10 cheap beasts for your FIFA 18 Ultimate Team

This Friday brings with it, aside from the welcome knowledge that the weekend’s football is soon upon us, the full release of the much-anticipated FIFA 18. The game has been out since Tuesday for those who pre-ordered the special editions, but for those more casual players Friday is the day to start creating your Ultimate Team.

For every FIFA player finding cheap but quality players early on is the number one priority, so here are 10 players that you should consider for your first squad.

Andriy Yarmolenko – RW | Borussia Dortmund | Ukrainian | Price: 5k (PS4)/3.8k (Xbox)

81 pace may not be a hugely attractive stat for a winger, but the Ukrainian also boasts 82 dribbling and 80 passing, as well as 5* skill moves. Playing for Borussia Dortmund means that Yarmolenko can fit easily into any Bundesliga team, and could even provide some interesting hybrid opportunities with his obscure nation. He will be a trendy player in the early weeks of FIFA 18.

Michail Antonio – ST | West Ham | English | Price: 10k (PS4)/9.8k (Xbox)

Perplexingly the West Ham winger has been classed as a striker this year by EA, but that makes him a much more appealing prospect with 85 pace and 80 dribbling. What sets him apart from a lot of strikers is his 82 physical, meaning he will be able to hold off defenders, and 4* skills and 4* weak foot should make him a deadly striker. He will also be incredibly easy to fit into any teams with a popular league and nation combination.

Manuel Lanzini – CAM | West Ham | Argentinian | Price: 4.9k (PS4)/4.4k (Xbox)

The perfect player to slot in behind Antonio, Lanzini looks like he will be an excellent player early on in FIFA 18. When Payet departed West Ham much of the creative duty fell to this man, and the Argentinian playmaker has 82 pace, 86 dribbling and 78 passing to help him pull the strings. 4* skills and 4* weak foot make him an all-rounded attacking midfielder, and he should be considered for any Premier League team.

Rodrigo – ST | Valencia | Spanish | Price: 2.8k (PS4)/1.4k (Xbox)

The stat that immediately stands out for the Spanish striker is his 91 pace, which should allow him to breeze past all but the fastest of defenders. With an abundance of Spanish players in all of the popular leagues, fitting Rodrigo into your team shouldn’t be a challenge, and his 4* skill will allow you to show off a bit of that Spanish flair against your online opponents. Pairing him with someone like Iñaki Williams at RW will provide you with an immediately threatening forward line.

Keita Baldé Diao – LW | Monaco | Senegalese | Price: 5.1k (PS4)/4.1k (Xbox)

The Senegalese international made the move from Lazio to Monaco over the summer, and this provides an opportunity to combine him with some other exciting Ligue 1 players. With a blistering 92 pace and 86 dribbling this guy is the perfect winger, and his High/Low work rates, combined with 79 finishing and a 4* weak foot, he should be a regular goal scorer should you decided to include him.

Andre Schurrle – LM | Borussia Dortmund | German | Price: 1.7k (PS4)/1.3k (Xbox)

Every year in FIFA this guy is criminally undervalued. For around 1.5k coins you are getting a German winger 83 pace, 79 dribbling and, most impressively, 80 or above in every in-game shooting stat. With a highly desirable league and nation combo, and a 4* weak foot, this guy can be your Marco Reus until you can actually afford Marco Reus. Even if it’s just in your fitness team, you should be picking this guy up and playing him right from the off.

Roque Mesa – CDM | Swansea | Spanish | Price: 600 (PS4)/800 (Xbox)

As long as you ignore his awful moustache Roque Mesa is a quality player. The Swansea midfielder has 77 pace, which is very respectable for a CDM, and 80 physical to help him dominate the middle of the park. The Spaniard also has 80 long passing and 89 short passing so he can act as the starting point for all of your attacks. Pair him with the hugely popular Renato Sanches, also currently at Swansea, and you have yourself a top quality Premier League midfield for an incredibly low price.

Theo Hernández – LB | Real Madrid | French | Price: 1.4k (PS4)/1.2k (Xbox)

French players are going to be hugely popular in this year’s Ultimate Team and Theo Hernández is a very interesting player who can provide interesting hybrid options. A French left back who plays for Real Madrid, Hernández has 84 pace, 72 defending and 76 physical making him a decent well-rounded fullback. As a way into what can become a very expensive Real Madrid defence you can’t go far wrong with Hernández.

Juan Jesus – CB | Roma | Brazilian | Price: 2.5k (PS4)/1.6k (Xbox)

With a myriad of pacey forwards out there it always helps for your central defenders to have a turn of pace themselves, and Juan Jesus’ 79 pace is certainly respectable. The Brazilian defender also has 77 defending and an impressive 83 physical, which includes an 84-strength stat. Brazil is a highly sought after nation and the fact that he plays in the Serie A makes him even more desirable. Partner him with a more expensive defender like Kostas Manolas and you’ll be well on the way to bagging a few clean sheets.

Oliver Baumann – GK | Hoffenheim | German | Price: 800 (PS4 and Xbox)

For under 1k coins Baumann is a sensational purchase. The German goalkeeper plays for Hoffenheim in the Bundesliga, which is brilliant for chemistry purposes, and he comes with 82 diving, 84 reflexes, 82 handling and 81 positioning. His stats are incredibly balanced for such a cheap player and he will be a perfect starting keeper if you decide to go down the Bundesliga route for your first team.