FIFA 17 Career Mode: Bargain Buy XI

With the ‘Global Transfer Network’ brought into Career Mode a few years’ ago, it is now quite difficult to find talent on FIFA 17. To find talent that you can sign on the cheap is even harder, but fear not, RealSport has you covered. We bring you an entire side of players you can sign for an absolute bargain. The key here is to not necessarily look for older players, but for ones who only have a year remaining on their contract. For similar players, look at our Top Contract Expiry Signings.

Goalkeeper

Iker Casillas (OVR 82 – POT 82) £6 million

Not a bad one to start with, three-time Champions League, two-time European Championship and World Cup Winner Iker Casillas. The 35-year-old may not be at the level he was during his hay-day at Real Madrid, but if you are a mid-table to bottom half side at a top tier club, signing the Spaniard would be a shrewd move. The now Porto man could still offer you a season or two as a first choice or replacement keeper, with his 86 reflexes, 85 diving and 80 positioning still making him one of the best goalkeepers in the world. His wages of £50,000 means you won’t have to break the bank for the stopper.

Defence

Stephan Lichtsteiner (OVR 83 – POT 83) £7 million

A bit of a marmite figure in the football world, but there is still no doubting the ability of Juventus right-back Stephan Lichtsteiner. The Swiss, who can also operate as a right midfielder, has now lost his place in the Juve side to Dani Alves, which lowers his transfer price even more. With 88 stamina, 84 sprint speed and 84 aggression, the 32-year-old still has all the tools to make him a top full-back. His wages of £65,000 are just about worth it considering he has only just past his peak.

Per Mertesacker (OVR 83 – POT 83) £8.5 million

Not a popular one on FIFA, given his appalling pace, but in technical defending, few are better than Arsenal’s Per Mertesacker. Given the signing of German compatriot Shkodran Mustafi joining him at The Emirates, it seems unlikely that the former Werder Bremen man will be given a new contract at the end of the season. With just one year to go on his deal, he can be snapped up cheaply, with the 31-year-old offering 88 marking, 88 standing tackles and 88 interceptions in the game. His wages of £65,000 once again make him a sensible enough signing.

Gonzalo Rodriguez (OVR 83 – POT 83) £7 million

Not a renowned name, but that can play into your hands by signing Fiorentina centre-back, Gonzalo Rodriguez. The 32-year-old Argentine only has a handful of caps for his country, spending the vast majority of his career with Spanish side Villarreal. On FIFA 17, he offers 86 interceptions, 86 heading accuracy and 86 jumping, making him a real threat from set-pieces. Wages of £58.000 make him a useful signing for any top-tier club.

Benoit Tremoulinas (OVR 81 – POT 81) £7 million

One of the unsung heroes in the now very strong Sevilla side, left back Benoit Tremoulinas has perhaps slightly too late to be recognised as one of the world’s best. With 87 stamina, 86 crossing and 82 sprint speed he will not let you down, and at the age of 30, he still has a few seasons at the top left in him. His wages of £43,000 make him close to the ‘no-brainer’ category, especially with many sides looking for a useful left back in Career Mode.

Midfield

Thiago Motta (OVR 82 – POT 82) £5 million

Not someone who grabs the headlines at Paris Saint-Germain, but having Thiago Motta in the side allows the likes of Edinson Cavani, Hatem Ben Arfa and Angel di Maria to stay forward and cause havoc. With Grzegorz Krychowiak arriving in the summer and Adrien Rabiot improving by the game, appearances are going to be hard to come by for the Italian. With so many options available in midfield at PSG, he is able to be signed very cheaply, for which you will receive 89 aggression, 85 long passing and 84 short passing. His wages of £43,000 make him one of the biggest coups on the game.

Axel Witsel (OVR 82 – POT 83) £12 million

Someone who doesn’t often receive many plaudits, Axel Witsel is one of the best box-to-box midfielders in world football. He may regret moving to Zenit back in 2012, but it looks as if the 27-year-old Belgian will be playing for Juventus next season. He is in the final year of his contract out in Russia, and with the potential to be playing at the top for the next five seasons, it is worth going in for him early. The central or defensive midfielder has 86 composure, 85 stamina and 85 ball control, all for £79,000 a week wages.

Ricardo Quaresma (OVR 83 – POT 83) £9 million

Cristiano Ronaldo and Nani led the line for Portugal during Euro 2016, but replacement Ricardo Quaresma must not be forgotten. The Besiktas wide midfielder scored the crucial goal in extra time in the second round against Croatia, and he came on in the final after Ronaldo’s early injury. Now 32, he is entering the final phase of his career, but with 92 curve, 89 dribbling and 88 crossing, he still has plenty of life left in him. His five-star skills sweeten the deal, making him worth the £65,000 wages.

Danny (OVR 82 – POT 82) £8.5 million

Danny has always been a useful FIFA player but has never seemed to make the grade in real life. The 33-year-old Portuguese has spent much of his career out in Russia with Dynamo Moscow and now Zenit St. Petersburg, meaning he may not have reached his potential had he been in a more competitive league. That said, the attacking midfielder and left winger still offers 84 agility, 83 composure and 83 dribbling, all for a wage price of £65,000.

Michael Krohn-Dehli (OVR 82 – POT 82) £7 million

Michael Krohn-Dehli is another important part of that Sevilla well-oiled machine, operating as a left, central or attacking midfielder. The 33-year-old may be slightly too old to take a punt on, but if you need cover in midfielder for a season, he should definitely come into your thinking. The Dane offers 86 vision, 86 crossing and 85 long passing, making him an old-fashioned wide man who is not all about pace. His wages of £36,000 per week may just persuade you to take him on.

Attack

David Villa (OVR 82 – POT 82) £5.5 million

David Villa is still scoring goals. The former Valencia and Barcelona front man has scored a whopping 40 goals in 62 games for New York City in the MLS, but with just one year to go on his contract, he may be eying one final big move in his career. That could be back to a European club, with his till impressive FIFA stats of 88 penalties, 86 finishing and 86 positioning making him a useful player to bring off the bench. The European Championship, World Cup and Champions League winner has wages of just £22,000, making him a must-buy for any club with a low budget. 

Know of any other bargain players who should be on this list? Let us know in the comments.

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