We've picked out three Norwegian players who look set to have bright futures in the game and could subsequently prove to be savvy acquisitions on Football Manager 2021.
Every Football Manager player is desperately hoping to unearth the next wonderkid or top-rated newgen, however, these increasingly sought-after acquisitions can often turn out to be overpriced and in some cases, overrated.
Scandinavia has produced some top young talent over the last couple of seasons, with both Jacob Bruun Larsen and Erling Haaland having been previously cited as potential wonderkids on FM20. The latter began his career in his homeland, playing for both Byrne and Molde, and his career has progressed exponentially since the release of last year's game. As a result, it may be worth keeping an eye on the Eliteserien this year with a number of potential superstars hoping to follow in the footsteps of the highly-rated Borussia Dortmund striker.
Whilst many FM fanatics prefer to do their scouting in France, Spain and Italy, closely monitoring the latest emerging talent in Norway may enable managers to spot untapped potential before anyone else. We've picked out three players who look set to have bright futures in the game and could subsequently prove to be savvy acquisitions on FM21.
Emil Bohinen
Leeds United continue to work on potential deals for small group of strikers, as Norwegian prospect Emil Bohinen emerges as a wing option.https://t.co/jWA7zrevpJ#lufc— Graham Smyth (@GrahamSmyth) January 20, 2020
Emil is the son of former Derby County favourite Lars Bohinen, and this hugely talented midfielder has already started to attract interest, having been previously linked with both Leeds and Sheffield United. Despite this, he still looks capable of showing further improvement over the next couple of seasons. His greatest assets are listed as composure, agility, determination and flair, although his all-round game helps to set him apart from the majority of his peers.
He is also fairly adaptable, and having been deployed as both a winger and a central midfielder in the last twelve months, he certainly appears to be extremely malleable. Although we fully expect his value to have increased by the time FM21 is released, he could still prove to be a relatively low-cost purchase, and at just 21-years-old, he still has ample time to improve his Football Manager rating.
Victor Boniface
The Nigerian striker has enjoyed a break-through year in Nordland County. The 19-year old has been a key part of a Bodo/Glimt side who have richly entertained Eliteserien fans this season. He has plenty of competition for places, and therefore hasn't always been a guaranteed starter, which may just help him remain under the radar on FM21.
Boniface has netted seven times this campaign, and although he only made a brief cameo against AC Milan in the Europa League at the end of September, he's still been able to stake a claim for a regular place in the side with his eye-catching performances in the Norwegian top flight. Heading into October, Bodo/Glimt have a 15 point advantage on their nearest rivals, and having netted 65 goals in their opening 18 fixtures, neutrals have thoroughly enjoyed watching them swash-buckle their way to the summit. Their consistency in front of goal this season has also made them a favourite with punters, with all of the best UK bookmakers having priced up a wide-range of goals-based markets throughout the course of the campaign. Many football fanatics tend to follow this league throughout June and July when other top European leagues take their summer break, although many bettors have continued to follow the progress of Kjetil Knutsen's side despite the return of more high profile competitions such as the Premier League and La Liga.
Tobias Christensen
Tobias Christensen ➡️➡️ @Molde_FK confirmed!— Ben Wells (@FRfotballBen) August 10, 2019
Love this move, personally. Christensen should get good game time & can learn from the best attacking midfielder in the league at #MFK. A good step in his development. pic.twitter.com/2D2Gg2jMUj
The 20-year old attacking midfielder is a hugely talented operator, and first caught the eye at Start in the OBOS-ligaen. He has continued his development at Molde, and there should be plenty of improvement still to come. He was valued at $114K on FM20, and although that will undoubtedly have risen due to his consistent performances in the Eliteserien, he could still prove to be a relatively low cost option for FM bosses.
He's incredibly competent at the basics, and isn't afraid to break up play in the centre of the park. Intelligence is arguably his greatest asset, with his speed of thought allowing him to stay one step ahead of opposition midfielders.
The Norwegian top flight continues to churn out top talent, and there are numerous young players who are already starting to attract admiring glances from various European heavyweights. FM21 players could do far worse than keep their eye on these potential stars, and scouring the Scandinavian market may be the best route to success for FM gaffers who are hoping to spot the next big thing.
