The perfect player to sign for every position on FM21
By Tom Gott
2021 is in full swing, and your Football Manager 2021 save should be as well.
If you're looking to make an immediate push to win Europe's biggest trophies, you're going to need to make some major splashes in the transfer market. Whether you're addressing a weak spot or simply trying to move closer to global dominance, there's plenty of players to choose from.
Let's take a look at some of the most perfect players available in each position, and then a cheaper option for teams who maybe don't have bottomless funds.
Goalkeeper - Andre Onana (Ajax)
Ajax stopper Andre Onana is in the upper echelon of goalkeepers in FM21, but he's one of the very few you can actually buy without throwing out a £100m+ bid.
What makes Onana so exciting is that he is just 24 years old, so not only does he have plenty of time to improve, but he can give you close to a decade of elite service in between the posts. If you want to sign a new goalkeeper, he's your man.
Budget option: Dominik Livakovic (Dinamo Zagreb)
Right Back - Joshua Kimmich (Bayern Munich)
It should come as no surprise to learn that Bayern Munich's Joshua Kimmich is one of the best players on the planet, but despite having that status, he's actually not as unaffordable as you might think.
Sure, you'll have to offload a handful of players to find the funds needed to lure Kimmich away, but it'll all be worth it in the end. This is an elite talent who can dominate in almost any position on the pitch. He's about seven players thrust into one.
Budget option: Kevin Mbabu (Wolfsburg)
Centre-Back - Milan Skriniar (Inter)
Napoli's Kalidou Koulibaly is an obvious first choice, but for us, it's important to plan for the future, and that's why Inter's Milan Skriniar gets the nod.
Skriniar comes with elite physical and defensive stats, making him the ideal man to shore up your defence for the foreseeable future, and he's got the potential to grow into an all-time great with the right management.
Budget option: Alessio Romagnoli (Milan)
Left-Back - Nicolas Tagliafico (Ajax)
A popular choice by real scouts across the globe, Ajax man Nicolas Tagliafico seems destined to make a big move at some point in the near future, and you'd be wise to make sure it's you at the front of the queue for his signature.
A defensive specialist, Tagliafico also boasts the mental attributes needed to shine on the biggest stage. He's the kind of player who can lead you to the big time.
Budget option: Ramy Bensebaini (Borussia Monchengladbach)
Defensive Midfield - Corentin Tolisso (Bayern Munich)
An all-round superstar, Corentin Tolisso fits the bill for a number of positions on the team sheet, but we'll take advantage of his aggressive play style to throw him in at the base of the midfield.
There are better players available for the job, but you'll struggle to find any available at a similar price range to Tolisso. Bayern's embarrassment of riches in midfield, coupled with his recent injury struggles, means he's fairly easy to lure away from the German giants.
Budget option: Diadie Samassekou (Hoffenheim)
Central Midfield - Sergej Milinkovic-Savic (Lazio)
Another of those who rarely finds himself away from the gossip column, Sergej Milinkovic-Savic has blossomed into a true superstar during his time with Lazio.
He's a modern midfielder - tall and powerful, yet agile and technically gifted - meaning he can hold his own against any opponent. In the right role, you're looking at one of the most reliable goal threats in the game.
SMS will cost a lot, but he's so worth it.
Budget option: Roberto Gagliardini (Inter)
Right Midfield - Leon Bailey (Bayer Leverkusen)
You'll have to pay a fair bit of money to lure Leon Bailey away from Bayer Leverkusen, but can you really put a price on a player who can genuinely compete for individual honours galore for the next decade?
A 23-year-old Jamaica international who is capable of shining on both wings, Bailey ends up at one of Europe's biggest teams on almost every FM save, so you better get in early to make sure you're at the front of the queue.
Budget option: Robert Skov (Hoffenheim)
Left Midfield - Memphis Depay (Lyon)
After a tricky spell in England, Memphis Depay has really rediscovered himself with Lyon, and he's now one of the most dangerous forwards around.
His base position is a left winger, so that's where you'll get the maximum impact from the 26-year-old, but he'll have no problem stealing the show anywhere across the attacking line, including at striker.
Budget option: David Neres (Ajax)
Attacking Midfield - Luis Alberto (Lazio)
If you need to know anything about Luis Alberto's play style, just look at his statistics from the 2019/20 Serie A season. The Spaniard bagged six goals and a whopping 16 assists, establishing himself as one of the most creative players on the planet.
Throw a decent offer at Lazio to show you mean business and they won't stand in your way of the playmaker, who boasts 18s in both passing and vision. His 14 finishing isn't bad either.
Budget option: Matteo Pessina (Atalanta)
Striker - Erling Haaland (Borussia Dortmund)
Probably the most in-demand player on the entire planet, Borussia Dortmund's Erling Haaland is a young superstar with the potential to get frighteningly better. 18 finishing and 16 composure at 20 years old? Yes please.
Signing Haaland will hurt your bank balance in the short run, but the prize money from all the European titles will make it all worth it soon enough.
Budget option: Yussuf Poulsen (RB Leipzig)