Potential Football Manager 2014 Wonderkids

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With Football Manager 2014 now having been released, it’s time to start thinking about what players to scout within the game and what wonderkids you want to sign up.

If you played a lot of Football Manager 2013 you should have some pretty good ideas by now of what are the best players to target within the game; some players are likely to be less highly rated in Football Manager 2014, and some players will have had their potential improved, based on previous releases of the game and real-life progress, however, these are some of the players that we feel are definitely worth taking a look at in Football Manager 2014.

GOALKEEPERS

Alphonse Areola

Currently out on loan from PSG at RC Lens, Areola has had to drop down a level in order to find himself some regular first team football, he’s still only 20 years old, however, and could well be highly rated again in the latest edition of Football Manager. He’s already made a couple of appearances for PSG prior to making his loan move, and could potentially be an absolute bargain to sign in Football Manager 2014.

Jack Butland

After being signed by Stoke City in January and immediately loaned back to Birmingham City for the remainder of the 2012-13 season, Jack Butland is a fantastic prospect of a goalkeeper that many view as a long-term successor to Joe Hart in the English national team. Stoke don’t seem to see the youngster as a first-choice goalkeeper at present, capped at all levels including full international for England, however, Butland is a goalkeeper that should be extremely highly rated in Football Manager 2014, and loaning the young goalkeeper from Stoke City with a view to snapping him up on a permanent deal could be a very good plan if you’re looking to create a young team with a goalkeeper that could potentially remain at the heart of your side for a good 15+ seasons.

Thibaut Courtois

Thibaut Courtois is currently in his third season out on loan to Atlético Madrid from Chelsea, and has built up quite a reputation for himself with a couple of solid seasons out in Spain. Through his strong displays in La Liga, Courtois has earned himself a place in the Belgian national team, bedding himself in as a core part of what’s becoming a very strong international side with plenty of promise for the future. Thibaut Courtois is certainly a goalkeeper to scout in Football Manager 2014, another goalkeeper that could potentially become your first choice goalkeeper for many seasons, and a goalkeeper that is sure to come with an extremely high star rating in the latest edition of Sports Interactive’s highly impressive football management sim.

DEFENDERS

Nathaniel Chalobah

After shining strongly out on loan at Watford last season, narrowly missing out on promotion with the club, Nathaniel Chalobah is a powerful young defender come midfielder that should once again develop to become an absolute superstar in Football Manager 2014. He’s been excellent within the game for a few years now,and with a season in reality to match his in-game promise, this is a young player that should be an extremely astute signing in Football Manager 2014.

Eric Dier

A player that is equally adept in defence and midfield, Eric Dier is a young English prospect that some English fans may not actually be aware of due to his playing his trade for Sporting out in Portugal. Dier has featured at youth level for England, he has lived in Portugual since 2004, however, and the teenager is therefore also eligible for the Portuguese national team. Having progressed through the ranks into the Under-21s, Dier is a player that should certainly be scouted in Football Manager 2014; he has a growing reputation out in Portugal and if you scout him within the game then you may just find yourself unearthing an absolute gem.

Michael Keane

Michael Keane has been an impressive young player in the game for a while now, and in Football Manager 2014 he most definitely has real potential to be an absolute wonderkid. Having had Michael Keane in my team in previous games in the series, Keane has developed to become a full international and has always been a very reliable player to have at the back. Michael Keane will no doubt have an incredibly low price tag in Football Manager 2014 for the return that you can get from the player, so invest in Michael Keane and you should well find yourself with a consistent performer and full England international for many seasons to come.

Kyriakos Papadopoulos

Papadopoulos has been an absolutely sublime player to sign in Football Manager for some time now; an established Greek international who has shown a superb defensive talent whilst playing out in Germany for Schalke in the Bundesliga. Papadopoulos was subject to huge transfer speculation in the summer, linking the young defender with a move away from the Bundesliga, ultimately the player has remained in Germany, however, and as a result of the speculation that surrounded him this summer, he could be unsettled in Germany and therefore a great player to target in Football Manager 2014.

Jack Robinson

Having been loaned out to Wolves in the second half of last season, Liverpool’s Jack Robinson has once again found himself to not figure in Brendan Rodgers’ first team plans as he’s been loaned out to Blackpool for the season. With Blackpool making a strong start to the season which has seen then put into promotion contention at this early stage of the season, Jack Robinson has been a key part of this, playing an important defensive role for the club at left-back. Although he’s not currently playing his trade in the top flight of English football, Blackpool’s early season form certainly suggests that he could help take Blackpool to the top, and Robinson should once again be a very solid full-back to sign in Football Manager 2014, having already been an excellent signing within the game for some years now even though he’s only just turned 20.

Andre Wisdom

After breaking into the Liverpool team last season, Andre Wisdom is a defender that will likely become a big part of Liverpool Football Club over the next few seasons; a young English Under-21 international that will no doubt break into the full international setup before long if he continues to show such great ability at club level for Liverpool. Wisdom is a young full back with a developing track record in reality, and in Football Manager 2014 this will no doubt be reflected and he should be a very solid player within the game.

CENTRAL MIDFIELDERS

Adryan

When Football Manager 2013 was first released, Adryan was one of the biggest bargains in the game as he had a release clause in his contract that meant you could sign him up for £875,000. Whilst this release clause was ultimately removed in a subsequent patch update, Adryan remained one of the best Brazilian prospects in the game; an attacking midfielder with a huge amount of talent, and a player that really was well worth signing up if possible. Having progressed well through the ranks at Flamengo, Adryan should once again be a very exciting player in Football Manager 2014, and whilst he may no longer be an option even when managing a club without much money, he’s certainly a player well worth scouting within the game and casting an eye over his in-game progress is a definite must.

Ross Barkley

Ross Barkley has enjoyed an excellent start to the 2013-14 Premier League season, and having already been extremely highly rated in Football Manager games of the past, Barkley is sure to be even more of a prospect in Football Manager 2014, an extremely high quality midfielder to purchase. He’s unlikely to come cheap, but if you pay a premium for this young midfielder then he’s probably going to be worth it.

Ryan Gauld

Dundee United’s young sensation Ryan Gauld is a fantastic player to sign up in Football Manager 2014. He can play incredibly well either out left or through the middle and is therefore a versatile player that can go a long way in helping you achieve success in Football Manager 2014. Gauld is available relatively cheaply for his quality and at only 17 years old at the start of the game he certainly has a huge amount of potential to go on and get better. Dundee United have an exceptional talent pool right now with the likes of John Souttar, Andrew Robertson and Stuart Armstrong all on their books, and if you’re looking for an attacking midfielder that can also absolutely dominate out wide then you can definitely do a lot worse than snapping up Ryan Gauld.

Will Hughes

A huge talent in Football Manager 2013, Will Hughes is another player that will almost definitely enhance your midfield in Football Manager 2014. He might only be 18, but last season he certainly showed that he’s able to cut it with the best of them in the Championship, and after a strong start to the 2013-14 season which has seen the player linked with a number of Premier League clubs, it’s surely only a matter of time before Will Hughes makes the step up in real life, and you should certainly see signing him up in Football Manager 2014 as an absolute priority.

Mateo Kovacic

Croatian wonderkid Mateo Kovacic is a definite player to take a good look at in Football Manager 2014. With Kovacic having only just recently signed for Inter Milan in January 2013, it’s possible that you’ll have to wait a while before you’re able to sign the player, if you’re patient though and keep a keen eye on him then you may just find that this is a fantastic central midfielder to invest in a few seasons down the line. Kovacic is an impressive player in reality, and if you decide to sign him in Football Manager 2014 he is bound to be an incredibly impressive young talent that could do wonders for your in-game prospects of achieving future success.

Paul Pogba

Having controversially departed Old Trafford at the end of the 2011-12 season, disillusioned with his lack of first team appearances under Alex Ferguson at Manchester United, Paul Pogba is a player that has done extremely well since moving to Juventus a year ago, already picking up a Serie A winners medal in his first season in Italy, and also adding to his medal tally with two Italian Super Cup’s. The young player has become a French international in 2013 due to the strength of his performances in Italy, and with Manchester United having recently splashed out £27.5 million on Marouane Fellaini, Pogba is a player that United no doubt could have done with as they looked to strengthen an ageing central midfield. Pogba was a quality acquisition in Football Manager 2013, and after the season that he’s had out in Italy he should now be an even more exciting prospect in Football Manager 2014.

James Ward-Prowse

Having made a number of appearances for Southampton throughout the 2012–13 season, the 2013–14 campaign looks to be a big year for Ward-Prowse as the 18 year old continues to progress and develop as a player. One of several promising young Southampton players right now, Ward-Proswe is an exciting prospect in the centre of the park and a player that could well have a big career ahead of him in football. Ward-Prowse was a decent prospect in Football Manager 2013, and in Football Manager 2014 he should be even better as he continues to play more regularly for Southampton and establish himself as an Under-21 international.

WINGERS

Adnan Januzaj

Adnan Januzaj is an exciting young Belgian attacking midfielder/winger that may well be one of the new wonderkids of Football Manager 2014. In Football Manager 2013 he could be a decent signing, the young player really showed some great signs of quality in pre-season with Manchester United, however, and after a couple of decent appearances for the club in competitive action this season, this is a player that may well have improved hugely as a Football Manager prospect. The media attention that Januzaj has drawn in recent months, it’ll be extremely surprising if Adnan Januzaj is not a player with huge potential in Football Manager 2014.

Jesse Lingard

Much like Adnan Januzaj, Jesse Lingard is a player that showed a huge amount of promise in Manchester United’s pre-season tour and he’s therefore another young Manchester United prospect to take a look at in Football Mananger 2014. He may not ever develop into a world class international, chances are though that if you sign him then you’ll have yourself a very solid squad player to call upon when required.

Wellington Nem

Having secured a summer move to Shakhtar Donetsk, Wellington Nem is definitely a young Brazilian to watch out for in the future, a player that has already proven himself in Brazil and will now be looking to make a name for himself in Europe. Having only signed for Shakhtar for €8 million Euros in the summer, patience will definitely be a virtue if you look to sign Wellington Nem in Football Manager 2014, if he’s anything like he was in Football Manager 2013 though then he should be an absolute bargain if you can snap him up for a figure in the region of what Shakhtar paid for him.

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain

Always full of running, Oxlade-Chamberlain is a player that always gives his all in reality, and a player that is also well worth checking out in Football Manager 2014. He’s a nippy winger with a huge amount of power in his play, a young player that would no doubt add to any top side and improve upon the strength and depth available.

Nathan Redmond

Having made the move from Birmingham to Norwich City in the summer, Nathan Redmond is a player that you probably won’t be able to sign right at the beginning of the game due to his only just having moved clubs, he’s certainly a strong rising talent, however, and his progress within the game is therefore well worth monitoring. Redmond hit the spotlight a few years back, looking extremely comfortable both domestically and in Europe, and having already hit the England Under-21 team as a teenager, Redmond is definitely a player that looks to have an incredibly promising career ahead of him in football.

Raheem Sterling

After a strong start to the 2012-13 season, Raheem Sterling was rewarded for his form with several call-ups to the England squad, and an ultimate international debut against Sweden in November 2012. Sterling lost his way a little as the season went on, the start of the 2013-14 season has already seen him play a number of times for Liverpool, however, and after the start to the season that he enjoyed last season, this is a player that is still plenty young enough to begin pushing his way through the ranks again, and could well be a quality winger to sign in Football Manager 2014.

Wilfried Zaha

Another young winger to have represented England at full international level, Wilfried Zaha helped Crystal Palace to an unexpected promotion via the play-offs last season, and was a key part of their promotion push as he scored two goals to put the club through in the play-off semi-final, and then went on to win a penalty in the play-off final which ultimately secured the club’s proud promotion to the English top flight. Now a Manchester United player, Zaha has a tough task ahead as he attempts to persuade new United boss David Moyes that he’s up to the job of playing regularly for a title chasing team like Manchester United, and should be a very solid winger to sign in Football Manager 2014.

STRIKERS

Ademilson

One of the many Brazilian superstars of Football Manager 2013, Ademilson is a player that is definitely well worth scouting again in Football Manager 2014. He didn’t score many at Sao Paulo last season, he’s still only 19 years old though and the likelihood is that he’ll still be a good player in Football Manager 2014, even if he’s not quite as good now as he was in last year’s edition.

Saido Berahino

Quickly coming through the ranks at West Brom, Saido Berahino is a player that is well worth looking into in Football Manager 2014, a fantastic forward that could definitely improve your strikeforce. He might not be an instant team changer, give him a few years though and Berahino is extremely likely to develop into one of your finest talents. In reality many see Berahino as a key part of the English national team’s future; he’s young and looks to be a natural goalscorer that knows exactly where the goal is. Scout and sign Berahino in Football Manager, give him a good amount of game time, and chances are that Berahino will play an important part in your club’s future success and should well earn himself some England caps in the process.

Adam Campbell

Having made a few Premier League appearances last season as well as appearing on a couple of occasions in Europe, Newcastle United’s young striker Adam Campbell is a player that’s definitely well worth taking a look at in Football Manager 2014. In Football Manager 2013 the striker developed well, and in Football Manager 2014 he should again be a low cost player well worth investing in to provide options upfront for the future. He’ll take a few seasons to develop, if you bring him through the ranks properly though then Campbell should once again be a real threat in the latest Football Manager.

Carlos Fierro

A promising young player from Mexico, Carlos Fierro is a player that has been absolutely excellent in the last couple of editions of Football Manager, and in Football Manager 2014 he should be an absolute goal machine again. In reality he won the FIFA U-17 World Cup in 2011, and at youth international level has continued to impress as he’s progresses to the Mexican U-20 squad. In previous editions of the game, Fierro has been a slow burner and takes a few seasons to really reach his potential, stick with him though and you will surely have yourself a goalscorer to be very proud of.

Romelu Lukaku

Romelu Lukaku was a difficult player to get hold of in Football Manager 2013; on-loan at West Brom in season one, Lukaku would usually become a key member of the Chelsea squad upon his return, and unless you fancied shelling out tens of millions on him it was usually a lost cause looking to target Lukaku in Football Manager 2013. In Football Manager 2014 it could well be a different story, with the player once again having been shipped out on loan and perhaps then not viewed as quite so crucial to Chelsea Football Club’s future. Although the player might once again be difficult to get hold of, the young Belgian had an excellent year at West Brom last season and is likely to be once again very highly rated in Football Manager 2014.

Aleksandar Mitrovic

18 years old at the beginning of the game, Aleksandar Mitrovic is an incredibly impressive young prospect that if developed in the right way can turn into an absolute beast of a striker. Mitrovic has already been capped several times for the Serbian national team in reality and looks to be an absolute handful in the Belgian Pro League with Anderlecht right now, and although he’s unlikely to come cheap in the game he’s certainly extremely likely to be well worth the money.

Yaya Sanogo

An excellent Football Manager signing of the past, Yaya Sanogo is a player that could be resurrected as a real prospect in Football Manager 2014 after his summer move to Arsenal. He’s still only 20 years old, and had an incredibly impressive goals to games ratio for Auxerre last season which could once again se this young Frenchman become a real threat in Football Manager.

Richairo Zivkovic

He might only be 16 years old when you start playing the game, but FC Groningen’s Richairo Zivkovic is an absolutely sensational prospect of a player that you really don’t want to be missing out on. Given his age it’ll take a good few years before he’s ready to start smashing them in for your top level club, invest in this player early though and you should be able to reap the rewards for many seasons to come once he starts coming into his own. If you bring him through the right way then you may just find Richairo Zivkovic to be your best ever signing in Football Manager 2014.

If you’ve got any of your own top tips for potential wonderkids to sign in Football Manager 2014, leave a comment below and let us know who you personally think will shine in this years edition of the game and who you think will be the best young players to invest in for the future.