Summary
Without an effective forward to spearhead the offense, a team will fairly often struggle to win matches inFootball Manager 2024.At most, they will only earn one point per match due to draws. Therefore, a team can only be competitive once they have figured out a balance in their offensive maneuvers with both effective tactics and personnel.
These forwards exist in many positions. They may be attacking wingers on both sides of the pitch, strikers that can either serve as a target man to continue an offensive pattern, or pacey poachers to finish off an attack with a goal. For teams on a budget, these are the best forwards the game has to offer.
Updated on June 22, 2025, by Mehrdad Khayyat:With Sports Interactive canceling Football Manager 2025, soccer fans have no options other than continuing to play the 2024 version and anticipating the next installment to arrive later this year.
Unfortunately, Football Manager 2024 didn’t receive a database update either, which makes it less fun for the players to start a new career. However, for those who are in the mood for a fresh start, this list covers some of the best strikers for either long-term or short-term signings.
Only players with a minimum transfer value of below €5 million have been considered in this list to fit into the budget definition.
21Dennis Johnsen
Price: €1.3M - €4M
Similar to strongdefensive playersand midfield maestros, quick wingers are integral to every football team that aspires to achieve honors and trophies, as they are able to carry an attack into dangerous places on the pitch without getting caught by the defensive players responsible for their zone of the pitch.Dennis Johnsenqualifies as one of those wingers thanks to his high Dribbling, Technique, and Agility, which is further complemented by his above-average Acceleration, Pace, and Off The Ball.
Normally, a player of his caliber will cost an astronomical price, upwards of £10M+or more. However, Dennis Johnsen is fortunately available for the bargain price of£4M, making him available for teams in the lower side of the Premier League and other leagues.
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20Jack Nadin
Price: €80K - €190K
Not a wonder kid, of course, but Jack Nadin is one of those young players that can improve to a decent reserve striker in the team, thanks to his amazing finishing ability at such a young age. These stats can go up significantly over time, and anyone looking for an investment, can acquire Nadin from Nottingham Forest at almost no cost.
The player’s only liability is his slow pace, which can still improve overtime, but he will surely never become a speedy striker capable of beating fast defenders to deep crosses. That being said, the player’s decent Natural Fitness is a big plus, which can help him stay away from injuries.
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19Jackson Muleka
Price: €1.2M - €5M
A hardworking striker who can function both as a goalscorer and ball-winner high up the pitch can be tricky to find. This is especially true for lower league teams that benefit hugely from the presence of such a striker due to the fact that ball-playing defenders in those leagues are rare to find. SigningJackson Mulekaas a budget forward for such a purpose will be hugely beneficial thanks to his attributes as a Pressing Forward.
His high Teamwork and Work Rate can be expected to shine brightly with a proper pressing system, as long as his other teammates can keep up with the system as well. Moreover, his Stamina will be able to help him keep up in any pressing system adequately, while also leaving some left in the tank to score properly as a forward whenever such chances arise after tackling a defender for the ball.
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18Samu Castillejo
Price: €1.9M - €5.6M
Every team needs a pacey winger with a knack for crossing to the forwards in the opposition’s final third. Such wingers are always a necessity, yet existing ones are currently either overpriced,still in development, or already in their twilight years.
Fortunately,Samu Castillejocan fulfill such a role without costing more than£5.2Mto buy from Valencia. His above-average Acceleration, Pace, Dribbling, and Technique make him a consistent winger able to beat his marker on the touchline.
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17Luis Muriel
Price: €2M - €5.8M
Although his presence might not be attainable for lower-ranked teams in the second or third division,Luis Murielremains an excellent choice for a primary striker for lower teams in the top division. He will be able to consistently deliver great performances thanks to his excellent attacking attributes, as long as the team’s playstyle matches his tendency to carry the ball through the middle like a tricky striker instead of a Target Man.
To cap off his scoring abilities, Muriel has high Dribbling, Technique, and First Touch numbers, ensuring his ability to dribble through any defender with ease, even in the top division. His above-average stats in Finishing and Off The Ball also help him enough to guarantee upwards of 10+ goals per season, as long as the manager knows how to manage his minutes properly, due to his advanced age at 32 at the start ofFootball Manager 2024first season.
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16Halil Dervisoglu
Price: €2.1M
The young Turkish striker of Galatasaray, Halil Dervisoglu, is an investment in the future of the club. He might not be a wonder kid, but Halil already has some eye-catching numbers in his stats, especially when it comes to Dribbling and Technique.
He can easily improve over time in different ways. The positioning might be a problem for Halil in the beginning, but his great technique allows him to carry the ball for a longer duration and create chances for himself. Even if he doesn’t shine enough in the squad, he can be sold for a higher price later when the stats improve significantly.
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15Nabil Alioui
Price: €3M
Similar to Dervisoglu, Nabil Alioui is also a good option for a long-term signing. Despite having a higher price tag, Nabil will fit better into teams focusing on counterattacks. His Acceleration, Pace, and Stamina are all at a decent level, allowing him to run into the opposing half quickly and make counterattacks more fruitful.
Alioui also lacks decent positioning skills, which makes it difficult to get him matched with the crosses or through balls, but he comes with equally strong stats on the ground and in the air, which makes him suitable for any attacking scenario.
14Joshua King
Price: €1.7M
If this list was supposed to be written primarily based on speed, then Joshua King should have been the best budget forward. The player comes with stunning stats in both Acceleration and Pace, making him ideal for running behind the opponent’s defensive lines and taking advantage of direct counterattacks.
The positioning is still a key vulnerability for Joshua that holds him behind the other contenders on the list, but his speed is just unmatched when compared to his price tag on the market.
Unfortunately, though, King is in the final years of his career, which doesn’t make him an ideal signing for those looking for long-term investments. However, he can be a great addition to the team to help with adding more agility to the offensive line.
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13Gabriel Strefezza
Price: €2M - €6M
Hugging the touchline is a skill that every winger should have. This ability brings a wealth of width to the team, stretching the play and enabling the manager to enact theappropriate gameplan to win the match. Attacking right-wingerGabriel Strefezzacan do so, for a mere price of£10M.
Strefezza is gifted with the high attributes of Acceleration and Agility, allowing him to outrun and outmaneuver the opposition’s full-backs consistently, should he get the opportunity. Moreover, his above-average Crossing and Technique will enable him to deliver quality passes to the opposition’s final third.
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12Lucas Palma
Price: €110K - €350K
Young players can sometimes be a gamble due to the random variable of whether they can fulfill their potential or not, while also immediately becoming available to contribute to the team.Lucas Palmais capable of delivering immediately and has the potential to be the best thanks to his raw attributes, being above average in Finishing and Off The Ball, important attributes to have for a striker.
Moreover, Lucas Palma is also well above average in the physical department, boasting good Acceleration, Agility, Balance, and Pace to lose his markers while chasing through balls from a capable midfielder. Available for only£350K, any manager who is able to secure his signature can rest assured about the quality of the team’s forwards.
