I'm currently at level 3 but have tried to sign players at all times of the day (pretty much) I have even bid just before the server goes down for daily maintenance (wit me as the only bidder) and have still gotten nowhere with them bids. I have brought several players in almost a whole squads worth over my previous season and a half but it has cost me quite handsomely in terms of tokens (before any scout listed players) so much so that in the end I've resorted to buying scout listed players (because I know i'll definitely get them for 50 tokens) I had one player in particular last season which cost me around 30 tokens and I didn't even get him (but he would have been a vital part of my team, this went on til about 28th negotiation round). I'm not currently at a level where I can do direct transfers therefore they cost a fortune in tokens.
And with all due respect I don't have time to be up at like 4 in the morning local time to bid on players.