I thought I would share my thought process surrounding the players I have purchased. I think it will be tough going in the early stages for Bologna looking at the excellent job everyone has done assembling their teams. On the whole I seem to have gone with players a little lower in rating but with what I perceive to have a bigger upside.

GK R.SÁNCHEZ 23 years old 85 rated and valued at £2.8M
I spent £3.5 million to secure my number one target for the goalkeeper position. I felt at this sort of price point Sanchez has great upside. Brighton are a team heading in the right direction I feel and Sanchez is nailed on as their number one. He has received call ups from Spain who seem to have a crisis of sorts in the goalkeeping department at the moment and it is not inconceivable that with the wind in his favour Sanchez could grab the number 1 shirt for Spain in the not too distant future.

RB G.MENINO 20 years old 83 rated and valued at £3.0M
Costing £3 million and arriving with his shiny Olympic gold medal is promising young Brazilian Gabriel Menino. A regular for Palmeiras and always being linked with Europe’s fines clubs, the boy looks to have a great future and his rating should only go up. His versatility is a bonus as he can play the DMC position which will help me out early doors when the squad is thin.

DC L.BADÉ 21 years old 85 rated and valued at £5.0M
Free agent Loic Bade was captured for £4 million. After breaking into the Lens first team and being a big part of creating a solid defensive foundation in their first season back in league 1, Bade saw a rise from 73 to 85 if just six months. IRL his performances were enough for Rennais to splash the cash and bring his in. They haven’t started well but I have high hopes for Rennais this year as they look to have had a great transfer window. Bade has lots of room to grown and will hopefully be a big part of Bologna’s future.

DC L.ABRAM 25 years old 85 rated and valued at £2.6M
I have to admit that spending £2.6 million on Abram was a roll of the dice. I can’t confess to have ever seen him play but having just signed for a Granada team who have been punching above their weight for a while now, if he settles in well he seemed to have more upside than anything else I could see at this price point.

DL L.PITON 20 years old 80 rated and valued at £1.4M
I was running out of money and needed a left back. I spent just over £400k to take the young Brazilian with an eye on the fact that the Brazilian league was currently being reviewed. He has since had a rating increase from 73 to 80. I will need to upgrade at some stage I suspect but he will have to do for now.

MC J.MODER 22 years old 85 rated and valued at £3.0M
Moder cost me £2.5 million as he was a free agent. I feel Brighton could have a good season this year and Moder was very impressive when I watched him against Man City at the back end of last season. A young player who seems to be in and around the first team should see his rating increase as the season moves on.

MC R.VEIGA 26 years old 85 rated and valued at £2.6M
£3.1 million was spent on the basis of Brazil currently being reviewed and Veiga’s stats showing that he should get a upgrade of 1 or 2 ratings points. I don’t know much more than what Transfermarkt tells me but I will be happy if he sees an increase so I can at least turn a profit on him once the transfer bans expires.

AML SULEMANA 19 years old 82 rated and valued at £2.8M
Sulemana cost me £3.2 million but seems to have tons of potential. IRL he made the summer move to Rennais after being tracked by lots of the top European giants. Rennais could prove to be an excellent choice at this stage of his career and their attach should be frightening with him and Doku on either side of the attack. He scored on his IRL league debut and I have high hopes for him.

AMC PAULINHO 21 years old 83 rated and valued at £3.0M
Another Olympic gold medalist, Paulinho joins for £3.1 million. Paulinho hasn’t really established himself at Leverkusen yet but I am hoping this could be his break out year. I have only ever seen him in 10 or 15 minute substitute appearances but seems to be a classy, skilful player who if he finds his feet could really make an impact at a team like Leverkusen.

AMR MOUKOKO 16 years old (or is he haha) 78 rated and valued at £2.8M
£5.5 million was a lot to spend and I had to think long and hard about this one. I decided it was worth the gamble on the basis he is already seeing minutes for one of Germany’s top teams and his goal scoring record at youth level is silly. This will be boom or boost. I either have a future 90+ rated forward to build around or he is the second coming of Jan Fiete Arp.

FC KOITA 21 years old 83 rated and valued at £3.0M
£2.3 million seems cheap but I think a lot must have been put off by his injury and drugs ban. If Koita can get back playing and the cruciate ligament tear doesn’t affect him too badly I have a player all the top clubs were monitoring and could be next of the RB Salzburg production line. A gamble but one I felt was worth the risk.

Outside of the starting lineup are the following mixture of potential, quad fillers and risers I can flip for profit.

GK TEIXEIRA – back up goal keeper and hoping for a rise in the current Brazilian review.
DC ORTIZ – hopefully will see a rise and value increase in the current Brazilian review and I can flip for a profit.
DC – AL DAKHIL dirt cheap and playing first team football in the Belgian top flight. Could be a riser or long term project depending on how he gets on this year.
DL VICTOR – hopefully will see a rise and value increase in the current Brazilian review . May even step into the starting LB spot if he gets above Piton’s 80 rating.
AM PALAVECINO – Getting plenty of minutes for River Plate. Should see a rise in rating when they get to Argentina.
FC LOPES – hopefully will see a rise and value increase in the current Brazilian review and I can flip for a profit.
DC WOOH – Bought as a replacement for Loic Bade IRL and I am hoping he takes a similar career path. Started well and could be a hidden gem.
DC DEBAST – Anderlecht produce good young players and are not afraid to give them a chance in the first team. Hoping he can get minutes this season.
DC MBAMBA – over the moon to land this lad. Very exciting talent who is starting games and getting rave reviews at just 16 years old.
DM VARELA – can’t say I know too much about him other than he has been getting minutes for Boca Juniors. Got to be worth the £300 spent.
DR HÉLIO – Cost £100, can play in lots of positions and will hopefully get a rise in the current Brazilian review.
FC ÁLVAREZ MARTÍNEZ – Young Uruguayan striker catching the eye and scoring lots of goals for Penarol. Hoping for a move to Europe at some stage. Can he be the next big thing from Uruguay.
FC SIRI – see above but replace the word Penarol with Danubio haha.
AM HENRIQUE- hopefully will see a rise and value increase in the current Brazilian review and I can flip for a profit.