Finding a young, talented attacking midfielder these days is hard work. With so much awareness needed to play in that position, numbers 10s don’t tend to appear until they are in their 20s. If you look hard enough on FIFA 18’s Career Mode, there are some incredibly talented youngsters, and they won't cost you an arm and a leg.
READ: FIFA 19: Best cheap high potential attacking midfielders (CAM)
How to choose the best cheap high potential players in FIFA 18 Career Mode
Here we are looking at the best cheap high potential attacking midfielders (CAM) on FIFA 18’s Career Mode. All of these players can be bought for £5 million or less, meaning they should fit the budget of the smaller clubs, and not stop you from getting first team stars in the transfer window. These players all have the potential to hit at least 80, so they can progress into important first team players. We have compiled our top 10 by looking at player potential, age and player stats.
For a full list of our cheap high potential attacking midfielders, please look at the table towards the end of this page.
Advantages of cheap high potential players
In signing these type of players, you are saving yourself a mountain of cash down the line. If you move early for these players, you can save yourself as much as £80 million. Your aim with these youngsters is to give them game-time where appropriate and use them regularly in training. If that is too much of an ask, then you need to loan them out so they can get the minutes they need on the pitch.
Angel Gomes (OVR 64 – POT 89)
Age: 16
Positions: CAM, LW, RW, CM
Club: Manchester United
Country: England
Work rate: High/Low
Best stats: 90 balance, 82 agility, 75 acceleration
Cost: £2.4 million (release clause)
Wage: £8,000
Although having made just one appearance for Manchester United, Angel Gomes has been labelled as one of England’s brightest talents. The 16-year-old attacking midfielder, winger or central midfielder has five goals in 11 appearances for England U17s so don’t be surprised if more Manchester United opportunities come the youngster’s way later in the season.
On the game Gomes has a 64 overall rating and his potential of 89 matches the current rating of the best attacking midfielder on the game, Kevin De Bruyne. £2.4 million is a fantastic price for a player of that talent, with his weekly wages of £8,000 no problem at all.
Elias Abouchabaka (OVR 63 – POT 85)
Age: 17
Positions: CAM
Club: RB Leipzig
Country: Germany
Work rate: Medium/Medium
Best stats: 74 agility, 71 balance, 67 ball control
Cost: £1.5 million (release clause)
Wage: £5,000
RB Leipzig have a reputation for giving youth a chance, and Elias Abouchabaka looks to be the new kid on the block. The German is yet to turn out for Leipzig, but with 23 goals in 47 appearances for their U17 side, it's only a matter of time. For their U19s he has two goals and eight assists in nine games, and he has eight goals in 14 for Germany U17s.
For the man with an 85 potential you will need just £1.5 million and £5,000 a week wages. For that price, you will get the 63-rated Abouchabaka with 74 agility, 71 balance and 67 ball control.
Vincent Thill (OVR 64 – POT 84)
Age: 17
Positions: CAM, CF
Club: Metz
Country: Luxembourg
Work rate: High/Medium
Best stats: 86 balance, 80 agility, 76 sprint speed
Cost: £2.6 million (release clause)
Wage: £2,000
With already 12 caps for Luxembourg at the age of 17, you know attacking midfielder or centre forward Vincent Thill is going to be a top talent. He's made just two appearances for French club Metz, and is yet to feature this season, so fans will need to be patient to see him in action.
Luxembourg’s youngest ever goal scorer has earned an 64 overall rating on FIFA 18, with his best skills being 86 balance, 80 agility and 76 sprint speed. £2.6 million is a great price for Thill, who has an 84 potential. With wages of just £2,000 a week, you need to jump in as soon as possible to sign him.
Brahim Diaz (OVR 63 – POT 85)
Age: 17
Positions: CAM, CF, RM
Club: Manchester City
Country: Spain
Work rate: High/Medium
Best stats: 82 balance, 79 agility, 78 acceleration
Cost: £2.8 million (release clause)
Wage: £13,000
Just one senior Manchester City appearance is as far as Brahim Diaz has got, but the 17-year-old does have 10 goals and seven assists for City’s U23 side. Intentionally, the 17-year-old attacking midfielder, centre forward or right mid has worked his way up to the Spain U21 side, which is no mean feat.
For just £2.8 million you can get hold of Diaz, but his wages of £13,000 a week may be slightly steep for the 63-rated teenager. With a potential of 85, and stats of 82 balance, 79 agility and 78 acceleration, can you be tempted to make a move for him?
Houssem Aouar (OVR 69 – POT 84)
Age: 19
Positions: CAM, LW
Club: Olympique Lyonnais
Country: France
Work rate: High/Medium
Best stats: 77 balance, 76 sprint speed, 75 acceleration
Cost: £5 million (release clause)
Wage: £15,000
The 19-year-old Houssem Aouar already has more appearances this season than during the whole of the last campaign for Lyon, so he may become a regular by the end of the season. The attacking midfielder or left winger has made four starts for the French club, scoring once, so keep an eye on his progress this year.
On FIFA 18 you will need to bid £5 million and match his £15,000 a week wages to get hold of him, which just squeezes him into our cut-off for cheap players. With a 69 overall, he can already be a valuable member of the squad for a bottom half or second tier club, with his stats of 77 balance, 76 sprint speed and 75 acceleration making him a danger going forward. His potential of 84 makes him good enough for any side.
Leandrinho (OVR 65 – POT 84)
Age: 18
Positions: CAM
Club: Napoli
Country: Brazil
Work rate: Medium/Low
Best stats: 86 sprint speed, 82 acceleration, 80 balance
Cost: £2.3 million (release clause)
Wage: £7,000
Despite moving to Napoli from his native Brazil in January 2017, Leandrinho is still waiting for first team minutes in Italy. The 18-year-old attacking midfielder has been useful for their youth team, scoring six times and grabbing three assists in 13 games, as well as 11 goals in 16 games for Brazil U17s.
The youngster has a 65 overall on the game, with the potential to hit 84. With 86 sprint, 82 acceleration and 80 balance, he is a clear threat, so you should not hesitate to sign him. Leandrinho will cost you £2.3 million with a further £7,000 a week for his wages.
Phil Foden (OVR 65 – POT 84)
Age: 17
Positions: CAM, CM
Club: Manchester City
Country: England
Work rate: Medium/Medium
Best stats: 83 agility, 79 balance, 78 acceleration
Cost: £2.3 million (release clause)
Wage: £13,000
He may be a long way from getting any first team action at Manchester City, but Phil Foden has managed to build a reputation through some great performances for England U17s. The 17-year-old attacking or central midfielder has eight goals in 16 games at that level, and is currently in the squad that has made it to the semi-finals of the U17 World Cup.
The City man’s 65 overall rating consists of 83 agility, 79 balance and 78 acceleration, making him a serious threat in between the lines. With a potential of 84, you should seriously consider making the £2.3 million move for Foden, but with wages of £13,000 a week he may just be outside of your budget.
Laszlo Benes (OVR 69 – POT 83)
Age: 19
Positions: CAM, CM, LM
Club: Borussia Monchengladbach
Country: Slovakia
Work rate: Medium/Medium
Best stats: 78 balance, 77 agility, 76 short passing
Cost: £4.6 million (release clause)
Wage: £9,000
After 10 appearances for Borussia Monchengladbach last season, the 19-year-old Laszlo Benes is on the cusp of a breakthrough. He has made just one start so far this campaign, but as the season wears on, expect him to become more important for ‘Gladbach.
The attacking, central or left midfielder has 78 balance, 77 agility and 76 short passing which contribute to his 69 overall. £4.6 million and £9,000 a week wages may be at the top-end of your budget for a young player, but Benes will not let you down with his 83 overall.
Mason Mount (OVR 65 – POT 83)
Age: 18
Positions: CAM, CM
Club: Vitesse Arnhem
Country: England
Work rate: Medium/Medium
Best stats: 75 agility, 75 balance, 72 acceleration
Cost: £2.1 million (release clause)
Wage: £2,000
Mason Mount is in fact on loan from Chelsea at Vitesse Arnhem, but that move has been made permanent on FIFA 18. The 18-year-old is a regular for England U19s, and is becoming more and more prominent at Vitesse with 13 appearances so far this season.
Mount’s 65 overall on FIFA 18 is helped by 75 agility, 75 balance and 72 acceleration. For just £2.1 million you can get hold of the teenager, with only £2,000 a week wages needed to secure his 83 potential.
Tomas Andrade (OVR 68 – POT 82)
Age: 20
Positions: CAM
Club: River Plate
Country: Argentina
Work rate: Medium/Medium
Best stats: 84 sprint speed, 82 agility, 82 stamina
Cost: £3.7 million (release clause)
Wage: £9,000
River Plate have produced the likes of Hernan Crespo, Pablo Aimar and Radamel Falcao over the years, and Tomas Andrade could be the next superstar to make the breakthrough. The 20-year-old attacking midfielder made 13 appearances last season, and must now target a starting spot at the club.
You can get hold of Andrade for just £3.7 million on Career Mode, which will get you his 84 sprint speed, 82 agility and 82 stamina. Those skills contribute to his 68 overall, and with a potential of 82, you should be able to stretch for his £9,000 a week wages.
More cheap high potential attacking midfielders
Player | A | Pos | Club | Country | OVR/ POT | C | W |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Giorgi Chakvetadze | 17 | CAM | Gent | Georgia | 64/82 | £1.7m | £3k |
Hannes Wolf | 20 | CAM CF ST RW | Red Bull Salzburg | Austria | 62/82 | £1.4m | £7k |
Domingos Quina | 17 | CAM CM LM | West Ham | Portugal | 62/82 | £1.5m | £7k |
Ollie Watkins | 21 | CAM LW ST CM | Brentford | England | 68/81 | £3.8m | £17k |
Kevin Soni | 19 | CAM LM | Girona | Cameroon | 64/81 | £2m | £3k |
George McEachran | 16 | CAM CM | Chelsea | England | 59/81 | £878k | £4k |
Kevin Salazar | 21 | CAM | Santa Fe | Colombia | 67/81 | £3m | £2k |
Ilzat Akhmetov | 19 | CAM CM RM | Rubin Kazan | Russia | 64/81 | £1.8m | £6k |
Exequiel Beltramone | 18 | CAM LM | Talleres de Cordoba | Argentina | 61/81 | £1.1m | £1k |
Callum Gribbin | 18 | CAM LW RW | Man United | England | 63/81 | £1.6m | £9k |
A = Age
C = Cost
W = Wage
Who are you looking to sign on Career Mode? Let us know in the comments section.
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