiah is a strong box-to-box midfielder with a good engine who is a good all round player. He likes to get forward and help out with attacks and will chip in with a few goals, but the defensive side of his game is probably his strong suit, and he is also comfortable operating as a defensive midfielder.
Strengths
His physical strength, pace, work-rate, and stamina, combined with his shooting, passing, tackling abilities make him a superb all round midfield player.
Weakness
At present his biggest weakness is his fitness and the fact he has been very injury prone in recent years. Other than the occasional appearance for Ghana he hasn’t played regular football since leaving Fenerbahce last year, and his recurrent knee problems mean signing him would be a gamble for the buying club.
What Next?
He has reportedly applied for an Italian passport and looks set to return to Serie A.
Catania looks like the most likely destination, but once he gains Italian citizenship he would no longer count as a foreign player, so other Italian clubs might also show an interest.
Talentspotter Ratings
• Overall 7.5
• Shooting 8.5
• Passing 7.8
• Heading 7.0
• Tackling 7.3
• Pace 8.3
• Work-rate 8.0
• Crossing 7.5
• Creativity 6.8
• Dribbling 8.1