Just a few days ago, Bayern Munich won their 6th Champions League title, a header from Kingsley Coman enough to see off French champions PSG. After another hectic European campaign, this list is going to look at 10 players who were either underrated before their performances this season, or practically unknown and burst onto the scene with some of them earning big money moves. So don’t expect to see Messi and Lewandowski here! These players could prove to be really good signings for your FM21 career!
10) Dani Olmo
This has been a fantastic breakthrough season for young Spanish midfielder Dani Olmo. He started the season at Croatian team Dinamo Zagreb, and his exciting performances earned him a January move to RB Leipzig. Scoring 3 and assisting 1 in 8 games this season may not look too impressive, but anyone who has watched him play will agree that he is a real talent. He could be a great FM21 signing if you’re looking for a playmaker!
9) Thomas Müller
This guy has been underrated for years. After his brilliant performances in Germany’s 2014 World Cup win, everyone just seemed to forget about him. But this season he’s proved once again that he is world class. 4 goals and 3 assists on Europe’s biggest stage, take a bow Thomas Müller. A key part of Bayern’s treble winning team.
8) Mislav Oršić
Like me, I’m sure many of you are wondering who this guy is. Let me introduce you to Dinamo Zagreb forward, Mislav Oršić. The #99 has scored 7 goals and picked up 4 assists in 12 games this season (6 games in qualifying rounds). Despite being knocked out in the group stage, I think this guy deserves recognition for his big performances this season. He could be a great bargain signing for your team in FM21!
7) Gabriel Jesus
Gabriel Jesus has been quietly brilliant this season. The young striker has scored 6 goals and assisted 3 in 8 games, including 2 important goals over 2 legs as Manchester City knocked out Real Madrid in the RO16. Despite his critics speaking about the amount of chances he misses, I think he has done a great job filling in for the injured Aguero. The best part is, he’s only going to get better! We should expect to see the Brazilian become one of Europe’s best forwards in a few years.
6) Josip Iličić
What a season for Iličić. An important part of the underdog Atalanta team who became dark horses to win their first Champions League, the 32 year old Slovenian striker was very impressive this season. Scoring 5 and assisting 1 in 7 games, including 4 goals in one game against Valencia in the knockout stages! Relatively unknown until this year, he could be a short term solution to your teams lack of goals in FM21!
5) Dayot Upamecano
This guy is top class. RB Leipzig’s rock at the back as they made it to the Champions League semi finals for the first time in their history. Upamecano’s impressive performances at the back for the German team were integral to their success this season, keeping a couple of clean sheets on the way. Because of this, there are many big clubs looking to capture the 21 year old Frenchman’s signature, but he won’t come cheap! Most avid FM players will most likely of heard of him before this season, and will agree that he is always a great option at centre-back.
4) Angel Di Maria
Di Maria’s top performances may of gone under the radar this season, but the stats won’t – 3 goals and 7 assists in 9 games says it all. The Argentine forward hasn’t had the greatest few years after winning the Champions League with Real Madrid in 2014. After disappointing in his season under Van Gaal at Old Trafford, the playmaker moved to Paris. After coming so close to winning their first Champions League, I felt I had to include a PSG player (despite the club being universally hated by all FM players!) Although Di Maria is reportedly ‘past his peak’, he continues to perform when called upon by Thomas Tuchel.
3) Alphonso Davies
What a season for Alphonso Davies! The definition of a breakthrough season, after the Canadian being practically unknown at the beginning of this year, his performances have arguably made him the best left back in Europe. Transformed from a left winger to left back after being signed from the MLS in 2018, this is a real life Football Manager story! He’s been an important part of this super Bayern team, and he got 4 assists while keeping 5 clean sheets in 8 games. One of his best performances was definitely when Bayern ripped Barcelona to shreds in the QF.
8-2!!
2) Erling Haaland
An obvious inclusion here, one of the easiest on the list! Erling Haaland burst onto the scene for RB Salzburg with a hattrick against Genk on match day 1. Following that up with a goal at Anfield, he never looked back. After scoring goal after goal, Borussia Dortmund made the clever decision to take the risk and sign him in January. Scoring twice against PSG in the RO16, Haaland showed he can really do it on the worlds biggest stage, despite being a teenager. He finished the campaign with an astounding 10 goals in 8 games! Being loved for his robotic fashion and hilarious interviews, Haalands football ability will take him right to the top.
1) Serge Gnabry
Serge Gnabry has been electric this season. After proving everyone wrong with his fantastic performances, (I’m talking to you, Tony Pulis) he capped it off with winning the competition in Lisbon. He has many highlights, for example, scoring 4 in Bayern’s 7-2 demolition of Spurs, or proving himself as a big game player, scoring twice in Bayern’s semi-final win over Lyon. The German forward has had a fantastic year, scoring 9 and assisting 2 in 10 games, and will be a very important player in Hansi Flick’s side for years to come.
Click here to read about the best young players on football manager 2020.
All stats used from https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/
