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If you have ever sat in front of your computer playing Football Manager 2014 and asked yourself “Which wonderkid I must sign?”, then we have the answer for you. Here we have compiled a list of the top five best wonderkids you must sign in the game.
Have a look at the list below and I hope it will give you a little bit of assistance while playing one of the most addictive football video games..
5. Julian Draxler (Schalke | Age – 19)
In the non-Football Manager world, Arsenal and Bayern Munich are reported to be very interested in signing Julian Draxler. He would be just what they need, another classy attacking midfielder. They don’t have enough of those, do they? For the aspiring Football Manager though, you might not have Arsene Wenger’s or Pep Guardiola’s glittering array of attacking midfield talent and if you don’t, then Draxler is just a star you need.
In the game, we could be looking at a better and improved version of Marco Reus when we talk about the young German international. He is one of the finest ‘Inside Forwards’, with great starting attributes followed with even better development. All he needs is a bit of good coaching to go with his raw talent, but as long as your coaching staff is elite then they can turn Draxler into a stud within a couple of years.
According to his scout report, he would immediately be a big impact to any top team in the Premier League and once he develops to his full potential, he becomes a leading figure. Although, transferring him might be a little tricky as his career plans don’t include playing for Dortmund or any club in France or Italy. On the other hand, if you are managing Barcelona, Real Madrid or Bayern Munich, then you are in luck, as he has preference to play for these clubs. At the same time, he has a £37 million release clause in his contract and so you can get him for that amount.
4. Luke Shaw (Southampton | Age – 18)
Luke Shaw
I have the feeling being Southampton manager might be one of the best jobs on the game. That’s because they have such a great youth academy, and are producing some great English talents like Calum Chambers, James Ward-Prowse, Harrison Reed and Sam Gallagher to name a few, but the main man we are looking to is none other than Luke Shaw.
He is one of the most exciting young players in the real world and also in the game. You are not mistaken if you are of the opinion that he is going to be a world class wing back in the future and could well be the next Philipp Lahm or Leighton Baines. He has solid starting attributes in the game, nothing special really, but you can’t expect for a teenager to be a world class player, can you? But he develops into a monster of a player and the best left-back on the game.
If you want to transfer him from Southampton then be prepared to splash some serious cash because the Saints know that they have gem of a player in their possession and are not prepared to let him go for anything below £20 million or more. Spending crazy money on a left-back ins’t the best plan but if you have the money and are in need of a left-back, Shaw is the man for you and will be great for 15 seasons or so.
3. Maximilian Meyer (Schalke | Age – 17)
Maximilian Meyer
I just said above that Southampton manager might be one of the best jobs in the game, but maybe Schalke comes very close to it or even trumps it. They have so many young players in their squad who could go on to be stars in the future like Leon Goretzka, Julian Draxler and now Max Meyer.
Meyer starts in Schalke’s second team and will excel in the first season itself. He has all the raw skills you would want from a silky attacking midfielder, agility, creativity, flair, passing, dribbling, technique and first touch are all 16 and above before the first season is over with. He is young and has a lot of developing to do, but his skills reminds me of Toni Kross. Like Kroos, he can also play on the wings and is equally good with both legs when shooting or passing.
He is a true wonderkind on the game, a player that can already cope with top-flight football at the tender age of 17. Unfortunately, Schalke know that they have a real gem in this kid and they want around £20 million for him at the start of the game. If you are ready to spend over the odds and can lure him away from his boyhood club, then Meyer might just be the one you need as he is one of Europe’s top talents.
2. Paul Pogba (Juventus | Age – 20)
Paul Pogba
We all know the story of Paul Pogba. A young and exciting prospect at Manchester United who was fed up with his chances, kicked up a fuss and left the club for Juventus. It might be one of Sir Alex Ferguson’s biggest mistakes as they have needed a quality box-to-box midfielder for years. United’s loss though was Juventus’ gain and in the game, they know it.
He is porbably the best young midfielder and player overall in the game. One of the three players with a -10 potential ability in FM 2014, which is a sign of a true world class player according to Football Manager 2014. A player whose starting attributes world make him a star player for most of the Premier League sides, and this is at the age of only 20. Once he develops he truly becomes a world class midfielder with excellent attributes in technical, mental and physical departed. He is a beast of player in the game and his strongest area is his skill and specific aspect is important matches.
He is labelled as the next Patrick Vieira, but is very expensive at the start of the game and you will have to be at the best of your transfer game if you wnat to get him from Juventus to your team. You will have to pay around £40-50 million to get him, but he is not prepared to leave the Serie A champions immediately at the start of the game and so you will have to wait a season or two to get him.
1. Raphael Varane (Real Madrid | Age – 20)
Raphael Varane
Anyone who watched the Champions League last year or follows Real Madrid on a regular basis knows what a beast of a defender Raphael Varane is. He could very well be the most talented defender we have seen in a generation and he is our second Frenchman in this list and the number one wonderkid you must sign on Football Manager 2014.
Many compare him to the retired Real Madrid legend Fernando Hierro and we do agree on those comparisons, but we think that Varane could be way better player than Hierro. He has a got a very rating for a senior team player, and would be a leading player for most Premier League signes. He is a rock-solid defender, both strong and quick, tall and good in the air and also with excellent mental attributes. His stats in the game reflect that and he is by far the best defend you can get.
He is very difficult to sign in the latest patch as Real Madrid are not willing to sell him, and why would they. But an offer of around £50 million will probably be good enough to persuade them to let him go. If you can spare that amount of money for a centre-back then you could buy Varane, but considering that you have good cheaper options like Elder Alvarez Balanta or even Doria, I guess that would be a waste of money.
Honourable Mentions - Stephan El Shaarawy (AC Milan), Yassine Benzia (Lyon), Gabriel Barbosa (Santos), James Ward-Prowse (Southampton), Ross Barkley (Everton), Leon Goretzka (Schalke), Marquinhos (Paris Saint-Germain) and Eder Alvarez Balanta (River Plate), Doria (Botafogo).
