We’re back with the second part of our FIFA 16 career mode bargain buys and youth potential guide, and this time around we’re going to hone in on the sort of precociously talented youngsters you should be focusing your efforts on provided your budget is a little more weighted than before.
Make no mistake, the players listed below are by-and-large the crème de la crème of youthful potential in FIFA 16; an adept bunch of starlets all destined to hit the upper echelons of footballing esteem provided they get the sort of care and tutelage necessary for their respective talents.
It’s worth bearing in mind, however, that some of these players are currently on loan or have recently joined a new club meaning that they cannot be bought straight off the bat. But given the fact that they’re some of the game’s most celebrated youngsters it’s worth pursuing them once you’re able to.
After all, it’s never good to make wholesale changes to your starting XI as soon as you have the capacity to do so – just look at Tottenham Hotspur in 2013.
With all that said, here’s our rundown of the best young talents in FIFA 16 for teams with above-average budgets.
Goalkeeper Top Pick: Kepa Arrizabalaga (on loan)
As mentioned in the previous FIFA 16 career mode bargain buys article, it’s never too hard to find a young ‘keeper who’s incredibly highly rated in FIFA. They’re a dime a dozen in fact. In light of that, it’s best we go with a player whose first name is as close to the word ‘keeper’ as possible. In step Kepa Arrizabalaga, a stock 74-rated behemoth currently plugging away on loan at Real Valladolid with eyes on a far bigger prize in the future.
While not on the level of the likes of David De Gea and Thibaut Courtois just yet, Arrizabalaga hits his stride with a rating of 87, which comfortably cements him as one of the most promising ‘keepers around and a definitive choice between the sticks for this particular team.
Right-Back Top Pick: Kenny Tete (£5.5 million)
When considering a suitor for the right-back position there’s a lot of aspects you’ve got to weigh up. Given that the position, along with the opposite flank, requires an inordinate amount of concentration and a keen realization of the balance between attack and defense, you’ve got to find a talent that has all these traits in abundance, and one such player that has, is Dutch youngster Kenny Tete. A player who’s as defensive sharp as he is adept at bombing up the field, Tete very much encompasses the modern full-back and as such is a shoo-in for inclusion within nearly any starting XI.
Beginning his journey with a rating of 75, (peaking at 83) Tete can dominate the right-side area of the pitch for any allotted time provided you see it fit to slot him in at full-back.
Centre-back Top Picks: Jaïro Riedewald & Tin Jedvaj (£6.5 million, £6 million)
It’s well documented that the Dutch National Team is currently under the cosh due to a plethora of problems, ranging from inept managing and tactical suppositions, to under-performing players and a general disinterest in how the team fairs. If there’s one thing they can take solace in, however, it’s just how many insanely talented youngsters they have rising up the ranks. One such player, and indeed one half of our centre-back partnership, is Jaïro Riedewald, Ajax’s energetic and tough-tackling superstar who you have to think will be transferring to one of the biggest teams on the continent provided he continues his development arch in earnest.
With a stock rating of 75 and a potential for it to hit 86, (exactly the same in both respects to his defensive partner below) Riedewald’s inclusion is a no-brainer.
Few can argue against the Bundesliga being one of the best leagues in world football for atmosphere, skill, and general feel-good factor. It’s also got its fair share of precociously-talented youngsters, one of which being Tin Jedvaj, the Croatian centre-back starlet currently plying his trade with ambitious side Bayer Leverkusen. Don’t let the long hair and relatively timid exterior fool you, this youngster is the modern defensive package.
A tactically astute 19-year-old that excels in all areas of the centre-back playbook, Jedvaj’s stock rating of 75 grows to a well-balanced 86 proving conclusively that under the right tutelage this Croatian prodigy can light up any aspiring young team.
Left-Back Top Pick: Dzhamaldin Khodzhaniyazov (recently joined)
Dzhamaldin Khodzhaniyazov is a name you don’t hear all too often, presumably because it’s a bit of a chore just to say it. With that said, one thing that cannot be doubted is his talent which has shone brightly ever since his debut for the Russian Under 21s last year. An enterprising left-back who’s effectively a jack of all trades, Khodzhaniyazov is just the sort of no-nonsense player that’s necessary for one of the most underrated areas of pitch. Providing cover and balance for when the left-side of midfield wants to go on an adventure up field, the Turkmen-born whippersnapper is an excellent pick if you’re looking for steady improvement and longevity in the left-back position. He’s available for peanuts, too, once you can prise him from Danish club AGF.
Central Midfield Top Pick: Youri Tielemans (£11 million)
Astute players of last year’s iteration of FIFA should be well aware of Youri Tielemans, the midfield dynamo who, if he stays on course and realizes his potential, should be the most sought-after young midfielder in world football within two years. For us, he’s the first name on the team sheet. A skilled, dynamic midfielder, Tielemans has the highest potential in this year’s career mode, growing to a mind-melting 90 over the course of his career. A mainstay in our team since day one, the young Belgian commands a fee just over £11 million and is absolutely worth every penny for any ambitious side that has the financial clout to facilitate such a transfer. He begins with a stock rating of 76 which is in itself worthy of minutes no matter how prestigious your first XI is.
Like a conveyor belt in heat, Belgium has been producing talent after talent the past number of years and many believe that Tielemans has the potential to reach the zenith of world football. We do, too.
Attacking Midfield Top Pick: Riechedly Bazoer (£8.5 million)
Like our last career mode article specifies, the Eredivisie is the go-to area for youth potential. At this stage it’s worth checking the water down at Ajax’s training ground as they’ve unearthed another gem in the form of Riechedly Bazoer. Depends on who you ask, the young Dutch maestro is considered by some to be the division’s brightest young star, no mean feat given the wealth of talent currently lighting up the league on a week-to-week basis. An incredibly strong 18-year-old with a propensity to shoot with both feet, Bazoer’s stock rating of 75 is still wholly commendable, especially in the context that he rises to become one of the most highly-rated midfielders at 88.
Defensive Midfield Top Pick: Danilo (on loan)
Every midfield needs a commanding defensive presence who can break up play and take the game by the scruff of the neck, and thankfully for us virtual managers, there aren’t many players more promising than Brazilian prodigy Danilo. On loan at Valencia from Portuguese outfit Braga, this bruiser is the perfect compliment in a midfield trio that comprises of the box-to-box energy of Youri Tielemans and the tenacity of Riechedly Bazoer. Danilo’s physicality and penchant for being in the right place at the right time is invaluable for a team looking to go all the way in every competition, and as such it’s imperative that you pick up a midfielder that can bring balance to the wealth of attacking options you’ll undoubtedly have stacked up within your team.
Left Winger Top Pick: Julian Brandt (£8 million)
Julian Brandt is a name that often crops up when talking about Bundesliga talents. A club compatriot of centre-back starlet Tin Jedvaj, Brandt has been rapidly developing his game since his league debut last year, enamoring fans with his original mix of pace, trickery, and dribbling skill. With the potential to soar to 88, and with four-star skills and weak foot straight off the bat, Brandt is the sort of player who’s worth taking a gamble on straight into your first season .
If he becomes anywhere near for you what he has for us, he’ll be worth his weight in gold.
Right Winger Top Pick: Gonçalo Guedes (£5 million)
Winner of the 2014–15 Segunda Liga’s Breakthrough Player of the Year award, Gonçalo Guedes is just the sort of Portuguese flair that all teams should be on the lookout for whenever possible. Having made his Benfica debut at the mind-boggling age of 17, Guedes is a considered mix of power, pace, and has that eye for goal that’s so vital for winger with a propensity to invert their play.
Making a lot of noise in the Primeira Liga this season, Guedes is surely a name we’re going to hear a lot of and as a virtual manager it’s in your best interests to make sure you’re part of the discussion in FIFA by snapping him up as quickly as possible.
Striker Top Pick: Breel Embolo (£10 million)
Let’s face it, a three-pronged attack of all 88-rated players is enough to whet any FIFA fan’s appetite, and that’s exactly what we’re going for here with the inclusion of Breel Embolo, the name on everyone’s lips following a number of dominant performances in the Champions League this past season. Standing at 6′ 1” and built like a tank for his age, (a modest 18) Embolo is destined for greatness in the coming years.
An archetypal forward, Embolo employs blistering pace and power to mesmerize the opposition before exercising a level of calmness under pressure that would make Vanilla Ice green with envy. Make no mistake, Embolo is the most gifted young striker in all of FIFA 16 so get him while you can.
If your budget and wage bill is a little more modest than what’s to be found above then head on over to our previous career mode article to find players more fitted to your cash flow. Alternatively, we’ve tried to stay clear of the same players chosen in last year’s article about FIFA 15, so if you want to try your luck some of those players, check out FIFA 15 Career Mode bargain buys & youth potential.
What are your go-to players in this year’s FIFA? Let us know in the comments section below and stay tuned for more FIFA 16-related content coming soon.