Recently, we covered the best bargain goalkeepers in FM24. In this article, I will look at the players in front of the last line of defence as we look at some bargain defenders. Here are some of our favourite bargain defenders:
Oumar Solet (RB Salzburg)
The versatile 23-year-old Frenchman has been one of my go-to players when I have wanted to add quality to my backline without breaking the bank.
Solet can play as a defensive midfielder as well as a centre-back and can usually be bought for less than £10m. The money is usually well spent, as he proves to be a solid performer.
The fact that he is not just a stopper is a bonus, as he has a rating of 13 for his technique, 14 passing and even 13 flair. However, the defender’s bread and butter stats of work rate is 15 and also, of course, tackling 13.
Unfortunately, he generally doesn’t reach the same heights as he has done in previous editions of the game, as he never quite becomes an elite star. However, for his price, he is still a great signing.
Tormena (Sporting Braga)
The Brazilian defender recently moved to Russian outfit Krasnodar from Sporting Braga, so he may not be as easy to sign as he used to be. However, he can still be picked up for less than £7m.
For that, you get a solid centre-back who can also cover the right-back position. Tormena has a rating of 15 for heading, passing, bravery and positioning. He also has a good pace rating of 15, while his acceleration is 13.
Surprisingly, his tackling is only rated 11, which is not a major disaster as that can be worked on in training. At 27, he is at the peak of his career and will serve you well for a decent period of time.
Valentin Gomez (Velez Sarsfield)
For me, Valentin Gomez is one of my favourite players to sign in the first few seasons of my saves. The 20-year-old Velez Sarsfield star can be signed for a fee of around £5m, which is not a massive fee for a promising young centre-back and left-back.
For that fee, you get a strong, young defender who only gets better with experience and is a player who can serve your team well for a decade at the highest level of the game.
He is not the best technically, although his rating of 12 technique is not the worst in the world, his all-around starting stats make him a no-brainer signing if you are looking for a versatile young defender who will prove to be a significant asset in the present and the future.
As with most young players, as he develops, he also becomes more valuable and can be sold at a big profit, which is always a good option if your club is in need of a financial boost.
Sebastian Boselli (River Plate)
The 19-year-old is one of the most promising young defenders in the game. He can play as a centre-back or right-back, and his starting stats are highly promising.
The highlights of his starter stats are 16 tackling, 15 heading and natural fitness 16. His other stats are solid and only improve with more experience. The fact that he is strong on both feet contributes to the fact that he can also play as a left-back.
One downside to Boselli is that he has only recently moved from Defensor Sporting to Argentinian giants River Plate. The move raises his price to around £15m. If he is developed properly, though, it can be money well spent, as he is a young player who only gets better.
Stefano Sabelli (Genoa)
Unlike the likes of Gomez and Boselli, Sabelli is a more experienced player at 30, so he is not a long-term prospect. However, the former Italy under-21 international can be an excellent signing in the short term.
Not only can Sabelli play as a right-back, which is his primary position, but he can also play as a right-side midfielder. The fact that he can cover both positions is a bonus, as is the fact that he has a reasonable left foot to go with a very strong right foot.
As you would expect for most defenders, he has high defensive stats such as tackling and marking, which are rated 14. However, Sabelli’s crossing rating is 14, and his work rate is 15, which, coupled with decent pace and acceleration, makes the Italian the complete package.
Sabelli can usually be picked up for around £5m, which is a bargain for a player who is likely to be a beneficial asset to your team, even if only for a few seasons.
Who is your favourite bargain defender on FM24?
