I have to say I am an advocate of bringing young players into your squad on FM24 and turning them into world superstars. In fact, it can be the most exciting and satisfying feeling in the game.
However, sometimes older heads are needed for a short period, and there is a large group of older forward players who can provide you with goals for a reasonable transfer fee.
Here are some of our favourite veteran strikers:
Olivier Giroud (Milan)
The veteran French forward may be approaching his 37th birthday at the beginning of the game, but he can be a highly useful short-term attacking option.
He is unlikely to be a player who starts every game but could be the ideal player to play the role of an impact sub.
As you would expect, Giroud’s attributes are strong, as he has a rating of 16 in finishing, composure, off-the-ball, decisions and concentration. He has even higher ratings in other aspects of his game.
What is great about Giroud is that he can be brought in for less than £10m and for around £80,000 per week wages. Even if he only plays for your team for a season, he could be a good signing.
Wissam Ben Yedder (Monaco)
Giroud’s compatriot is another forward that definitely falls into the ‘bargain veteran’ category. However, the 32-year-old may be a better signing than Giroud simply because he will likely play more football.
Ben Yedder could be a starting player for most of the Premier League teams. The forward has proven his eye for goal in the last decade in his homeland and Spain with Sevilla.
His stats on FM24 are strong, as he has 16 in finishing, first touch, composure and agility. Meanwhile, he also has a rating of 17 in technique, penalty taking and off the ball.
Ben Yedder is usually available for between £12-15m at the start of the game. The forward’s wages of around £130,000 per week are pretty high, but for what he can bring to a team, he is definitely worth the outlay if your budget permits.
Joselu (Real Madrid, on loan from Espanyol)
The forward was something of a surprise signing for Real Madrid in the summer when he joined on loan from Espanyol. The 33-year-old has made a solid, if unspectacular, impact when given the chance to impress for Los Blancos this season.
The Madrid giants have an option to make the deal a permanent one for just £1.3m during his loan. However, in the games I have played on FM24, they never really take up the option.
That means the forward is available in the second season for a reasonable price, usually around £6m. His wage demands are usually around £50,000 per week, which is not massive by elite league standards.
Even if he is 34 in the second season, his stats usually stay around the same. He starts the game with 15 first touch and composure, while his finishing is 15, which are highly respectable stats for most top-level forwards.
Duvan Zapata (Torino, on-loan from Atalanta)
The 32-year-old Colombian international was an excellent servant to Atalanta, spending five seasons with La Dea before temporarily switching to Torino in the summer.
In fact, he has been a pretty regular scorer of goals in the Italian top flight-for the last decade. In FM24 terms, Torino has an option to sign Zapata for just £6m during his loan spell.
From my experience, sometimes they do activate the option, and sometimes they don’t. If they don’t, then the forward is usually available to sign for between £4-6m in the second season.
For that, you will get a target forward, rated 16 in heading and 15 in both finishing and composure. Despite his age, he is well worth the money at that price.
Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting (Bayern Munich)
The 34-year-old has enjoyed a few solid years at German Behemoths Bayern Munich after a short spell at PSG. In season 2022/23, the Cameroonian forward scored ten goals in 19 appearances for the Bavarians.
However, many factors have come into play at Bayern that would allow him to leave the German champions. One factor is that he is his age. The biggest reason for a likely exit is the summer arrival of England captain Harry Kane.
That means that Bayern usually allow the forward to leave. His fee is under £2m, sometimes even under £1.5m. The fee is reasonable, though, as he is a forward player with good finishing, composure, and first touch.
Like many of his contemporaries on this list, Choupo-Moting is obviously not a long-term signing but could serve a team well for a season or so.
Who is your favourite cheap veteran forward?
