Football Manager 2020 wonderkids: Best young strikers, midfielders, defenders & goalkeepers | Goal.com

You’ve got the latest release of the game and want to improve your youth prospects, so where do you start?

Football Manager 2020 is the latest edition of Sports Interactive’s hugely successful franchise and the game’s developers made it available for free during the coronavirus Covid-19 pandemic of 2020.

One of the most satisfying aspects of the management simulation is discovering wonderkids – the next Neymar or Lionel Messi, say – and helping them develop into world-class players.

Whether you want to implement a policy of bringing youth through to the first team similar to Ajax or hope to recreate something akin to ‘Fergie’s Fledgings’ at Manchester United, scouting talented teens is essential.

To help you on your way if you’re starting a new game, Goal takes a look at some of the best young players who are worth considering in the transfer market.

Contents

Football Manager 2020 wonderkid forwards

Joao Felix is probably the best known wonderkid striker in the world right now following his big-money move to Atletico Madrid from Benfica during the summer, which made him the third most expensive footballer of all time. Naturally, signing Felix so soon after his switch to Atleti might prove difficult, but he is certainly one to consider if you have the financial clout.

NxGn 2019 winner Jadon Sancho has flourished since leaving Manchester City and moving to Borussia Dortmund. Given his growing stature in the Bundesliga and as a full England international, he’ll be on the more expensive side of the scale, but if you’re managing a big club and can afford him, he’ll be worth it.

Other wonderkid strikers worth scouting include Erling Haaland, who shone for Norway at the 2019 Under-20 World Cup and is now flying at Borussia Dortmund, Manchester United youngster Mason Greenwood and Barcelona starlet Ansu Fati.

Tottenham forward Troy Parrott has been turning heads for the Premier League club in the UEFA Youth League in recent seasons, while Porto’s Fabio Silva could be a bargain signing.

The likes of Gabriel Martinelli, Callum Hudson-Odoi and Vinicius Jr. are other options, but you will need to be willing to put your hands into your pockets in order to secure their services.

PlayerAge*NationalityClubJoao Felix18PortugalAtletico MadridErling Haaland19NorwayRed Bull SalzburgJadon Sancho19EnglandBorussia DortmundDanylo Sikan18UkraineDynamo KievLeonardo Campana18EcuadorBarcelona SCLincoln18BrazilFlamengoWillem Geubbels18FranceMonacoGabriel Martinelli18BrazilArsenalPietro Pellegri18ItalyMonacoMason Greenwood17EnglandManchester UnitedRodrygo18BrazilReal MadridVinicius Jr.19BrazilReal MadridCallum Hudson-Odoi18EnglandChelseaAdil Aouchiche17FranceParis Saint-GermainKaio Jorge17BrazilSantosAnsu Fati16SpainBarcelonaTroy Parrott17IrelandTottenhamLouie Barry16EnglandBarcelonaFabio Silva17PortugalPortoJann-Fiete Arp19GermanyBayern MunichAmine Gouiri19FranceLyonMyron Boadu18NetherlandsAjaxMoise Kean19ItalyEvertonRayan Cherki15FranceLyonDiego Lainez19MexicoBetis (‘Real Hispalis’)Emile Smith Rowe18EnglandArsenalEmanuel Vignato18ItalyChievoReiss Nelson19EnglandArsenalSebastiano Esposito16ItalyInterGiacomo Raspadori18ItalySassuolo

*Age at start of game

Return to top

Getty Images

Football Manager 2020 wonderkid midfielders

Pep Guardiola has tipped Phil Foden for big things and the Manchester City midfielder is one who should be at the top of your shopping list, if you can get the Premier League champions to sell.

Real Madrid’s Takefusa Kubo and Paris Saint-Germain playmaker Xavi Simons are other wonderkids at big-name clubs who appear destined for the top. The likes of Celtic’s Karamoko Dembele, Ajax starlet Ryan Gravenberch and Velez’s Thiago Almada might be more readily available, if you are working to the constraints of a tight budget.

Valencia midfielder Lee Kang-in won the Golden Ball at the 2019 U-20 World Cup and is considered one of the best young players in La Liga, while Barcelona’s Ilaix Moriba is one of the brightest prospects at La Masia and has been likened to Paul Pogba.

PlayerAge*NationalityClubLee Kang-in18South KoreaValenciaHeorhiy Tsitaishvili18UkraineDynamo KievTakefusa Kubo18JapanReal MadridMohammed Ihattaren17NetherlandsPSVThiago Almada18ArgentinaVelez SarsfieldSergio Gomez18SpainBorussia DortmundRyan Gravenberch17NetherlandsAjaxDomink Szoboszlai18HungaryRed Bull SalzburgHugo Felix15PortugalBenficaSandro Tonali19ItalyBresciaPhil Foden19EnglandManchester CityEfrain Alvarez17MexicoLA GalaxySteve Mvoue17CameroonAzur Star YaoundeMatias Palacios17ArgentinaSan LorenzoPedri16SpainLas Palmas / BarcelonaGiovanni Reyna16United StatesBorussia DortmundDaniel Maldini17ItalyAC MilanEduardo16AngolaRennesXavi Simons16NetherlandsParis Saint-GermainHarvey Elliott16EnglandLiverpoolKaramoko Dembele16ScotlandCelticFlorentino Luis19PortugalBenficaNohan Kenneh16EnglandLeeds UnitedAlessio Riccardi18ItalyRomaHamed Junior Traore19Ivory CoastEmpoliIlaix Moriba16GuineaBarcelonaRiqui Puig19SpainBarcelonaHannibal Mejbri16FranceManchester UnitedAngel Gomes18EnglandManchester United

*Age at start of game

Return to top

Football Manager 2020 wonderkid defenders

Liverpool boast a Dutch defensive duo who have naturally been likened to their first-team hero Virgil van Dijk. Sepp van den Berg and Ki-Jana Hoever are highly rated by the Anfield club but could be decent loan options if you’re managing a team in the lower leagues. Manchester City’s Eric Garcia and Chelsea’s Ethan Ampadu are other bright prospects from the Premier League.

Ajax full-back Sergino Dest, who recently declared for the U.S. national team, has already broken into the first team at the Amsterdam Arena, while Cagliari’s Sebastian Walukiewicz is deemed one of the best young defenders in Serie A. In Germany, a Scottish centre-back who has been likened to Mats Hummels – Liam Morrison – will be hoping to make a breakthrough at Bayern Munich.

PlayerAge*NationalityClubOzan Kabak19TurkeySchalkeJuan Miranda19SpainBarcelonaKi-Jana Hoever17NetherlandsLiverpoolBenoit Badiashile18FranceMonacoEric Garcia18SpainManchester CityEthan Ampadu18WalesChelseaSergino Dest18United StatesAjaxSebastian Walukiewicz19PolandCagliariLuan Candido18BrazilRB LeipzigRayan Ait-Nouri18FranceAngersJonathan Panzo18EnglandMonacoMax Aarons19EnglandNorwich CitySepp van den Berg17NetherlandsLiverpoolTimothee Pembele16FranceParis Saint-GermainLiam Morrison16ScotlandBayern MunichMatthijs de Ligt19NetherlandsJuventusJean-Clair Todibo19FranceBarcelonaNicolo Armini18ItalyLazioWilliam Saliba18FranceArsenal

*Age at start of game

Return to top

Football Manager 2020 wonderkid goalkeepers

Bayern Munich goalkeeper Christian Fruchtl has naturally drawn comparisons to Manuel Neuer and has been working as an understudy to the iconic shot-stopper for a number of years now.

Brazilian goalkeeper Gabriel Brazao, who is on the books at Inter, is a player who will hope to follow in the footsteps of the likes of Alisson and Ederson, while Manchester City’s Gavin Bazunu is tipped for a bright future.

Italy is known for producing top class goalkeepers and the likes of Udinese’s Manuel Gasparini and AC Milan’s Alessandro Plizzari will be worth scouting.

PlayerAge*NationalityClubChristian Fruchtl19GermanyBayern MunichGabriel Brazao18BrazilInterGavin Bazunu17IrelandManchester CityLucas Bergstrom16FinlandChelseaLucas Canizares17SpainReal MadridConiah Boyce-Clarke16EnglandReadingGabriel Slonina15United StatesChicago FireDiogo Costa19PortugalPortoIvan Martinez17SpainOsasuna (‘Atletico Pamplona’)Manuel Gasparini17ItalyUdineseAlessandro Plizzari19ItalyAC Milan

*Age at start of game

Return to top

Related links

Return to top