They say that defense wins championships, and midfield is the heart of a winning club, but all of that is worth nothing if you can’t put the ball in the goal when it matters. A world-beating striker can instantly transform a side and take it to a new level, and if you’re working on filling your Football Manager 26 squad out on a tight budget, then finding an effective budget signing is a must.
Whether you’re looking for an experienced player who can contribute to a developing side immediately or are buying for the future, trying to lock down your $200 million striker for less than $10 million, bargain shopping can be extra important at such an expensive position. Good strikers rarely come cheap, making these players outstanding buys.
Best Cheap Strikers In Football Manager 26
Shopping for more experienced players who are available on the cheap is an excellent way to inject some quality into your side. While older players may be devolving from their peaks, they are still plenty talented and, because of their older age, come with price tags far below that of a younger player of comparable, or even lesser, talent levels.
- Iago Aspas (Celta Vigo): Beloved among the Celta Vigo fans, Iago Aspas’ best days may be behind him, but that doesn’t mean his not-quite-best days aren’t still plenty good for plenty of sides. If you’re a team that is bargain hunting and needs somebody who can immediately contribute meaningful offense without rolling out the money truck, Aspas is a strong option.
- Rhian Brewster(Derby): For a younger option, you may instead look to Derby and Rhian Brewster. One of the hotter young prospects in England over the last half-decade, Brewster may not quite be a world beater, but he is a solid contributing striker at a young enough age that he can hold the position down until you progress to the point you’re buying bigger.
- Odsonne Edouard (RC Lens): A personal favorite of mine, having starred for my Celtic side in Football Manager 20, Edouard is a proven contributor in several of the top leagues in the. He’s available at reasonable costs, so you can add to your squad without hampering plans while still providing meaningful contributions from your new striker signing, helping you score the goals you need to keep progressing as a side.
- Luis Suarez (Inter Miami): If you don’t mind having players on your virtual team who are actual jerks, then Luis Suarez can still be a worthwhile contributor on a developing side. While he doesn’t have many years left in his legs and his elite physical tools have eroded somewhat, he’s still capable enough and in possession of enough technical skills to be a problem for teams anywhere but the absolute top levels of the sport.
- Danny Welbeck (Brighton & Hove Albion): Danny Welbeck is perhaps one of the more underrated players of the last decade and change. Despite having made meaningful contributions at two large clubs and becoming an important part of a Brighton side routinely punching above its weight, he’s often spoken of as someone who didn’t quite reach his potential, but he is still more than talented enough for bargain shoppers to find good use of him.
Best Cheap Wonderkid STs In Football Manager 26
Buying old can be fruitful, but buying young is exciting. Wonderkids are players with so much potential that it’s easy to get excited about bringing one in and creating the environment they need to reach their full potential and become elite, world-beating striking options. Snatch these young front men up now on the cheap and watch their talent and their values explode:
- Mikkel Bro Hansen (Bodo/Glimt): Norwegian side Bodo/Glimt have become the darlings of Europe in recent seasons, where their extreme cold weather has made them an unappealing away day for any sides. You can make things a little easier for FM teams a few seasons from now by taking this young striking prospect off their hands before he has the chance to cause terror in yellow and black.
- Sami Bouhoudane (PSV): While signing Bouhoudane requires pushing the boat out a little more than some other bargain signing, potentially tipping just into eight figures, for a player with 5-star potential at Barcelona, that’s still an absolute steal. He can already play, and he can win everything soon after, so lock him down while you can.
- Harry Gray (Leeds United): Another player on the upper limits of bargain but well worth the tag, Gray similarly has more than functional attributes now as a teenager with the potential ceiling of being a world elite goal scorer. You won’t regret grabbing him if you can get his signature on paper.
- Dastan Satpayev (FC Kairat): Smaller clubs, but with some level of big stage presence, can be an excellent place to find future stars in the form of players who are simply too big for their club yet capable of getting some major cup experience first. Satpayev is a great signing for a developing side to bring into the fold.
- Igor Tyjon (Blackburn): Currently plying his trade in the Championship with Blackburn, Tyjon has everything he needs to grow into an outstanding line leader for a side competing for the biggest trophies in world football. Move in for him early, give him the nurturing he needs to live up to that potential, and reap the benefits of doing so for many seasons to come.
With these strikers on board, your team will benefit from the talent they bring, the potential they hold, or both, all without going broke in the process. Is your favorite bargain striker on our list, or is there another steal we missed out on?
