FM 23: Best Young Transfer Targets for the Big Four

Football Manager 2023 career, we have researched players you could sign while keeping your budget in check, especially while playing with the big four (GS/FB/BJK/TS) in Türkiye. In our article on FM 23's diamond Turkish kids, you'll find the most promising wonderkids from every club.

Finding players for 10 million Euros or less that fit your budget in FM 2023, while also fielding your squad without running into foreign player restrictions, can be harder than you'd think. We have put together a list covering every position, made up of names who can hold down a first-team spot, budget signings, and wonderkid talents who are only just starting their careers. Beyond these players, the under-the-radar wonderkids we have covered elsewhere could also be worth developing and could take your career up a level.

With a few exceptions, we tried to pick names for our list that you can sign for under 10 million Euros. For FM 2023, our lists for Fenerbahçe, Galatasaray, Beşiktaş and Trabzonspor are easy to sign for, and our list of high-potential players will help you find a domestic or foreign wonderkid, or a bright prospect you can sign on a low budget. You can also boost your transfer budget with a few easy methods!

Before we dive into the players, a reminder: unless it's stated as fixed, the abilities of the names on this list can develop differently in every save. Still, all the players on this list will develop far enough for a first-team spot regardless of how their maximum potential varies from game to game.

Here are our transfer recommendations for the big four in Football Manager 2023:

FM 23 Big Four: Young and High-Potential Players

Goalkeepers

1) Doğan Alemdar

Doğan Alemdar, who plays for Rennes, is a strong option for anyone looking for a Turkish goalkeeper. With Uğurcan Çakır and Altay Bayındır, the top Turkish goalkeeper prospects, past their wonderkid years, unless you're starting with Trabzonspor or Fenerbahçe you'll need to set aside a serious amount of money to sign them. That makes Alemdar an alternative for Galatasaray starts too, a Turkish option to eventually take over from the aging Muslera. Another name that could turn up in your search for a promising Turkish goalkeeper instead of Doğan Alemdar is Emre Bilgin. Worth noting, though, that Beşiktaş won't easily let him go and could ask for over 10 million Euros.

If you want to sign Doğan Alemdar in your first season, you'll need to set aside around 6.5 million Euros. Rather than throwing him straight into the first team, you could loan him out or give him minutes in cup matches to help him develop.

2) İrfan Eğribayat

İrfan Eğribayat, who starts the game on loan at Fenerbahçe with his registration held by Göztepe, is 24 years old. While we haven't included any outfield player over 23 on this list, İrfan Eğribayat is worth an exception, as he still has room to grow. Since he starts the season on loan and isn't Fenerbahçe's first-choice goalkeeper, his transfer fee is quite low. By signing him from Göztepe at the end of the season, you can hand the gloves to a domestic player for a long time.

Centre-Backs

1) Ozan Kabak (Centre-Back)

A note for anyone who remembers Ozan Kabak, who plays for TSG Hoffenheim, from his standout run at Galatasaray followed by his moves to VFB Stuttgart, then Schalke 04, and his loan spell at Liverpool: Ozan Kabak is still young! Starting the game at 22, he's tough to sign in your first season, but by season two or three you can bring him in for under 10 million Euros.

You'll get his best performances out of him at the ball-playing defender role, and while we wouldn't call Ozan Kabak a wonderkid, his high potential and ability to cover your side's need for a Turkish centre-back for years to come make him a good option. Depending on the tactic you use, you can also expect solid performances from him in the standard central defender and defensive centre-back roles.

2) Mika Marmol (Centre-Back / Left-Back)

This 21-year-old, who plays for F.C. Andorra, can play at centre-back and left-back. If you want to add depth at left-back and get a high-potential player you can trust with your defense, you can bring Mika Marmol in for a 3 million Euro release clause. We'd recommend giving him about a season to develop, using him off the bench for chances during that period.

3) Enzo Boyomo (Centre-Back / Right-Back)

Enzo Boyomo is ideal for the ball-playing defender role and has very high development potential. He's 20 and plays for Albacete. He's probably right at the top age limit for being called a wonderkid, and he can also play right-back. If you pay his 4 million Euro release clause, he has the ability to cover your centre-back needs for a good while. After signing him, we'd recommend rotating him between the first team and the bench in his first year and putting in extra effort to support his mental development.

Left-Back

1) Rıdvan Yılmaz (Left-Back)

Turkish football's chronic left-back shortage is a headache for FM 2023 players too. Of the only three players who start the game as high-potential young talents at left-back, Ferdi Kadıoğlu and Kazımcan Karataş are already playing for Turkish clubs. So unless you start the game with Fenerbahçe or Galatasaray, Rıdvan Yılmaz will be the only domestic alternative you can sign without hitting a rival-club block, and one you can start playing right away.

2) Kerim Çalhanoğlu (Left-Back / Wing-Back)

Kerim Çalhanoğlu, the fourth member of the Çalhanoğlu family to build a career in football, is a cousin of the world-famous Turkish national team player who shares his surname, Hakan Çalhanoğlu. Playing at left-back, he has dynamic development potential. Rather than throwing him straight into the first team at his current ability, you may want to track his progress for a few years and give him chances off the bench.

Right-Back

1) Mehmet Aydın (Right-Back)

Mehmet Aydın, a 20-year-old right-back, plays for Schalke 04. His maximum potential varies each time you start a new save, but he always stays at a level good enough to be a first-team player. If you want to sign him in your first season, you could think of him as a backup right-back for a year to let him develop. If he gets enough minutes off the bench, he should find a spot in the first team from your second season onward.

Despite being young, Aydın's mental attributes are already well developed, and given his high determination, it's easy to see him being one of the standout players in games where things are going against you, such as when you're trailing. Unfortunately, his aggression is also a bit high among his mental attributes, so you can expect him to pick up more cards than usual.

2) Taylan Bulut

Taylan Bulut, one of the promising names at right-back, is 16 and plays for Schalke 04. His starting attributes aren't enough for a first-team spot, but the more chances he gets, the more you'll notice his big development potential. Since he can also play at wing-back and in midfield, easing pressure on other areas of your squad, you can sign Taylan Bulut for a low fee in your first season.

Central Midfielders

1) Eyüp Aydın (Central Midfielder / Defensive Midfielder)

This young player, who plays for Bayern Munich, usually starts the game out on loan. Despite being just 17, Eyüp Aydın's mental attributes stand out, and his biggest strength is being able to perform well in many different roles at both central midfield and defensive midfield. Even if you change tactics, he can still play different roles, though his price starts above 20 million Euros. Still, he's a must-consider name since you can loan him for a low fee, and there's a chance you could sign him outright for around 6-7 million Euros within a few seasons if he doesn't have a great spell.

2) Sivert Mannsverk (Central Midfielder)

If you need a developing player who does defensive-minded ball-winning work in central midfield, Sivert Mannsverk is the name you're looking for. This 20-year-old, whose potential is world-class level, plays for Molde. His asking price shows as 5 million Euros, but we have observed it climbing quickly depending on his performances.

3) Fabricio Díaz (Central Midfielder)

This 19-year-old, who plays for Liverpool F.C. (the one in Uruguay), can perform well at both defensive midfield and central midfield. As well as being effective in both positions, he's also very adaptable to different roles. Although the potential Díaz can reach will vary each time you start a new save, he'll be a name who can make your first team in every save.

4) Alex Scott (Defensive Midfielder / Central Midfielder / Attacking Midfielder)

Alex Scott is the kind of player whose attribute numbers might raise question marks at first glance, but who won't leave you regretting it if you give him a chance. This 19-year-old talent, who plays for Bristol City, might not be keen on playing in Türkiye, but if you manage to convince him, you'll have a versatile player with world-class potential.

5) Oscar Gloukh (Central Midfielder / Attacking Midfielder)

Oscar Gloukh, an 18-year-old who plays for Maccabi Tel Aviv, is one of the players you might want to include in your long-term plans. Gloukh has world-class talent, but you'll need to invest 1-2 years for him to be ready for the first team. Down the line, though, he should turn out to be a good investment both for his performances and for the money he'll bring your club.

6) Facundo Kruspzky (Attacking Midfielder)

Facundo Kruspzky, a 19-year-old attacking midfielder, plays for Arsenal de Sarándi. He can also cover striker and left attacking midfield if needed, and he can perform well in a number of different roles, such as inverted winger, creative forward, and standard attacking midfielder. His price and wage demands are also ideal for Turkish clubs. However, the player does have one significant downside. While his mental attributes are generally decent, his determination and bravery ratings in particular are quite low. It's fair to say he won't score many headers for your team and that his performances will fluctuate from time to time.

Left / Right Attacking Midfielders (Left and Right Wide)

1) Andreas Schjelderup (Left Attacking Midfielder / Striker)

He's made it onto every FM 2023 wonderkid list published so far, and it's easy to see why given his bright future. He can play at left attacking midfield and striker. Especially given the overall quality level of Turkish squads, he's one of the names you can slot straight into your team without waiting seasons for him to develop. His development potential is fixed, meaning it won't change between different saves. You can sign him for around 6 million Euros. As an added bonus, he's easy to bring to a Turkish club and could later be sold on for a very high fee!

2) Datro Fofana (Right Attacking Midfielder)

Datro Fofana, who starts the game at Molde, is a great opportunity for anyone looking for a long-term solution at right attacking midfield. Datro Fofana, who performs well as a winger and inside forward, is one of the talents you can plug straight into your squad. His development potential isn't fixed, but he's guaranteed to reach a star-player level.

3) Daniel Ruiz (Left / Central Attacking Midfielder)

Daniel Ruiz, who plays for Millonarios FC, is ideal for anyone looking for fresh talent at attacking midfield and left attacking midfield. Ruiz, whose potential is variable but reaches star level, is one of the names you can hand a spot in the team the moment you sign him. He can excel as a winger and as an inverted winger, and you can bring him in for under 3 million Euros.

Since he's a recent signing at Rangers, his transfer fee starts quite high, but it becomes easier to bring him into your squad from the second and third seasons onward. Rıdvan Yılmaz, whose ability is fixed across every save, doesn't have world-class potential. Even so, he'll cover your need for a talented, domestic left-back at Turkish clubs for years to come.

4) Gökdeniz Bayrakdar (Right Attacking Midfielder / Striker)

One of the ideal names for anyone looking for a high-potential domestic backup at left attacking midfield or striker. Bayrakdar, a 20-year-old who plays for Antalyaspor, can also be seen as a long-term investment for anyone building their tactics around a pressing striker up front. It's worth noting, though, that his starting transfer fee is high.

Strikers

1) Dion Drena Beljo (Striker)

Dion Drena Beljo, a striker who plays for Croatia's NK Osijek, is one of those players who could be a real blessing especially for Turkish clubs. Unlike players who are locked into one or two roles, the 20-year-old Beljo can perform well in almost every striker role. Whichever tactic you prefer to play, Beljo, who you'll want on your squad regardless, has variable development potential. Before throwing him straight into your matchday squad, you could give him some time off the bench to adapt and develop his abilities. After his first season with the team, he's highly likely to become your first-choice striker! Worth mentioning: because of the club he plays for, you may not be able to find him in saves that don't start with an expanded database.

2) Ali Akman (Striker)

One of the strongest Turkish striker options with high potential that you can sign for a reasonable price. This 19-year-old plays for NEC and has the potential to become your first-choice striker within a few years. Although he can struggle with headers at times due to his bravery attribute, he's open to development and to becoming one of your star players. If you have the budget and are looking for more than one striker for your squad, we'd recommend signing him alongside Enes Ünal and using Ali Akman as Enes Ünal's backup. That way, given the various restrictions Turkish clubs face on foreign players, you could have an attacking line made up entirely of domestic players.

3) Enis Destan (Striker)

While researching FM 2023 tactics, you may have noticed that many successful tactics use the creative forward role. But for anyone wanting to use their most advanced attacker in a role other than creative forward, the pool of domestic alternatives narrows a bit. Like our previous recommendation Gökdeniz Bayrakdar, Enis Destan is another name you'll want to use in different attacking roles. His starting development isn't quite at first-team level, but he's a player who could join the race for a starting spot before long. Unfortunately, despite his positives, his transfer fee and his somewhat low pace and agility attributes can raise some question marks.