90min

Players to Sign in a FIFA 21 Manchester United Career Mode

By Mitch Wilks

There's always work to be done at Man Utd on FIFA with such a huge transfer budget
There's always work to be done at Man Utd on FIFA with such a huge transfer budget / Xavier Laine/Getty Images
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FIFA Career Mode. The game where all those who aren't good enough for Ultimate Team - and Manchester United fans - come to die.

Jokes aside, there's always a lot of fun to be had when taking the reigns of a club and trying to predict the future with some smart business and winning some silverware along the way. Manager Career Mode has had a significant face lift in FIFA 21 and sections of the game are now more interactive than before.

Be it taking a club from the pits of the lower divisions to top level glory or restoring the pride in a fallen giant, there's loads of ways you can take the game. An interesting one to tackle is always United; the stupendous budget and recent underperformance means anyone can feel like they deserve a crack at the job in real life.

There's a lot of work to be done in a United career this year, but also a lot of fun to be had. Here's who to be eyeing up when in charge of the Red Devils...

1. Jadon Sancho (Borussia Dortmund)

Sancho never got his move to Old Trafford this summer, thus career mode is the only place to rectify that
Sancho never got his move to Old Trafford this summer, thus career mode is the only place to rectify that / DeFodi Images/Getty Images

Position: Right Winger
Age: 20
Original Rating: 87
Potential Rating: 93

This should be every United fan's first bit of business.

Sign him. Just sign him. Don't ask questions, don't haggle over a fee, don't leave it until deadline day for a laugh - pay the fee Borussia Dortmund ask for and do what Ed Woodward couldn't.

It won't alleviate all the pain brought on from this summer's saga, but it'll definitely help with the tears before bed every night. It'll get your Career Mode off to a flying start, too.

2. Dayot Upamecano (RB Leipzig)

Upamecano is one to snap up quickly before he becomes too expensive
Upamecano is one to snap up quickly before he becomes too expensive / DeFodi Images/Getty Images

Position: Centre Back
Age: 21
Original Rating: 79
Potential Rating: 90

The Red Devils needed a new centre back just as much - and if not more - as a right-sided attacker this summer but alas, it didn't happen. Of course it didn't.

United have been linked with Upamecano in recent times and he fits the profile of players they're trying to target under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. In Career Mode, he's one for the future with that huge potential, and his 88 jumping and 90 strength already make him a better option than Victor Lindelof.

3. Kalidou Koulibaly (Napoli)

Koulibaly was long linked with a move to Manchester City, so why not bring him to United instead?
Koulibaly was long linked with a move to Manchester City, so why not bring him to United instead? / DeFodi Images/Getty Images

Position: Centre Back
Age: 29
Original Rating: 88
Potential Rating: 88

Because it's Career Mode, why not go all out and splash the cash available? Harry Maguire is a decent defender, but he was never worth £85m and never will be. Replacing him in real life isn't going to happen, but it can and should happen in-game.

Koulibaly is one of many options to sure up a new-look United defence, but going with the Napoli man purely to get one over on Manchester City feels appropriate. He's also very good, boasting 94 strength, 91 marking and a high defensive work rate.

4. Rayan Cherki (Lyon)

At just 16 when the game starts, Cherki is set to become a Career Mode legend
At just 16 when the game starts, Cherki is set to become a Career Mode legend / PHILIPPE DESMAZES/Getty Images

Position: Centre Attacking Midfielder
Age: 16
Original Rating: 67
Potential Rating: 88

United are always looking for youth talent with high potential, so it makes complete sense to snap up Cherki as soon as possible.

He already boasts five star skills and a five star weak foot at just 16 (upon the start of the game) and is available for dirt cheap. It's a low risk, high reward signing with such a big transfer budget and one that should be made in any Career Mode if possible. One for the future.

5. Denis Zakaria (Borussia Monchengladbach)

Zakaria would be a solid coup from Borussia Moenchengladbach
Zakaria would be a solid coup from Borussia Moenchengladbach / DeFodi Images/Getty Images

Position: Defensive Midfielder
Age: 23
Original Rating: 83
Potential Rating: 87

With Nemanja Matic well and truly in the autumn of his career, a defensive-minded midfielder needs to be on the shopping list in a United Career Mode.

There are always the obvious options who would cost more money but have an instant impact, and then there are the more exciting ones. Monchengladbach's Denis Zakaria fits the bill, boasting 84 composure, 84 stand tackling and 87 strength, as well as decent passing stats.

Zakaria looked a different class in the Bundesliga last season before suffering an unfortunate knee injury, but he still remains hot property.

6. Erling Haaland (Borussia Dortmund)

Erling Haaland is a career mode must-have
Erling Haaland is a career mode must-have / DeFodi Images/Getty Images

Position: Striker
Age: 20
Original Rating: 84
Potential Rating: 92

The Norwegian finishes the shortlist, in a bid to round off United's attacking options while adhering to a youthful transfer policy.

Haaland has proven just how much of a world beater he's set to become in real life, so there's no surprise he's one of the best young strikers in the game. He gives your side the finishing touch in the box and allows for another style of play - potentially even a two-striker formation with Mason Greenwood.

An eventual front three of Sancho, Haaland and Greenwood doesn't sound bad by any means.