Football Manager 2023is out now and better than ever,with new features, gameplay revamps, and better AI opponents. Now is the best time for budding managers to prove themselves and manage any team in the world to glory. Although only the biggest teams in the world with huge budgets can sign the best players and wonderkids to their squads. For most teams, it is best to look for deals onfree agentsand quality budget players toavoid financial problems.
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Teams will only get so far with a leaky defense and quality defenders are hard to come by, especially on a tight budget. These are quality defenders all under £10 million that can bring elite defending to any team.
7Erik Sviatchenko
A former Danish international with ten major trophies to his name, Erik Sviatchenko is a natural-born leader. The FC Midtjylland captain has had a fantastic career in Denmark and in Scotland. He has won every domestic competition possible at his current club as well as for Scottish giants Celtic.
At 6ft1 he is a physical defender who excels in the air with tremendous leadership qualities. He can organize a defense and keep it tight for any team. 16 leadership, 16 heading, 16 aggression, and 15 natural fitness are just some of the stats that make him an excellent budget defender.
6Jamaal Lascelles
English powerhouse Jamaal Lascelles is a legend for both Nottingham Forest and Newcastle United in his home country. At 6ft2 he is a physically dominant center-back that can bully almost any striker. However, with Newcastle’s recent Saudi-led takeover it seems he is on the way out. He has struggled to find game time this season and will be open to a new club.
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For around £2.5 million Jamaal Lascelles is a great budget player. 17 leadership, 16 strength, 15 tackling, and 15 heading are just some of his incredible defensive stats. Great value for the money for any club looking for a physical leader in their back line inFootball Manager 2023.
5Samuel Umtiti
World Cup and 2-time La Liga winner Samuel Umtiti is a former France international and powerful center-back. He was the hero in the semi-final against Belgium in the 2018 World Cup, scoring the only goal in their 1-0 win. He is known for his physical strength, pace, anticipation, and passing prowess.
However, it appears thatBarcelonais edging him out of the club, which makes him a great option to sign once his loan ends. For around £3 million a team can get a player with 16 positioning, 15 marking, 15 concentration, 13 passing and so much more inFootball Manager 2023.
4Shkodran Mustafi
World Cup winner and former German international Shkodran Mustafi is a great bargain inFootball Manager 2023. He has more than 300 league appearances and has played in the Serie A, Premier League, Bundesliga, and La Liga over his 13-year senior career. The German center-back is probably best remembered for his time atArsenal. He was a leader and brought stability during troubled times for the London giants.
For just £4 million, a team can sign a 6ft center-back with a wealth of experience and many years left in his career. 16 heading, 16 tackling, 16 aggression, and 16 bravery are just some of the stats that make Shkodran Mustafi a brilliant budget defender.
3Mattia De Sciglio
Italy international and 3-time Serie A winner Mattia De Sciglio is a versatile fullback that can play on both sides. Having played 268 times for bothJuventusand AC Milan combined, he knows what it is like to play at the highest level.
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He is known for his consistency, decision-making, and tactical intelligence. In short, he is a great asset for any team. InFootball Manager 2023he has 18 teamwork, 15 work rate, and 14 pace are some of his stats that make him an athletic fullback that will do everything for his team.
2Kilian Fischer
Kilian Fischer has struggled to find a home in his short senior career. He has played for five clubs at the age of 21. Despite the hectic start to his career, no one can doubt his quality and enormous potential.
For around £7.5 million, a team can get a versatile, hard-working, athletic full-back with 16 work rate, 16 determination, 15 pace, and many more impressive stats for his age. An excellent choice for teams looking for a fullback for the long term.
1Andrea Carboni
At just 21 years old Andrea Carboniis one for the future. A promising young defender that can play at center back or left back. He is excellent in the air and has a brilliant read on the game for such a young defender. 56 Serie A appearances at just 21 years old demonstrate how highly his managers rate him.
The sky is the limit for Andrea Carboni. He has just signed for Monza in the Serie A but a team can lure him away for the right price which is around £10 million. InFootball Manager 2023he has 15 heading, 15 jumping reach, 14 tackling, and 14 strength which are just some of his standout stats. The young Italian will improve quickly and has the potential to become a world-class defender in a few years.
Football Manager 2023is available for Android, iOS, Mac, PC, Switch, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X|S. The PS5 version will release at a later date.
