Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard, Bastian Schweinsteiger, Xavi, Andrea Pirlo; all world class central midfielders. If you want to find a player of their ability you'll need to fork out a lot of cash on Career Mode. Instead, you should plan for the future, and look for players who can go on and become the best in the world. In doing so, you can save yourself a lot of money.
READ: FIFA 19: Best cheap high potential central midfielders (CM)
How to choose the best cheap high potential players on FIFA 18 Career Mode
We are looking at the best cheap high potential central midfielders in FIFA 18’s Career Mode. All of these players have the potential to hit at least 80 on the game, but they will cost less than £5 million to sign. They are young players who can grow into some of the best on the planet. In compiling this list, we have looked at player potential, age and cost.
For a full list of our cheap high potential players, visit the table near the end of this page.
Advantages of cheap high potential players
Saving money is the massive plus point of purchasing these types of players. For central midfielders, you could save yourself as much as £50 million from buying these players so early on in their careers. You must make sure to give them plenty of game-time however, and to use them regularly in training. If you feel you can’t get them on the pitch enough, send them out on loan to get the football they need.
Andre Dozzell (OVR 64 – POT 84)
Age: 18
Positions: CM, CAM
Club: Ipswich Town
Country: England
Work rate: Medium/Medium
Best stats: 81 balance, 80 agility, 77 sprint speed
Cost: £2.4 million (release clause)
Wage: £3,000
Part of the England U19 side that won the European Championships last summer, Andre Dozzell is now looking to establish himself for Championship club Ipswich. The 18-year-old central or attacking midfielder made nine appearances for The Tractor Boys last season, but with the side once again set for another mid-table season, Dozzell should get more opportunities.
The youngster’s 64 overall rating on FIFA 18 is helped by 81 balance, 80 agility and 77 sprint speed, with his potential a very strong 84. You will need just £2.4 million to get hold of the Ipswich man, with his wages only £3,000 a week.
Mickael Cuisance (OVR 63 – POT 84)
Age: 18
Positions: CM, CAM
Club: Ipswich Town
Country: England
Work rate: Medium/Medium
Best stats: 81 balance, 80 agility, 77 sprint speed
Cost: £2.4 million (release clause)
Wage: £3,000
It’s Mickael Cuisance’s first season in professional football, with the central midfielder earning his reputation by progressing through the France youth teams. The 17-year-old has made nine appearances for Bundesliga club Borussia Monchengladbach this season, including three starts.
81 curve, 78 agility and 77 acceleration contribute to Cuisance’s 63 overall rating, and he can be yours for just £1.9 million. For wages of £3,000 a week, you can get hold of the man with an 84 potential.
Dante Rigo (OVR 66 – POT 83)
Age: 18
Positions: CM
Club: PSV Eindhoven
Country: Belgium
Work rate: Medium/Medium
Best stats: 76 short passing, 74 vision, 73 ball control
Cost: £2.3 million (release clause)
Wage: £2,000
PSV central midfielder Dante Rigo has only just made his debut for the club, but his progress for the Belgium youth sides explains why he has such a strong reputation. The 18-year-old has worked his way up from Belgium U15s to the U19s, and after making his first appearance for PSV, expect him to continue to grow.
With a 66 overall and 83 potential, Rigo is a great signing on Career Mode. His 76 short passing, 74 vision and 73 ball control are promising stats, and they can be yours for just £2.3 million. His wages of £2,000 a week should be no problem at all.
Matty Cash (OVR 66 – POT 83)
Age: 19
Positions: CM, RM, CAM
Club: Nottingham Forest
Country: England
Work rate: Medium/Low
Best stats: 83 sprint speed, 82 agility, 79 stamina
Cost: £3 million (release clause)
Wage: £4,000
Someone with a lot more professional pedigree is Nottingham Forest’s Matty Cash. The 19-year-old central, right or attacking midfielder has made 42 appearances for the club in the space of just two seasons, with the youngster yet to feature in the current campaign after suffering an ankle injury.
The Englishman’s 66 overall rating consists of 83 sprint speed, 82 agility and 79 stamina. With a potential of 83, £3 million is a great price for Cash, and his wages are just £4,000 a week.
Gianluca Gaudino (OVR 69 – POT 82)
Age: 20
Positions: CM, CDM
Club: Chievo Verona
Country: Germany
Work rate: Medium/Medium
Best stats: 82 agility, 81 balance, 80 short passing
Cost: £4.1 million (release clause)
Wage: £7,000
It’s been an up-and-down start to Gianluca Gaudino’s career. The 20-year-old made the breakthrough at Bayern Munich during the 2014/15 season, but then struggled to maintain that success, and was sent out on loan to St Gallen for a season and a half. Regular football there earned the central or defensive midfielder a summer move to Chievo Verona, but he is yet to feature in Italy.
With a 69 overall, Gaudino can be a useful addition from the get-go, and then become a first team regular as he approaches his 82 potential. You will need to wait until January to make the £4.1 million move for Gaudino, with his weekly wages of £7,000 just about worth it.
Igor Bezdenezhnykh (OVR 68 – 82)
Age: 20
Positions: CM, CAM
Club: FC Ufa
Country: Russia
Work rate: Medium/Medium
Best stats: 81 agility, 78 interceptions, 77 sprint speed
Cost: £3.8 million (release clause)
Wage: £11,000
There have been no such troubles for Ufa’s Igor Bezdenezhnykh, who has chalked up 31 appearances for the Russian club over four years. With 18 starts last season, he is becoming an important part of the side, and he could make a late surge for the Russia squad for their home World Cup next summer.
The 20-year-old central or attacking midfielder has 81 agility, 78 interceptions and 77 sprint speed on the game, with his overall rating at 68. £3.8 million is a good price for Bezdenezhnykh’s 82 potential, but his £11,000 wages are likely to turn you away.
Salih Ozcan (OVR 66 – POT 82)
Age: 18
Positions: CM, CAM
Club: FC Koln
Country: Germany
Work rate: Medium/Medium
Best stats: 74 agility, 74 balance, 72 ball control
Cost: £2.7 million (release clause)
Wage: £4,000
A squad rotation player at Koln, the 18-year-old Salih Ozcan is one of the brightest talents in Germany. The central or attacking midfielder has played in every Germany side from U15 to U20 level, and he should continue to rise after getting opportunities in the Europa League this season.
Ozcan will set you back £2.7 million on Career Mode with his wages only £4,000 a week. For that price you will get Ozcan’s 66 overall and stats of 74 agility, 74 balance and 72 ball control. With his potential of 82, the starlet would be a great addition to your squad.
Nedim Bajrami (OVR 62 – POT 82)
Age: 18
Positions: CM, CAM
Club: Grasshopper
Country: Switzerland
Work rate: Medium/Medium
Best stats: 75 sprint speed, 73 acceleration, 72 short passing
Cost: £1.3 million (release clause)
Wage: £2,000
18-year-old central or attacking midfielder Nedim Bajrami has made the step-up to the first team at Swiss club Grasshopper. The Switzerland U19 international has already made 13 appearances this season, so don’t be surprised if his 62 overall rating gets increased over the next couple of months.
With 75 sprint speed, 73 acceleration and 72 short passing, Bajrami is an obvious threat in the final third. For just £1.3 million you can get his 82 potential, and his wages are just £2,000. A perfect signing for a smaller club.
Raphael Guzzo (OVR 70 – 81)
Age: 22
Positions: CM, LM, CAM, RM
Club: Reus Deportiu
Country: Portugal
Work rate: Medium/Medium
Best stats: 81 shot power, 75 ball control, 75 balance
Cost: £4.6 million (release clause)
Wage: £5,000
If you want versatility, Reus Deportiu’s Raphael Guzzo is your man. The 22-year-old can operate as a central, left, attacking or right midfielder, making him a superb signing on Career Mode. The Portugal U21 international is surely set for greater things than the Spanish Segunda Division.
With a 70 overall, Guzzo can have an impact straightaway at your club. His 81 shot power, 75 ball control and 75 balance means he can arrive late into the box and smash the ball home. For those stats you will only need £4.6 million and £5,000, so make sure you train him regularly to get him up to his 81 potential.
Jean Thierry Lazare Amani (OVR 69 – POT 81)
Age: 19
Positions: CM
Club: Eupen
Country: Ivory Coast
Work rate: High/High
Best stats: 81 agility, 80 balance, 79 acceleration
Cost: £2.6 million (release clause)
Wage: £4,000
If you want pace from the centre of midfield, Jean Thierry Lazare Amani is your man. The Ivorian was a regular starter for Belgian side Eupen last season, and if he continues to develop it will not be long before he gets the attention of bigger clubs around Europe.
Lazare Amani has a 69 overall and 81 potential on the game, with his best stats being his 81 agility, 80 balance and 79 acceleration. £2.6 million is all you will need to secure him, with his wages only £4,000 a week.
More cheap high potential central midfielders
Player | Age | Pos | Club | Country | OVR / POT | C | W |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Suat Serdar | 20 | CM CDM | Mainz | Germany | 69/ 81 | £3.1m | £11k |
Edimilson Fernandes | 21 | CM CAM RWB | West Ham | Switzerland | 69/ 81 | £3.4m | £31k |
Vincent Marcel | 20 | CM RM | Nice | France | 68/ 81 | £3.8m | £12k |
Moses Odjer | 20 | CM | Salernitana | Ghana | 67/ 81 | £3.2m | £3k |
Mathieu Cafaro | 20 | CM | Stade Reims | France | 66/ 81 | £3m | £2k |
Giulio Maggiore | 19 | CM | La Spezia | Italy | 65/ 81 | £2.2m | £880 |
Jean-Victor Makengo | 19 | CM CAM | Nice | France | 65/ 81 | £2.5m | £4k |
Ivan Oblyakov | 18 | CM CAM | FC Ufa | Russia | 64/ 81 | £1.8m | £4k |
Ryan Ledson | 19 | CM CAM CDM | Oxford United | England | 64/ 81 | £2m | £2k |
Sam Field | 19 | CM CDM | West Brom | England | 64/ 81 | £2.1m | £8k |
C = Cost
W = Wage
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