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Despite FIFA 21’s release just months away, there is still plenty of fun to be had on FIFA 20 – none better than Career Mode.

With the ability to take charge of any team in the world, Career Mode gives the user the opportunity to become the manager of their favourite teams, or even smaller clubs to make them grow and become world-beaters.

A key aspect of Career Mode, however, is the importance of young players and your youth academy – which means paying attention to players’ potential growth and ratings after nourishment, time, and training.

FIFA Ultimate Team has often been the most popular game mode on FIFA, but Career Mode provides a different kind of experience, rather than just getting all of the best players in the game, you must grow your team from the bottom up – but in doing so means buying the right youngsters, so which Premier League players have the best growth and potential overall rating I hear you ask? Well, here is our top 10…

Information provided via Futwiz is subject to change. All information provided is correct at time of publishing.

10. Anthony Gordon

Current Rating: 61

Potential Rating: 82

Growth: +21

The Everton youngster featured 11 times in the Premier League this season and even got himself an assist along the way. With a potential growth of 82, the 19-year-old is one of the hottest prospects in the Premier League, and would only cost a mere £475k in Career Mode.

9. Ryan Astley

Current Rating: 61

Potential Rating: 82

Growth: +21

Another Everton youngster, Astley is yet to make a first-team appearance for the Toffees but has great potential, and will likely feature for the club at some point in the future. With a growth of 21, the young defender can reach 82 rated, and would only cost a small fee of £450k in-game.

8. Gavin Bazunu

Current Rating: 59

Potential Rating: 82

Growth: +23

The Irish goalkeeper joined Manchester City in July 2019 but is yet to make an appearance at senior level, playing for the clubs U23’s. Banuzu has a great potential rating of 82, with his growth being +23 ratings from his base of 59, and would only cost you £250k in career mode, which is a bargain for a player of this growth.

7. Brandon Pierrick

Current Rating: 60

Potential Rating: 82

Growth: +22

The Crystal Palace attacking midfielder was promoted to the first team just last month and even made two Premier League appearances at the end of the season. Pierrick has a current rating of just 60 but has a +22 growth taking his potential rating to 82 – all at the cost of £400k on Career Mode.

6. Malachi Fagan-Walcott

Current Rating: 59

Potential Rating: 82

Growth: +23

Costing just £275k in Career Mode, Fagan-Walcott is one of Tottenham’s hottest prospects. The 18-year-old defender currently plays for the clubs U23’s and is yet to make a first-team appearance for Spurs. With a current rating of 59, Fagan-Walcott can reach a potential overall of 82, boasting a +23 growth.

5. Ki-Jana Hoever

Current Rating: 62

Potential Rating: 84

Growth: +22

Liverpool defender Ki-Jana Hoever has been tipped for big things and has a great mentor in fellow countryman Virgil Van Dijk at the club. The 18-year-old has great potential, with a growth of +22 from his base rating of 62, taking him to 84 overall. Not only does he have a great potential rating, but he will also only cost £525k in the game mode.

4. Troy Parrott

Current Rating: 64

Potential Rating: 85

Growth: +21

The Irish striker has been at Tottenham since 2017 and will be on loan to Championship club Millwall next season. The 18-year-old has a potential rating of 85, with a growth of +21 from his base rating of 64 – which would make him one of the best strikers in the league, all at the cost of £875k.

3. Curtis Jones

Current Rating: 65

Potential Rating: 85

Growth: +20

With a growth of +20, Jones has one of the smallest growth ratings out of all the players on this list, but despite this has one of the highest potential ratings of 85. The Liverpool midfielder has made 6 league appearances for the club, including a first Premier League goal against Aston Villa. Jones would only cost £925k in Career Mode.

2. Tommy Doyle

Current Rating: 62

Potential Rating: 85

Growth: +23

The Manchester City midfielder is a product of the club’s academy, currently playing for the U23’s. Doyle made his Premier League debut this season, and manager Pep Guardiola is a fan. The 18-year-old has a base rating of 62, but with a +23 growth can reach a potential rating of 85 – all at the cost of £575k.

1. Harvey Elliott

Current Rating: 64

Potential Rating: 87

Growth: +23

The 17-year-old joined Liverpool in 2019 after making his Premier League debut for Fulham, becoming the league’s youngest ever player at 16 years and 30 days, and even featured twice in the Premier League for Liverpool this season. With a base rating of 64, Elliott’s potential rating of 87 makes him one of the highest-rated youngsters in the Premier League, with a +23 growth – and would only cost you £875k in Career Mode.

Glasgow Rangers have had a fantastic start to the new campaign, and a lot of that has been down to their sturdy backline.

The Gers are currently top of the Premiership table, and have not yet conceded in their first six games. This is the first time in 114 years that a side has not shipped a strike in the opening six fixtures, and they could break the record if they do not concede against Dundee United this weekend.

A lot of this success has been down to Jon McLaughlin. The 33-year-old signed for the Gers on a free transfer from Sunderland earlier this summer and was expected to be a back-up option for Allan McGregor. However, the latter’s injury issues have given McLaughlin the chance to shine, and he has now kept five clean sheets in his first five matches.

On Wednesday, the club shared a photo of the £293,000-valued two-time Scotland international – as per Transfermarkt – to celebrate his birthday, and the fans took the opportunity to laud him. They took to Twitter to share their thoughts, and you can see some of the best comments from the social media platform below.

Let us know what you think!

Southampton boss Ralph Hasenhuttl is hoping to see some more signings squeeze through the door before the summer transfer window closes on Monday.

The Saints have already welcomed Mohammed Salisu from Real Valladolid and former Spurs man Kyle Walker-Peters. Potential Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg replacement Ibrahima Diallo is also nearing a move to St Mary’s after impressing the club during his time in France. But to improve on their 11th place finish from last season, Hasenhuttl is keeping his fingers crossed for some extra personnel to kit out his squad.

Southampton transfer news

The Austrian is confident that the Saints are in a position to bring in a couple of extra signings before the end of the business window. Speaking via Hampshire Live, Hasenhuttl said: “I definitely won’t be switching off my telephone that would be a horrible mistake, I think. There is a game on Sunday and I think after that a lot of players will pop up on this market and there will be some interesting options still there.”

Southampton could be looking to target a new winger to help create chances for the in-from Danny Ings. Out of the 51 league goals scored by the Saints last season, the former Liverpool man was responsible for 22 of them (via Premier League).

“I know that for the fans it is always good when you bring some signings in,” Hasenhuttl continued. “They like to see new players, sometimes they like to see new players more than wins!

“Two would be good. Three would be better.”

Pressure on Martin Semmens

The Southampton board will likely see this as a wake up call for what the manager feels he needs in order to produce a good performance this season. After their strong finish last term, a top ten finish will be a sure priority, with maybe even top six in mind.

Only seven points separated them from sixth-placed Spurs last campaign, which is not an unachievable goal. The Saints have struggled to come out of the blocks this time but their two losses out of three can be easily rectified. All eyes will be on the closing hours of Monday to see what last-gasp deals they can add to their roster.

In other news, Southampton would get Hojbjerg upgrade with Ibrahima Diallo deal…

According to an exclusive report from the Daily Mail, Spurs have made an enquiry over signing Man City defender John Stones on loan with an option to buy for £20 million – but the 6 ft 2 star has pledged to remain at the Etihad Stadium until no longer needed. 

The Englishman has started just one game under Pep Guardiola so far over 2020/2021 with Ruben Dias, Aymeric Laporte and Nathan Ake all seemingly preferred.

Now, eyeing a centre-back before the deadline day window shuts, chairman Daniel Levy has pinpointed the City outcast as a potential solution to Spurs’ search for a new defender.

Serie A star Milan Skriniar has been on top of Jose Mourinho’s transfer wish list since the club snapped up Carlos Vinicius, but a recent update courtesy of transfer guru Fabrizio Romano has dampened Tottenham’s hopes of securing a deal.

Indeed, according to the journalist, it is unlikely the Slovakian colossus could make a move to north London given it’s deadline day and Inter Milan would have to find a replacement.

After this development, the Mail have reported that Stones has been turned to as an alternative, but as it stands, Levy is also unlikely to snap up the 26-year-old once hailed as ‘unbelievable’ by Kyle Walker, given his desire to remain in Manchester.

Stones, who started just 12 Premier League matches last season due to fitness issues and poor form, still managed a fairly impressive 94% pass accuracy out from the back when given a chance to perform – potentially prompting late Spurs interest.

Tottenham reportedly face a battle for Antonio Rudiger, and with the Skriniar deal now very unlikely, it appears the club will need to find more alternatives like Stones as the 11pm deadline looms.

Spurs fans, would you take Stones under Jose Mourinho? Have your say in the comments down below…

Whilst the summer transfer window may be shut, and Glasgow Rangers may have signed Bongani Zungu on loan from Amiens, a new transfer update has now emerged…

What’s the word?

According to football.london correspondent Chris Watson, Jack Wilshere would seriously consider a move if Steven Gerrard’s side came calling. Wilshere has been heavily linked with a move to Ibrox after West Ham United tore up his contract on deadline day.

And the former Arsenal midfielder is keen to reunite with his old international teammate, although he will have to sit and wait while Rangers mull over a move. A source close to the situation told the Press Association: “Rangers would be an option for Jack if there had been any contact. So far, however, there hasn’t been any.

“Jack thinks Rangers are a great club. They tried to take him on loan when Walter Smith was in charge back in 2010 just as he was starting out at Arsenal but he ended up going to Bolton.”

It’s claimed that he wants to try something a little bit different, something not many other English players have ever experienced. And the Scottish Premiership certainly fits the profile.

Gerrard’s dream player?

Whilst Zungu may turn out to be a shrewd signing, it’s safe to say that Gerrard’s side still lack a playmaker, which is a signing he has wanted for so long. Indeed, the Rangers boss even described him as a “dominant” midfielder who “fits the profile of player that adds further strength and depth to our midfield” while his compatriot Benni McCarthy insisted he did not hesitate to recommend him to Rangers, saying “he can play as a defensive midfielder too because he is so good at cleaning up” in an interview with The Scottish Sun.

Although statistics aren’t everything, a look at the numbers seems to suggest that Zungu isn’t the attacking midfielder that Gerrard had in mind though, as he only scored a single goal in 26 Ligue 1 games last term, which is where Wilshere comes in.

Once lauded as a “special” talent by Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola, it is fair to say that he failed to hit the same heights at West Ham that he enjoyed in the 2013/14 season, where he scored three goals and supplied four assists in the Premier League for Arsenal, whilst he averaged 1.9 dribbles and 1.4 key passes per game, via WhoScored.

While Wilshere’s career has been plagued by persistent injury problems, he has show signs that seem to suggest that he is fully fit and raring to go, as he has been hitting the gym ahead of his next career move. He even said on social media that he had been often overlooked by David Moyes despite the fact he had been “fully fit for large periods of time.”

But his wage demands could still be a stumbling block for the Gers, so it remains to be seen if Ross Wilson will be willing to sanction a transfer. However, the £4.32m-rated ace would be a relatively-risk free signing, as Gerrard has already shown that he can carefully manage injury-prone players like Ryan Jack. If he can stay fit for a whole season, Wilshere may make a massive difference if Rangers are to regain their place at the top of the Scottish Premiership table, by adding plenty of creativity to the middle of the pitch.

AND in other news, Rangers must make bargain swoop for ex-Liverpool striker Daniel Sturridge…

Glasgow Rangers have churned out plenty of talented teenagers from the academy ranks in recent years, including current Chelsea star Billy Gilmour, but none may be as exciting as Kai Kennedy.

The Rangers loanee, who is currently on loan at Inverness Caledonian Thistle, could join the ever-reliable Ryan Kent as an alternative option on the left wing.

Standing at 5 foot 4 inches, the 18-year-old isn’t exactly the biggest player on the pitch, but he has been described as a “fabulous little player” by Steven Gerrard.

The Rangers boss has insisted that the sky is the limit for the Scotland U19 international. He told The Daily Record: “He earned the right to be the 19th man. His training performances and his cameo against Leicester – I was thinking about putting him in the 18. All of our lads at the academy should take note of what he’s done this week. I think he’s been outstanding.

“He’s been the most consistent and he’s a fabulous little player. It wasn’t just a token gesture because he’s a kid.

“It’s also to send a message to some of the players who are outside of the 18 that Kai was next from what I seen the majority of this week in training. He deserved to be out there.”

[snack-amp-story url=”https://www.footballfancast.com/web-stories/rangers-daily-update-news-match-reaction-scottish-premiership” title=”Rangers daily update: News, Match Reaction and Features!”]

Kennedy has also admitted his excitement at one day playing for the club, he said: “I can’t wait, I am just buzzing to get on the pitch at Ibrox and I think all the boys are as well and I hope there is a good atmosphere,” he told Rangers TV.

“Going down to Solihull was good in the last round, the atmosphere was great for us and I think on Saturday the atmosphere should be good as well and we are all looking forward to it.

“The boys are all confident, we have had good results so far in the Youth League and in this cup and I think you can tell that all the boys are confident and we are playing well at the moment.”

The fact that Kennedy has made it clear that he wants to play at Ibrox as much as he possibly can should thrill Rangers fans, especially when you consider the fact that Kent continues to be linked with a move away from the club, amid interest from Leeds United.

The teenager just needs to be guaranteed game time, which is something Gerrard has been unable to provide so far.

On Saturday afternoon, Kennedy made his debut for Caley, coming off the bench for the final 19 minutes. It’s small steps, but encouraging ones at that.

Glasgow legend Barry Ferguson has heaped praise on the prodigy in the past and urged him to stay with Gerrard’s side despite recent reports suggesting that he could be destined for the exit.

“A lot of these young players have advisors who maybe try and push them a bit too quickly,” Ferguson told PLZ Soccer.

“I like young players to stay about and fight for a place. There’s no doubt the young kid has huge potential so I would like him to stay about. At this stage in his career it’s not about money.

“We’ve seen it with various young players moving far too quick for my liking, I’d like to see him stay for a while longer.”

High praise indeed from one of the club’s greatest players of all time.

Now they just need to reach a resolution with his representatives, which will be no easy task. However, if he can impress at Caley Thistle, it may not be too long before he is challenging Kent for a spot in the squad.

AND in other news, Better than Kranjcar: Glasgow Rangers must secure deal for Lovro Majer…

Celtic may have been given a big boost in their pursuit of Fraser Forster after Southampton have shown interest in a new goalkeeper.

Accrington Stanley shot-stopper Toby Savin has caught the eye of the Saints, who could be looking to bolster their options between the sticks. Alex McCarthy is currently doing a grand job as Ralph Hasenhuttl’s first choice and bringing in the youngster could mean an exit for either Angus Gunn or Forster.

The Hoops will be hoping it’s the latter after enjoying having the England international back at Celtic Park on loan last season. Glasgow Live have reported that the club are keen to bring Forster back to the club.

Could Celtic sign Forster permanently?

At the moment, Neil Lennon is having a bit of a defensive nightmare. Vasilis Barkas has been dropped in favour of the elusive Scott Bain after some questionable performances. Celtic haven’t won a game since St Johnstone in the Premiership – their loss to Rangers has put the Hoops into a tough spot.

Speaking on the A Celtic State of Mind podcast, Paul John Dykes has discussed the 6’6″ powerhouse and the idea of him joining the club permanently.

“When you look at the impact that Forster had last year in particular in the League Cup final, he makes such a difference to the defence, he makes such a difference to the Celtic side under Neil Lennon,” he said.

Dykes went on to highlight the addition of Barkas, who joined the Hoops this summer for a fee of £2.9million. However, his disappointing start to life in Scotland has resulted in him being axed from the squad.

Last season, Celtic enjoyed yet another Premiership title and conceded just 19 goals with Forster in the net. They have shipped ten already this time round, despite having only played 11 games of the campaign.

With less than two years left on his current contract and valued at £4million, Nick Hammond could strike a very good deal to bring Forster back to Celtic Park for good. They will undoubtedly be keeping a close on Southampton’s business as they near the January transfer window.

In other news, Diego Laxalt stood out for Celtic against Lille with impressive defensive display…

Southampton were handed a big boost earlier this week as Spanish midfielder Oriol Romeu committed to a new contract with the South Coast club, but the Saints must not rest on their laurels and should now prioritise extending Ryan Bertrand’s contract.

The defensive midfielder’s contract had been set to extend at the end of this campaign but has now signed on till the end of the 2023 season (per Southampton).

It means that of Ralph Hasenhuttl’s first-team regulars, only Bertrand’s contract is set to expire at the end of the current season and Saints should do everything they can to ensure that he doesn’t depart on a free transfer next summer.

The 31-year-old joined Southampton from Chelsea in February 2015 and has been a regular for the Saints in his five-and-a-half years with the club; making 214 appearances, in which he has contributed eight goals and 19 assists (per Transfermarkt).

Bertrand has been a regular for Hasenhuttl’s side so far this season, having appeared in seven of their eight Premier League fixtures thus far, in which he has averaged a solid, if unspectacular, 6.68 rating (per WhoScored).

The former England international picked up an injury in Villa’s recent win against Aston Villa and it is unknown when he is going to return, which could be a big blow for the South Coast club, as other than Bertrand, they have just 20-year-old Jake Vokins currently available as a natural left-back in their squad.

This suggests that left-back is not a position which Hasenhuttl has a lot of options in, so the club must ensure they are not left short-handed next season if they let Bertrand depart on a free transfer.

Although he is now 31-years-old, the fact he has still been a regular in the Southampton side which has performed so well so far this season demonstrates that he still has the ability to play at the top level.

Reports last month suggested Danny Ings was set to sign a new long-term contract at St Mary’s, but with his deal running until 2022 currently, there are arguably bigger priorities.

Hopefully, after Romeu’s contract was sorted this week, the club will begin negotiations over a new contract for the £9.45 million-rated Bertrand in the near future.

David Moyes could soon face an unenviable task of weighing up how West Ham United can live without Declan Rice after the England midfielder admitted he wishes to win trophies.

What’s the word?

While speaking with Sky Sports, Rice has opened up on his ambitions to enjoy a trophy-laden career so that he can look back on his playing days in years to come and reminisce about the glory he achieved for both club and country.

Rice was heavily linked with a move to Premier League title-contenders Chelsea this summer, with boss Frank Lampard said to be a big admirer of the 21-year-old who has been an integral aspect of Moyes’ squad at the London Stadium.

The Stamford Bridge natives were opposed to matching West Ham’s £80million valuation at the time, but have remained attentive to the idea of a future pursuit with Lampard confident Rice’s versatility and pedigree will be of great benefit should they manage to offload two high-earning outcasts.

Going by Rice’s latest comments, another approach from Chelsea – who sit third in the table and two points shy of leaders Tottenham – could prove difficult for Moyes to reject, as well, as the Blues will be able to offer the midfielder what the Hammers cannot.

“As a footballer, you only get one career and it goes by very quick,” Rice said. “You want to be successful for club and country. I think it’s an important thing to win trophies. There’s talk of Harry Kane at Spurs and what he should be doing, obviously he can do whatever he wants.

“He’s going to win trophies; we all know that. I think that’s something I want to aim for as well. I’m only 21 but to get those highs of your career you need to win stuff and that’s what I want to do.”

Moyes’ unenviable task

Amid rumours of Chelsea’s interest this summer, Adrian Durham raised the question on talkSPORT of whether or not West Ham can cope without Rice in the holding midfield role. And going by the England international’s remarks to Sky Sports, Moyes may soon face the unenviable task of answering that question.

“Declan Rice is a good player – I do like him. Maybe some people think he’s better than what he actually is, but I do like him,” Durham said.

“I do think he’s an England standard player and he is one of West Ham’s better players – you could argue that he’s their best player. But is he a match-winner on his own? Can they do without him? And I think the answer to that is yes.”

Moyes has struggled to live without Rice since his return to the London Stadium, with the 13-cap ace starting all 28 of West Ham’s Premier League fixtures since the Scot succeeded Manuel Pellegrini at the helm.

The only way Moyes may be able to ensure that run continues for the long-term would be by turning West Ham into contenders for silverware, something the east London outfit have not been in years with their last FA Cup Final coming in the 2005/06 season, last winning an EFL Cup Semi-Final in 1980/81, and never winning a top-flight title.

West Ham’s last piece of major silverware came in the 1979/80 FA Cup, too, highlighting the Hammers’ wait for honours to arrive back on home soil and the mammoth scale of the task Moyes has to overcome.

Moyes is, at least, enjoying a strong start to the current campaign with West Ham sitting eighth in the Premier League standings and within three-points of fifth-placed Southampton, having won four of nine fixtures and boasting the division’s second-best defensive record.

AND in other news, West Ham can ease David Moyes’ fear by signing an “exemplary” gem who may not cost David Sullivan anything.

Sunderland simply aren’t at the races right now.

They should be buoyed by the potential of a takeover, but instead, there is still an incredibly negative atmosphere surrounding the Stadium of Light.

They can’t hold onto leads and their attack is far from flowing – heading into this weekend, Sunderland had scored the second-lowest number of goals in the top eight so far.

That, clearly, is far from ideal. They are behind their promotion rivals and if they don’t score more goals, they will be consigned to yet another year in League One.

Danny Graham has still only scored two strikes in 54 matches for Sunderland while Will Grigg has yet to find the net all season.

For someone who cost the club £4m in 2019, you want a lot more for your money.

Sunderland’s issues have only got worse with the news that Lynden Gooch will miss the next month. Aiden McGeady is building up his fitness and with Elliott Embleton back in the first-team fray, they do have solutions.

However, what if Phil Parkinson thought outside the box? One player he could consider is 20-year-old Jack Diamond, someone with just nine first-team appearances to his name.

He spent last season on loan at Harrogate Town where he scored three goals in their triumphant promotion campaign from the National League to League 2 and since returning, he has been superb for Sunderland’s U23s.

The versatile forward has scored three goals in three Premier League 2 outings, while he also netted for the senior side in the Papa John’s trophy.

Having made two appearances in the league this term, he is clearly in Parkinson’s plans but he needs to play more, especially with the lack of fluidity in the Black Cats’ attack right now.

After all, Diamond had a brilliant summer, being hailed by both Luke O’Nien and Phil Parkinson.

His teammate said back in September: “There are a few of the youngsters who have been impressing. Jack Diamond has come back and done really well, so we have that healthy competition.”

Parkinson added: “Jack we’ve been pleased with, he’s got real pace and power. There are areas of his game he’s got to get better at but you’d expect that for a young player.”

It’s evident why he needs more regular action.

Meanwhile, one Sunderland man who made just SEVEN passes on Friday night let Parkinson down…