Football Manager 2020: The best young strikers (ST) to sign - Mbappe, Jesus, Jovic & more

Everyone loves goal scorers. Strikers make the big bucks because you can't win games or trophies without putting the ball in the back of the net.

But this makes proven goal scorers some of the most expensive players around.

If you want to dive into the market for a new front man then you will have to jump in a little early. Signing a young striker can be the kind of move that drives you up the table and keeps the board and supporters happy as the goals fly in.

How to choose the best young strikers (ST) in Football Manager 2020

In this article we will be looking for the very best strikers in FM20. The players included here will be aged 23 or younger when you start your save (usually June 2019) and have their natural position at striker.

We are looking for those with the best current ability around and aren't concerned about nationality, location, or secondary position abilities.

READ MORE: How to get the pre-game editor for FM20

Remember, star ratings only reflect how good a player would be in your squad, so these current ability stats are the surest way of making sure you are getting the very best possible player.

Kylian Mbappe (CA 181 - PA 196)

Age: 20

Position(s): AM (RL), ST

Club: Paris Saint-Germain

Country: France

Best Attributes: 20 pace, 20 acceleration, 18 dribbling

Value: £91 million

Wage: £350,000 a week

It should be no surprise to see Kylian Mbappe atop this list. The Paris Saint-Germain striker is already a global superstar after his 2018 World Cup heroics and superb performances for his club.

Mbappe brings perfect speed of 20 pace and 20 acceleration to FM20, along with 18 dribbling, 18 composure, and 18 flair. His CA of 181 already makes him one of the best players in the game, while his potential ability of 196 means he could soon overtake Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo as the very best.

Gabriel Jesus (CA 156 - PA 175)

Age: 22

Position(s): AM (RL), ST

Club: Man City

Country: Brazil

Best Attributes: 17 agility, 17 off the ball, 16 dribbling

Value: £49 million

Wage: £90,000 a week

Next up is Man City's up-and-coming star Gabriel Jesus. He may have been well behind Sergio Aguero when he arrived in 2017, but has started to break through in recent months. He's also already racked up over 30 caps for his country.

READ MORE: RealOpinions - FM20 shines with smaller clubs

Jesus is not close to the player Mbappe is, but he can be a star for teams straight away. With 17 agility, 16 technique, and 16 work rate he can create and punish with the ball. His 156 CA has plenty of room to improve too.

Luka Jovic (CA 156 - PA 170)

Age: 21

Position(s): ST

Club: Real Madrid

Country: Serbia

Best Attributes: 18 finishing, 18 off the ball, 17 balance

Value: £45 million

Wage: £165,000 a week

Luka Jovic began his career with Red Star Belgrade, before moving to Benfica in 2016. He spent most of his time there on loan in Frankfurt but in 2019 he made a big £50 million move to Madrid.

Jovic is already deadly in front of goal, bringing 18 finishing and 18 off the ball to FM20 when you start your save. He also has a solid 15 pace and 16 anticipation. His 156 current ability has room to grow, but he will be hard to pry away from Madrid.

Lautaro Martinez (CA 154 - PA 175)

Age: 21

Position(s): ST

Club: Inter Milan

Country: Argentina

Best Attributes: 19 determination, 17 flair, 17 technique

Value: £35.5 million

Wage: £46,000 a week

Lautaro Martinez is the next star striker for Inter Milan. He made the move over from Racing Club in 2018 for £20 million and immediately started to make his mark. In 2019 he has established himself as the star man.

READ MORE: Top 10 wonderkid strikers to sign

In FM20 he has a massive 19 determination together with 17 flair and 16 anticipation. His 15 finishing isn't great but he has a strong 154 current ability with a massive 175 PA that will see his quality if front of goal improve.

Anthony Martial (CA 152 - PA 172)

Age: 23

Position(s): AM (L), ST

Club: Man Utd

Country: France

Best Attributes: 19 dribbling, 19 flair, 17 acceleration

Value: £47 million

Wage: £180,000 a week

Anthony Martial still qualifies for this list, and his high rating may be a surprise to Man United fans. The Frenchman has rarely featured at the top of the line for United, but he is a natural striker in FM.

With 19 dribbling and 16 agility he can twist defenders in knots, while his 15 finishing and 15 first touch makes him pretty deadly in front of goal.

Krzysztof Piatek (CA 152 - PA 163)

Age: 23

Position(s): ST

Club: AC Milan

Country: Poland

Best Attributes: 19 determination, 18 finishing, 18 anticipation

Value: £30.5 million

Wage: £55,000 a week

Krzysztof Piatek made his move to Italy in 2018, joining Genoa. He only stayed there for a year before AC Milan came calling with a £30 million move.

READ MORE: Top 10 wonderkid goalkeepers to sign

In FM20 Piatek is deadly in front of goal with his combination of 18 finishing, 18 anticipation, and 17 composure. His 152 CA has some room to grow, making him the perfect poacher for your team.

Timo Werner (CA 151 - PA 161)

Age: 23

Position(s): ST

Club: RB Leipzig

Country: Germany

Best Attributes: 18 pace, 18 acceleration, 17 balance

Value: £32.5 million

Wage: £115,000 a week

Timo Werner came up with Sttutgart before making his move to Leipzig in 2016. Since then he has gone on to become the leading forward for both club and country while still just being 23 years old.

In FM20 Werner is a speedster. With 18 pace and 18 acceleration he can chase down every ball. With his 16 work rate and 16 off the ball he is a superb player even without the ball. Werner's 151 CA still has room to grow so if you need some speed up front he is your man.

Diogo Jota (CA 147 - PA 164)

Age: 22

Position(s): AM (L), ST

Club: Wolves

Country: Portugal

Best Attributes: 17 determination, 17 flair, 17 aggression

Value: £33.5 million

Wage: £55,000 a week

Wolves are not a club you would associate with star players, but that has changed in recent years. Diogo Jota arrived 2017 as a loanee from Porto, but signed permanently in 2018 and has been a regular scorer for them.

READ MORE: FM20 - All the best free agents to sign

Jota is a star with the ball at his feet. With 16 dribbling, 16 acceleration, and 16 agility, he can twist his way through a defence, while his 17 determination and 17 flair make him a strong creative talent too. Jota has a 147 CA but there is a long way to go before you hit his ceiling.

Maxi Gomez (CA 147 - PA 155)

Age: 22

Position(s): ST

Club: Valencia

Country: Uruguay

Best Attributes: 18 heading, 17 strength, 17 concentration

Value: £25.5 million

Wage: £43,000 a week

Maxi Gomez arrived in Europe in 2017 with Celta Vigo before moving to Valencia in July 2019 for around £10 million along with a few players going the other way.

Powerful strikers are rarer and rarer these days, but Maxi Gomez is just that. With 17 strength he can hold up the ball, while his 18 heading, 16 jumping, and 16 finishing he is also a superb player for anyone that likes to focus on long balls or set pieces.

Moussa Dembele (CA 146 - PA 162)

Age: 22

Position(s): ST

Club: Olympique Lyonnais

Country: France

Best Attributes: 16 finishing, 16 acceleration, 16 determination

Value: £19.25 million

Wage: £58,000 a week

Moussa Dembele came up at Paris Saint-germain but got his senior team start at Fulham in 2013. After three years there he moved to Celtic before heading back to France with Lyon in 2018 in a £20 million move.

READ MORE: FM20 Touch - Best tactics & formations

Dembele has long been a favourite of FM players, and this year should be no different. With 16 finishing, 16 off the ball, and 16 determination he is a good striker to sign for almost any team, while his 162 PA provides him with plenty of room for improvement.

All the best young strikers (ST) to sign