It might be your server, maybe you're at a high league level relative to your server. What level are you on btw? If at least level 5, it should be easy for you to sell 1* players. It's possible to sell them at level 4 as well, when they will be 4* to level 1 managers.

I'm at a pretty low level for my server, so I can find plenty of 5* players on auctions all the time. Bidding early in the T11 day, I can get players for 1 token.