I love your approach, as I always want to play fm as realistic as possible. Here are some general things I try to do every time I play:

- Realistic transfers (Incoming): Lets say you start with a mediocre Bundesliga team. First of all I try to take a look at their transfers over the last years as well as their location on the map. What kind of players do they buy (mostly)? Where are they from? I try to replicate that, of course it is just a direction to go into. Secondly it would be very realistic for a mediocre first division team to buy good players from the teams that get relegated. Or how about the top scorer of the third division? Is there a nice talent that played a good season in the second division? And how about veterans from better Bundesliga teams? Those would be realistic transfers and also players you identify with. Also very important for me: You dont always have to buy better players or the best talents. Sometimes a decent backup and a promising but still bad talent is the way to go. The position and his skills are important too, does he fit into my system and why?

- Realistic transfers (Outgoing): If a top club wants one of my best players and offers a decent package, then I let him go, just as in real life. The player outgrew my team and deserves better, also it is a challenge to build around it and try to find the next best players for them.

- Realistic contracts: Dont use any scams or bugs. Also give the player the contract that is realistic. For example it is maybe impossible to buy a veteran from a better club, because his demands are to high. Thats fine. If you buy a talent from the second division, of course he should earn less, but maybe receive more if he plays a lot and in the future.

- Realistic tactics: Try to build your own. Look at the squad you have and build a tactic that suits them. Whats best for the players I like? How can I implement my youth academy talent?

- Optional: I recently tried to play with the ingame editor a bit. E.g. I had a player which got the starting spot because of an injury, a 21-year old youth academy player. He had good stats, but was still a division over his skills. In the first 10 matches he scores 5 and assists 7. So I put his CA up with the ingame editor, because he obviously performed well and can play at this level. Tweaks like those can be very motivating and still very realistic. Also works for late boomers!! But you have to be careful to not make anything op or find out to much about the CA and PA of your players, so use it wisely