Transfers

10 Best Advanced Playmakers In FM23

FM23 is now out in the wild, making this the right time to round up the best Advanced Playmakers you can get early on in the game.

They will not come cheap, however, with some good timing and some luck, you might manage to snag one or two of them towards the end of their current contracts when players in the game are normally considerably cheaper.

Without further ado, here are the best Advanced Playmakers you can sign in FM23 at the start of the save;

  1. Bernardo Silva
  2. Kevin De Bruyne
  3. Bruno Fernandes
  4. Phil Foden
  5. Sergej Milinkovic Savic
  6. Lorenzo Pellegrini
  7. Luis Alberto
  8. Gavi
  9. Martin Odegaard
  10. James Maddison

I have deliberately avoided naming players who are close to the age of 30. This is to ensure you get maximum service out of these players I’ve settled upon, or a nice transfer fee should one of the bigger clubs come after them.

1. Bernardo Silva

Brought in as a winger from AS Monaco, Bernardo has shown his versatility by dropping world-class performances in central midfield, filling in the space vacated by David Silva when his time at the Etihad came to an end.

Best advanced playmakers in fm23

Silva is extremely versatile and can be used in virtually every position in the attacking third, from an inverted winger in the right wing to a trequartista in the attacking midfield.

However, he is best suited to an advanced playmaker role, either in the AMC or CM position.

He will demand a lot in terms of wages, but you are guaranteed quality from the little magician.

2. Kevin De Bruyne

Kevin De Bruyne needs no introduction, Arguably the most important player in Pep Guardiola’s midfield, De Bruyne is as good as it gets when you want a central midfield player that will routinely break forward chipping in with goals and assists.

He is however past the 30 years old age barrier, but with his ability, it is unlikely that he will slow down anytime soon.

He can play various roles in central midfield, out wide or even as a false 9.

However, his best role in my opinion is either as an advanced playmaker to take advantage of his elite passing and vision or as a shadow striker to complement a complete forward.

Being a key player at Manchester City, the efforts and money you will use signing him could be better off being spent bringing in wonder kids who will be stars in the future.

Check out my guide here on how I go about setting up my scouting assignments.

3. Bruno Fernandes

Playing as an advanced playmaker in the AMC position at Manchester United, Fernandes is arguably among the best in his position.

Despite being able to play as an advanced playmaker, Fernandes can also be deployed in other roles successfully, including out wide as an inverted winger and as a false 9 to take advantage of his eye for a goal.

He will obviously cost a ton in both wages and transfer fees to buy him from Manchester United, but at only 27, he still has at least 7 years of service in him before he starts slowing down.

4. Phil Foden

Still only 22 years old, Foden has already cemented his place in Pep’s starting eleven.

The only problem is that he is deployed out wide rather than in the central midfield areas where he has been groomed to play in since he broke through from City’s academy.

Foden’s talent is undeniable, and he still displays excellent performances out wide.

However, should you manage to pry him away from Manchester City, Foden has the hallmarks of an unstoppable advanced playmaker

Quick of feet and an eye for goal, he will inevitably chip in with goals and assists from the central areas of the pitch.

Aside from the advanced playmaker role, Foden can also be used in other areas including a false 9 role and a mezzala or out wide as an inverted winger similar to how Pep occasionally uses him

5. Sergej Milinković-Savić

Perennially linked with a move to the English Premier League, Savic is a highly talented central midfielder who can also play other different positions, including that of a target man in the dying minutes of a match that you are chasing.

He is incredibly physical, with the technical skills to match his physicality, making him a candidate for various other roles in FM23, including box-to-box midfielder and Segundo Volante in the defensive midfield.

Playing in Serie A, Savic will still cost a lot, but not as much as the other names on this list. He is still only 27 years old, and has a lot to offer should you sign him up.

6. Lorenzo Pellegrini

Pellegrini is another exceptional Serie A talent, plying his trade for As Roma.

Capable of playing in defensive midfield, central midfield and attacking midfield positions, Pellegrini offers a lot of versatility should you wish to change your system in the middle of the season.

His best role however is as an advanced playmaker in the AMC position, where he can make good use of his exceptional vision and technique to pull off some defence-splitting passes.  

He will also not cost as much as the other names on this list, but be prepared to pay some huge wages to bag his signature.

7. Luis Alberto

Yet another Serie A talent, Luis Alberto is a familiar name to most FM players.

He is at the 30-year age mark at the start of the save, but you can sign him for relatively cheap, making him a suitable short-term transfer as you wait for a more long-term solution.

His best position is in central midfield as an Advanced Playmaker, but he can also play the same role further forward at the AMC position and also as a regista in the DM position if you have other players to cover for his defensive frailties.

8. Gavi

Fresh from winning the Kopa Trophy, Gavi is already a key figure in Barcelona’s central midfield.

He can play a number of roles in this position, a testament to his quality and versatility. More suited to play as an advanced playmaker or a mezzala, Gavi can still comfortably play as a left winger should you wish to deploy him out wide.

He has a high market value in FM23, but if you want the best, especially at such a young age, you must be prepared to pay up the big bucks.

9. Martin Odegaard

When he joined Real Madrid at the age of 16, Odegaard was touted as the next big thing.

However, his career path has led him away from Santiago Bernabéu, and he is now starting to show what he is made of at the Emirates.

Already captain at Arsenal at the age of 23, Odegaard’s mentality and leadership are one of his biggest strengths.

Furthermore, he also has exceptional passing and vision to go with his leadership skills.

There is something to say about his less-than-ideal finishing skills, but his playmaking strengths more than make up for it.

His best position is in AMC as an advanced playmaker, but he can also play wide in the same role, or as an inverted winger.

10. James Maddison

Before going after Odegaard, Arsenal were heavily linked with this Leicester talisman, but the transfer never materialized for one reason or another.

He will not come cheap, but James Maddison is an excellent talent capable of playing in central midfield, out wide and attacking midfield.

Aside from playmaking, Maddison has a very high work rate, and he is always a threat from direct free kicks, which can be worth as high as 5 goals a season if you have the right player.

Finally, this is just the tip of the iceberg in terms of the best advanced playmakers you can get in FM23.

Be sure to scout the best regions in the game, and you will be guaranteed to unearth some gems you might not be aware of.