The poacher role is critical if you are relying on your main striker to lead the goal-scoring charts for your team and act as the focal point in most of your counterattacks.
However, getting strikers who are well-suited for this role is never easy, and with that in mind, I have come up with the list to make it easier for you to snag a few of the best poachers in FM23 at the start of the save.
However, with great ability comes a great transfer fee, unless you scoop some hidden gems who typically cost less.
Check out my guide on how I set up my scouting assignments to scout the best regions in football manager.
I have tried to restrict this list to players aged 28 and below so that you can get more than five years of top service from them.
Without further ado, here are the best poachers in FM23;
Lautaro Martinez
Despite not putting in the performances that were expected of him at the World Cup in Qatar, the 25-year-old Argentinian returned to the San Siro as a world champion.
Capable of playing as a lone striker in the poacher role, or slightly behind as a shadow striker, Martinez guarantees goals for your club if you have the money to pry him away from Inter Milan.
As he is just entering the prime years for a striker in football manager, paying the big bucks for him guarantees a world-class calibre poacher for your team for almost ten years, depending on how he ages and whether he stays relatively injury free.
Check out his FM23 profile here.
Eddie Nketiah
Gabriel Jesus’ injury had everyone worried whether Arsenal’s title charge was over before it had even begun.
However, the 23-year-old English man had other ideas.
Nketiah has more than comfortably filled Jesus’ boots and when the Brazilian makes a full recovery, regaining his starting position might not be as straightforward as he might have wanted.
Aside from being deployed as a poacher, Nketiah can also play as an advanced forward or out wide as either an inside forward or a raumdeuter.
Being English and playing for Arsenal, Nketiah will cost an arm and a leg. Not to mention the long contract that he is currently on, expiring in 2027.
Should you manage to convince him to leave the Gunners, Nkeitaih will comfortably play at the top level for more than 10 years.
Check out his FM23 profile here.
Gonçalo Ramos
Ramos was thrown in the limelight at the World Cup after the Portuguese manager made the brave decision of benching Portugal’s greatest player, Cristiano Ronaldo.
The 21-year-old did not let the manager down, scoring his first international hat trick on the world’s biggest stage.
Playing for Benfica, the poacher will not cost as much as the other names on this list, however, if you wait for too long, he will certainly be picked up by sides playing in the top five leagues.
Ramos’ well-balanced attributes allow him to flourish in multiple roles up top, including as an advanced forward and a complete forward.
Check out his FM23 profile here.
Timo Werner
Timo Werner’s time in England might not have been as successful as he would have liked due to various reasons, including Chelsea not playing to his strengths.
However, the 26-year-old German international still possesses the kind of pace that makes him a dream poacher.
Currently playing for RB Leipzig, Werner is an ideal signing for a club pushing for a Champions League spot and plays a quick counter-attacking brand of football to take advantage of his pace.
He is not on overly huge wages and would cost around 50 million pounds for a transfer, which is reasonable for most clubs chasing Champions League football.
Check out his FM23 profile here.
Benjamin Šeško
Born in 2003, Sesko is only 19 years old at the start of FM23. He is very much an out-and-out poacher, capable of only playing in the striker position.
However, what he lacks in versatility, he more than makes it up for it in his attributes.
At 194 CM, and with decent physical attributes for a teenager, Sesko has the potential to develop into a world-class poacher in no time.
Should you wish to, Sesko can also be moulded to play as an advanced forward, deep lying forward or a target man, however, you will be sacrificing his explosive pace in doing so.
Despite playing in Austria for RB Salzburg (He will join RB Leipzig at the end of the first season), Sesko will easily cost upwards of 70 million pounds.
Check out his FM23 profile here.
Victor Osimhen
Osimhen is quickly becoming a household name to most football fans thanks to his fine form for Napoli this season.
The Nigerian is continuously getting linked with a move to the top clubs in Europe, and being only 23 years old at the start of the save in FM23, going after him is a no-brainer
Famous for his explosive acceleration and pace, Osimhen is tailor-made to be a poacher for a counter-attacking side.
With his contract expiring in 2025, he should cost less than 100 million pounds, but be prepared to fight it out against the rich clubs from the EPL for his signature.
Check out his complete FM23 profile here.
Endrick
At 16 years old, Endrick is comfortably the youngest poacher on this list. However, his potential has already made Real Madrid pay the big bucks for him.
Despite this, you should not lose hope of acquiring the Brazilian wonderkid.
Once he moves to the Spanish club in 2024, a loan move is a good route to getting his services, however, if you are eying him up for a more permanent move, waiting for Real Madrid to sign a few more striker wonderkids then going after him when he ultimately lacks the game time that befits a player of his quality, is always a viable route in football manager.
Check out his FM23 profile here.
Finally, FM23 has a large number of poachers you can unearth, making it impossible to cover all of them here.
Make sure to scout the best regions while also developing your youth in the right way, as watching your club compete for the biggest titles with a team that is largely from your youth system is always more satisfying.
