FIFA 17 | Best cheap high potential centre backs

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In these articles I look at the best cheap, high potential players in FIFA 17, with tonight’s post focusing on centre backs. I’ll go through a few recommendations, then show you the full list of top quality players afterwards. For a full run down of how I choose the players and what the different columns in the table mean, click on “What are these articles all about?” below.

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The articles in this series should give you some ideas if you’re looking for a new signing in a key area. There is one article for each position on the pitch to make it easy for you to quickly find players to bolster your squad.

All of the players given here have a minimum potential of 80, so you know you’re getting quality. The maximum OVR for each player is 75, both to keep transfer prices down and to avoid presenting you with too many options and thus making it too difficult to choose the player you need.

The ‘Avai?’ column is short for ‘available?’ and refers both to whether or not you can buy the specified player at the start of the first season and how long their current contract is. Let’s take Y/2 as an example – Y means that yes, you can buy him at the start of a new career, and the number means he has two years left on his contract. Similarly, N/3 would mean that no, you can’t buy the player straight away, and he has three years left on his contract. These ‘no’ players are often available for transfer if you wait until the January transfer window, however. For some players this column is blank – this means that they are out on loan at the start and are therefore unavailable for purchase until the second season.

The figure in the player cost column refers to the price you are given if you scout the player. There’s also another column – ‘Enquiry’. This refers to the price the other team want for the player if you enquire about him. Often there is a large difference between the player cost obtained through scouting and that obtained through an enquiry. This leaves a lot of room for negotiation, so don’t be put off if a price in the ‘Enquiry’ column is high, as you can usually get the player for much less. Try bidding lower than what you think will be accepted – you may be surprised at their response. If the ‘Enquiry’ column is blank it’s because the team refused to give a price, either because the player has just joined them or because they are loaning him in.

And as a final note, in FIFA 17 EA update player OVRs and potentials every week. Mose of the time these are very minor changes, and most players won’t be affected at all unless they have had a very noteworthy week. Furthermore, some players occasionally disappear if they have been put in the reserve squad that week. So just bear in mind that these figures should be read as a guide only and not a definitive account of player costs, potentials, etc, for the entire season.[/expand]

So without further ado, let’s see the cheap young centre backs that I recommend.

Reece Oxford: potential 86

FIFA 17 best cheap centre backs

Reece Oxford is a very promising player who won’t cost a lot

Reece Oxford of West Ham is my first pick because it’s so rare to get a player with 86 potential for just £1-2m. While he’s not the strongest at the start, he’s tall and has excellent pace for a centre back, so can deal with threats that way. His physicals will develop nicely as he grows, and his potential will make him one of the best defenders in the game. If you want a high potential player without breaking the bank, he’s a great option.

West Ham want £1.7m for him, but you only have to pay around £900,000. His wages are £9,400.


Issa Diop: potential 85

FIFA 17 best cheap centre backs

Issa Diop is a powerful centre back with great potential

I covered Issa Diop of Toulouse in a Cheap Beasts article in August, and since then he’s become even more beastly. He’s only 19 but already has 86 strength and 85 jumping, and his heading will make him a danger from corners. His defensive stats are excellent too – 73 marking, 75 stand tackle and 78 slide tackle will make him very hard to beat. He’s a defensive tank and with 85 potential will grow to be even better.

Toulouse want you to pay £6.5m for him, but that can be brought right down to £3.9m. His wages are £11,500. That’s a great price for such a powerful player.


Ivan Ordets: potential 81

FIFA 17 best cheap centre backs

Ivan Ordets is pacey and powerful, making him a great centre back

It’s not often that you manage to find a centre back who is strong and fast, but that’s exactly what you get with Ivan Ordets of Shakhtar Donetsk. He’s big and strong, standing at 6’4” and with 88 strength, but he’s got 78 sprint speed too. That means he’s more able to deal with threats than a slower centre back would be able to, and those stats get even better as he grows.

He’s technically very good too – he’ll score plenty of headers, and his tackling stats are very strong. He’s a great all-round option who excels physically and technically.

Shakhtar ask for £6.5m for him, but you can get him for £4.1m. His wages are £18,000.


Axel Tuanzebe: potential 81

FIFA 17 best cheap centre backs

Axel Tuanzebe is a great budget option if you’re a lower league team

It was really hard to choose between Axel Tuanzebe of Manchester United guy and Oxford, and in the end I went for both. That’s because while Oxford has higher potential, Tuanzebe has better starting stats and is cheaper. Like Oxford, he’s fast, but he’s also got decent strength as well. His defensive stats are all equally good, and he’s decent in the air too thanks to his 77 jumping. If you want a fantastic all-rounder but can’t afford to buy Ordets, Tuanzebe is a great alternative.

Manchester United want just £850,000 for him, but you only have to pay around £700,000. His wages are £21,000.


Now here are the other cheap, high potential centre backs in FIFA 17:

[table id=206 /]

Thanks for reading! If you have any player recommendations of your own and have some ideas for the website, make sure you let me know in the comments below.

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