Lacking money and goals on Career Mode? If you are starting off with a lower league side it can be difficult to get yourself going on FIFA 18. Many clubs have financial restrictions as part of their managerial objectives, so you need to be cautious with your cash. Don’t panic though, as we at RealSport have found all high potential strikers than should fit into your budget.
READ: FIFA 19: Best cheap high potential strikers (ST & CF)
How to choose the best cheap high potential players in FIFA 18 Career Mode
We are looking at the best cheap high potential strikers on FIFA 18’s Career Mode. We have also included centre forwards (CF) in our list. All of these players can be signed for less than £5 million, and they have the potential to hit at least 81 in Career Mode. They are players who will grow with the stature of you club, which is vital for success. We have compiled our top 10 by looking at player potential, age and player stats.
Advantages of cheap high potential players
Patience is the key with these high potential players. They may not fire you to success straightaway, but they can be nurtured into some of the best players in the world. You are affectively signing 85 or 84 rated players 10 years ahead of their peak, so you need to offer them enough game time for them to hit those levels. By making a move for a high potential player early, you can save yourself up to £70 million.
Ben Brereton (OVR 66 – POT 85)
Age: 18
Positions: ST, RM
Club: Nottingham Forest
Country: England
Work rate: High/High
Best stats: 88 acceleration, 85 sprint speed, 72 dribbling
Cost: £3 million (release clause)
Wage: £5,000
Ben Brereton is one of the Championship’s hottest prospects. The 18-year-old emerged as a regular for Nottingham Forest at the start of 2017, making 18 appearances in the second half of the season. The striker or right midfielder now needs to find the goals to take him to the next level, netting just three times for Forest.
The England U19 international has a 66 overall rating and 85 potential on Career Mode. His best stats are his 88 acceleration, 85 sprint speed and 72 dribbling, making him a real handful for defenders. He can be yours for just £3 million on the game, with his wages only £5,000 a week.
Jann-Fiete Arp (OVR 64 – POT 85)
Age: 17
Positions: ST
Club: Hamburg
Country: Germany
Work rate: Medium/Medium
Best stats: 68 reactions, 68 agility, 66 sprint speed
Cost: £2.4 million (release clause)
Wage: £5,000
With 14 goals in 15 appearances for Germany U17s, you can see why people are excited about Jann-Fiete Arp. The striker made his debut for Hamburg earlier this season, and his performances at youth level (46 goals in 52 games for Hamburg U17s and U19s) should encourage Markus Gisdol to give him more chances.
Leo Jaba (OVR 69 – POT 84)
Age: 18
Positions: ST, LM
Club: Terek Grozny
Country: Brazil
Work rate: High/Low
Best stats: 84 sprint speed, 78 acceleration, 74 dribbling
Cost: £4.3 million (release clause)
Wage: £11,000
Striker or left midfielder Leo Jaba has made the brave move of leaving Brazilian giants Corinthians for Terek Grozny of Russia in the summer of 2017. The 18-year-old has notched just twice in 12 games for his new employers, and he now needs to focus on improving that return.
Jaba has 84 sprint speed, 78 acceleration and 74 dribbling on FIFA 18, which helps make up his 69 overall. His 84 potential makes him a player you need to consider, especially for a price of £4.3 million and £11,000 a week wages.
Patrick Cutrone (OVR 69 – POT 84)
Age: 19
Positions: ST
Club: AC Milan
Country: Italy
Work rate: High/Medium
Best stats: 72 finishing, 72 positioning, 70 heading accuracy
Cost: £4.6 million (release clause)
Wage: £25,000
Someone who hasn’t had a problem finding the back of the net is AC Milan striker Patrick Cutrone. The 19-year-old has five goals in 11 games for Milan this season, and judging by his four goals in as many games for Italy U21s, he's going to be a top talent.
His 69 overall rating is made up by 72 finishing, 72 positioning and 70 heading accuracy. His £4.6 million release clause and £25,000 a week wages make him slightly more expensive than others, but it's worth it for his 84 potential.
Alexander Isak (OVR 68 – POT 84)
Age: 17
Positions: ST
Club: Borussia Dortmund
Country: Sweden
Work rate: Medium/Medium
Best stats: 80 acceleration, 78 agility, 77 sprint speed
Cost: £3.7 million (release clause)
Wage: £16,000
Just 17, Borussia Dortmund’s Alexander Isak has already represented and scored for the Swedish national side. The striker moved from native side AIK to Dortmund in January 2017, shortly after making his debut for Sweden. In his second match against Slovakia, he opened the scoring in a 6-0 rout.
His 68 overall at such a young age shows how talented he is, and for only £3.7 million you would get a man with an 84 potential. His wages of £16,000 a week are worth it for his 80 acceleration, 78 agility and 77 sprint speed.
Myziane Maolida (OVR 66 – POT 84)
Age: 18
Positions: ST
Club: Olympique Lyonnais
Country: France
Work rate: Medium/Medium
Best stats: 77 sprint speed, 76 acceleration, 74 dribbling
Cost: £3 million (release clause)
Wage: £9,000
Striker Myziane Maolida has made the breakthrough to the first team at Lyon this season, appearing four times for the Ligue 1 club. The 18-year-old has impressed for the French youth teams, where he currently has four goals in seven matches for the U19s.
On FIFA 18, you will need to pay £3 million and £9,000 a week for Maolida. His 77 sprint speed, 76 acceleration and 74 dribbling make up his 66 overall, with his potential at 84.
Moise Kean (OVR 64 – POT 84)
Age: 17
Positions: ST
Club: Hellas Verona
Country: Italy
Work rate: High/Medium
Best stats: 69 finishing, 68 sprint speed, 68 acceleration
Cost: £2.2 million (release clause)
Wage: £4,000
One of Europe’s most promising talents, Moise Kean is waiting to grab the headlines. The 17-year-old is a product of the Juventus academy and scored his first goal for the club on the final day of the 2016/17 Serie A season. He has been loaned out to Hellas Verona for the current campaign, but this move has been made permanent on FIFA 18.
A 64 overall may not look special, but with an 84 potential he could become one of the very best in the world. £2.2 million and £4,000 a week wages is an absolute steal for the youngster, with his 69 finishing, 68 sprint speed and 68 acceleration braced to improve.
Nicolas Kuhn (OVR 62 – POT 84)
Age: 17
Positions: CF
Club: RB Leipzig
Country: Germany
Work rate: Medium/Medium
Best stats: 77 balance, 76 agility, 73 dribbling
Cost: £1.6 million (release clause)
Wage: £6,000
A rare ‘centre-forward’ now appears on our list. 17-year-old Nicolas Kuhn is not a conventional striker, preferring to play just off the number nine. The German is yet to record his first senior appearance for RB Leipzig, but he's shown his quality for Germany's U17s – netting six times in 10 appearances.
With 77 balance, 76 agility and 73 dribbling, Kuhn is a man who loves to drive at defenders, so don’t be put off by his 62 overall rating. His 84 potential can be yours for £1.6 million and £6,000 a week wages.
Driss Khalid (OVR 66 – POT 83)
Age: 18
Positions: ST, CAM
Club: Toulouse
Country: Morocco
Work rate: Medium/Medium
Best stats: 73 shot power, 73 acceleration, 72 dribbling
Cost: £3.1 million (release clause)
Wage: £5,000
Toulouse striker or attacking midfielder Driss Khalid has only just made his debut for the club, but he looks like he has great potential. The 18-year-old has three goals in four games for Morocco U20s, so keep an eye on his progress this season.
He will set you back only £3.1 million on Career Mode, a great price for his 66 overall rating and 83 potential. With 73 shot power, 73 acceleration and 72 dribbling on FIFA 18, he has various skills, and is worth a punt for his £5,000 a week wages.
Johannes Eggestein (OVR 66 – POT 83)
Age: 19
Positions: ST
Club: Werder Bremen
Country: Germany
Work rate: Medium/Low
Best stats: 73 agility, 71 finishing, 69 acceleration
Cost: £2.8 million (release clause)
Wage: £4,000
19-year-old striker Johannes Eggestein is beginning to flirt with being involved at Werder Bremen. The German made just one appearance last season, but has made two so far in the current campaign. He's worked his way up to the Germany U21 side, after netting 10 in 18 for the U17s.
£2.8 million is what you will need for the forward, with his wages just £4,000 a week. He’s definitely worth moving for with his 66 overall and 83 potential. His best stats of 73 agility, 71 finishing and 69 acceleration give you a glimmer of what the youngster is capable of.
More cheap high potential strikers
Player | Age | Pos | Club | Country | OVR/ POT | C | W |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Victor Osimhen | 18 | ST | Wolfsburg | Nigeria | 65/ 83 | £2.3m | £5k |
Thomas Olivier Amang | 19 | ST | Molde | Cameroon | 65/ 83 | £1.9m | £1k |
Abel Ruiz | 17 | ST LW RW | Barcelona B | Spain | 64/ 83 | £1.7m | £1k |
Erling Haland | 16 | ST | Molde | Norway | 61/ 82 | £1.1m | £880 |
Moussa Sylla | 17 | ST | Monaco | France | 60/ 83 | £1.1m | £3k |
Fedor Chalov | 19 | ST | CSKA Moscow | Russia | 69/ 82 | £3.7m | £14k |
Mosquito | 21 | ST | Arsenal de Sarandi | Brazil | 68/ 82 | £3.6m | £5k |
Dominic Calvert-Lewin | 20 | ST LM | Everton | England | 67/ 82 | £3.8m | £37k |
Conor Chaplin | 20 | ST | Portsm'th | England | 65/ 82 | £2.5m | £3k |
Amine Gouiri | 17 | ST | Lyon | France | 64/ 82 | £2m | £9k |
C = Cost
W = Weekly Wages
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Who are you going to sign on Career Mode? Let us know in the comments section below.