With Football Manager 2022 now fully released, Leicester City fans have the chance to take on the reigns of their club and lead the Foxes to glory. As a manager, one of the most satisfying things on FM has got to be signing and developing a wonderkid. Therefore, FoL endeavour to provide five excellent wonderkids that enthusiasts can sign in their saves.
Benoit Badiashile (CB) for Leicester City?
Benoit Badiashile is yet another promising young French centre-back who is excellent in both real life and Football Manager. Despite being aged just 20, Badiashile is incredibly well-rounded both technically and physically, with 14’s across the board. If you snap him up reasonably early, there’s the potential to pick up the Frenchman for between £15-25 million. Given regular playing time, the imperious 6″4 Badiashile will develop into a colossal ball-playing defender alongside fellow wonderkid Wesley Fofana.
Market Value: £14-18 million
Potential Ability: dynamic, between 140 and 180/200
Top attributes:
- Jumping Reach: 17
- Strength: 15
- Natural Fitness: 15
Samuele Ricci (CM)
Samuele Ricci is a name Foxes fans may be familiar with since he was linked with a transfer to LCFC over the summer. Ricci is best used as a deep-lying playmaker and for LCFC fans, can be a true replacement/rotation to Youri Tielemans’ creativity. Boasting excellent physical and mental attributes for someone so young, Ricci has everything to become a superstar. Whilst his technical attributes can be refined, at just 19 years of age there’s plenty of time for growth.
Market Value: £18-24m
Potential ability: Dynamic, between 140 and 180/200
Top attributes:
Determination: 16
Stamina: 15
Passing: 14
Ilaix Moriba (CM)
Ilaix Moriba may be a name familiar to FM veterans of past games, with the Spaniard being a popular wonderkid in the past couple of years. Moriba this year has now transferred to RB Leipzig due to Barcelona’s real-life financial issues but in-game is often made available for loan. If nurtured correctly, you could have a generational playmaker in your hands.
Signing him permanently, however, may be tricky given his huge potential. Therefore a loan move is best with the potential of an option to buy providing tempting decisions, providing that you have the financial might to do so.
Market Value: £84-90m
Potential ability: Dynamic, between 160 and 200/200
Top attributes:
- Flair: 17
- Determination: 16
- Technique: 16
Noni Madueke (RW)
Noni Madueke will also be a familiar name for Leicester City fans, as he was one of the right-winger targets during a frantic summer transfer window. Whilst in real life, he didn’t end up joining Leicester City, Foxes fans can make this dream a reality in Football Manager.
Madueke in Football Manager has all the attributes to hold down a spot on the right-wing, with blistering pace coupled with high finishing and composure.
He won’t come cheap, as Leicester City found last summer, but paying a high fee now may save you from being on the receiving end of his brilliance in seasons to come. Furthermore, he’s versatile to play anywhere across the attacking line.
Market Value: £30-40m
Potential Ability: Dynamic, between 140 and 180/200
Top attributes:
- Dribbling: 17
- Pace: 16
- Flair: 16
Adam Hlozek (LW)
Last but not least is Adam Hlozek, an 18-year-old Czech winger currently playing for Sparta Prague. Compared to the previous four wonderkids, Hlozek doesn’t have quite the same potential but this doesn’t mean he’s to be overlooked. Already eyed up by Bayern Munich and West Ham, Hlozek is seen as the next big thing to come out of the Czech league.
In Football Manager meanwhile, Hlozek is a potential bargain for any club including LCFC. He can be signed for under £10m. Therefore, he can be signed at the start of the game without needing to sell any players. If he realises his potential, Hlozek can complement the equally ferocious Madueke on the left, although it’s probably worth loaning him out at first to allow him to develop properly.
Market Value: £5-10m
Potential Ability: Dynamic, between 120 and 160/200
Top attributes:
- Flair: 17
- Pace: 16
- Acceleration: 16