Although it seems obvious, the value of having at least one reliable goalscorer cannot be understated. Managers can spend an endless amount of time fine-tuning their tactical approach, training routines, and set pieces, but if the team is struggling to find the back of the net, it can all be for nothing.
The importance of goalscorers for a team has unsurprisingly meant that strikers are historically the most expensive players on the pitch. Football Manager 21 hits this fact home, as top goalscorers like Kylian Mbappé and Harry Kane are only available for purchase if teams can stump up well over £100 million ($139,441,800). Thankfully, teams looking to strengthen on a budget have a handful of options available to rejuvenate the side’s end-product for a reasonable fee.
NOTE: For those interested in the star ratings for the player’s listed below, it’s worth pointing out that the pictured reports were done using Manchester United’s scouting team, so the ratings will reflect their needs and standards.
10 Christian Benteke
It’s fair to say that Premier League striker Christian Benteke hasn’t been in the best goal-scoring form in recent seasons, hence why the Belgian is available for such a reasonable price in Football Manager 21. Benteke may not have the best finishing stats, but his aerial ability and strength make him a great option for teams looking to play with a Target Man.
Christian Benteke is valued at £7.5 million ($10,443,337) but is available for around £5 million ($6,962,225). The Belgian is unfortunately injured at the start of the game. However, he should still pass a medical near to the end of the summer transfer window, provided that he doesn’t sustain another injury.
9 Zakaria Aboukhlal
Zakaria Aboukhlal is a Dutch striker for Eredivisie side AZ Alkmaar. Aboukhlal is starting to show his potential in real-life this season, scoring four goals in seventeen appearances, a respectable return for his age. The player isn’t ready to lead the line for a team in one of the top leagues, but he is still a great long-term option or potential starting player for smaller clubs.
Aboukhlal has a value of £2.2 million ($3,065,139), but AZ Alkmaar are likely to ask for around £7 million ($9,755,417) for his services.
8 Wilfried Bony
Former Manchester City and Swansea City striker Bony is available for a grand total of £0 at the start of Football Manager 21, as the player begins the game as a free agent. Despite being a free agent, Wilfred Bony has an impressive collection of stats, including 15 Pace, Technique and Balance, 18 Strength, 16 Composure, 14 Off The Ball, and 13 Anticipation making the Ivorian worth a punt for many clubs.
Wilfred Bony unsurprisingly has numerous clubs keeping tabs on him at the start of the game, so you’ll need to act fast to secure his signature.
7 Stevan Jovetic
From one former Manchester City player to another, Stevan Jovetic struggled to make an impact during his time at the Manchester club due to an unfortunate injury record. The Montenegro national begins the latest Football Manager game at AS Monaco and can be obtained for as little as £5 million ($6,972,075).
Stevan Jovetic is a fantastic option for managers looking to add a technically gifted player to their front line. The striker has an impressive collection of Passing, Vision, Flair, and Technique attributes, making him an ideal Depp Lying Forward or False Nine.
6 Mario Balotelli
Yet another player on this list who joined and left Manchester City in a short span of time, Mario Balotelli may never have reached his high potential at the Manchester club, but fans fondly remember him for assisting Sergio Agüero’s title-winning goal in 2012. The Italian’s Work Rate of 5 and Determination of 7 is a red flag for many managers, especially those who demand high work rates from their players. However, Balotelli may still be worth a punt as his First Touch, Balance, and Technique make him a tantalizing option.
Much like Wilfred Bony, Mario Balotelli is a free agent at the start of Football Manager 21.
5 Alexandre Pato
Despite playing for teams like AC Milan, Chelsea, and the Brazilian national side, many people consider Alexandre Pato’s career a disappointment, as he was one of the world’s most hyped young prospects during his time at Sport Club Internacional. The Brazilian is worth a punt for teams in need of an Advanced Forward, as his impressive Dribbling, Acceleration, Pace, and Off The Ball stats make Pato a solid option for those looking for a striker that can get in behind the opposition’s defensive line.
Alexandre Pato is the third but not the final player on this list who begins Football Manager 21 as a free agent.
4 Jesé
Once considered to be the answer to Spain’s offensive issues, it’s fair to say that Jesé hasn’t lived up to the high expectations placed on his shoulders at a young age. Paris Saint-Germain F.C. are evidently ready to take a token fee for the Spaniard at the start of Football Manager 21, as he is transfer listed for just £1.6 million ($2,230,8400).
The negativity around the player shouldn’t put people off from considering Jesé as a transfer target. Not only does he have numerous impressive attributes, but he can also play comfortably in a handful of different positions.
3 Simone Zaza
Unfortunately for Simone Zaza, his career is likely to be forever remembered for his infamous penalty miss at EURO 2016. However, as long as the Italian isn’t put on spot-kick duty, he is certainly worth considering for many teams.
Simone Zaza has an excellent range of stats for the Pressing Forward role, exemplified by his Work Rate of 16, Aggression of 18, Determination of 19, and Teamwork of 15. The Italian striker is valued at £5.25 million ($7,318,237) in Football Manager 21 but can be purchased for just £3 million ($4,182,105) with some good negotiating.
2 Daniel Sturridge
The fourth and final free agent on this list, most people will remember Daniel Sturridge’s time at Liverpool, where he and Luis Suárez almost fired the Merseyside team to the title before Gerrard’s famous slip and a loss to Crystal Palace handed the title to Sturridge’s former side Manchester City.
Daniel Sturridge isn’t likely to bang in goals for fun like he did in the 2013/2014 season, and his injury record is certainly a red flag. Still, the English striker’s attributes speak for themselves, and he could be an absolute steal given his free-agent status.
1 Matías Arezo
Whereas many of the strikers on this list are aging players who are worth a punt in hopes of squeezing a few good years out of them, Matías Arezo is one of the best young prospects in the world right now. The Uruguayan has five goal contributions in seven appearances for River Plate in real-life this season, meaning that the young forward could be involved in a huge transfer battle between some of Europe’s biggest sides when the summer transfer window opens.
Despite being such an exciting player, Matías Arezo can be prized away from River Plate for as little as £1.5 million ($2,091,697), making him one of the best buys at any position in Football Manager 21.
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