Hoffenheim Needs a Striker

[LilywhiteArmy]

First season as Hoffenheim. We have Kevin Volland but a) he's been playing like sh*t for us so far, b) he won't sign a contract extension with us for a reasonable wage when his contract eventually ends (although we have til 2017), and c) he has been courted by big clubs so the likelihood of him staying is pretty low. He has a 12.5 Million pound release fee so I won't settle for anything less but once I have that money, I only have Anthony Modeste who, while passable, isn't the kind of quality striker I'm aiming to have in my regular first XI. I would even consider parting with Modeste for 5 Million pounds.

Additionally, I've got this phenomenal little CAM called Roberto Firmino (16 dribbling, 17 first touch, 14 finishing, 17 technique, 17 flair, 16 off the ball, 17 fitness, 17 stamina, and 16 pace). The problem is: he's in his last year of his contract and the board won't let me extend his contract at a suitable wage for him and he isn't willing to come down far enough for my budgets. I'm trying to sell him; I think he's worth at least 25 Million (did I mention he's only 21?!), so I'm not willing to sell him for much less than 20 Million pounds.

So, if I sell all of those players, I'll have made 36.5 Million pounds. I get 75% of that re-invested into the transfer budget so I'm looking at 27 Million to play with assuming I can sell all of those players. Here's what I need:

1) A Deep Lying Forward (Support) -- I'm looking for someone to play with a Shadow Striker in midfield (I found a great replacement for Firmino whom I have signed and he's lighting it up with 4 goals in 2 competitive matches). He's got to have great off the ball and long shots, primarily, as well as decent stats in the other DLF attributes. I'd like to find someone for between 6 Million and 9 Million

2) A GK -- We have Casteels right now and he's doing strangely well for us at the moment but, this being FM, he'll no doubt suck soon and his attributes aren't the greatest so I'd feel better if I could get a really talented, young GK who I can trust between the sticks for the next several years. I'm thinking of spending another 6 Million on this, but no more.

3) A M(R) -- We have one fairly talented right winger called Hamad who I use as rotation along with Firmino (since he doesn't need to play AMC with my new bloke there), but he has a tendency to become "injured" after about 60 minutes and then is ready to go the next day for the next match. It's getting annoying. So I'd like to, at worst, find someone who can go in as a substitution for Hamad when he, inevitably, gets injured. At best, I'd like to find a great winger to go here so that Hamad can be our substitution when the new signing gets too tired/we need to rotate the squad. I'd be willing to part with 4-8 Million for this player.

4) A D(L) -- Both Braafheid and Johnson (my two 4-star left backs) are leaving at the end of the year and will not resign with us (Braafheid isn't interested, Johnson wants too much) so I need a new left back. Someone who can get up and be part of the attack and is competent in the back would be good. I'm prepared to spend 3 or 4 Million here.

So with that, assuming I'm hitting the upper limit of each budgeted item, I'd be just about at the 27 Million I had earned. There would be about another million left in the bank which would be "just in case" funds.

Also, I find German squads are so big that I have a hard time keeping everything straight sometimes -- if anyone knows of any really promising players in the Hoffenheim squad that I may have overlooked who can perform one of the functions I have listed above, that would be very helpful!

Anyway, any tips you have to offer would be most appreciated. Cheers!

 

[MANUMAD]

1. Dont sell Volland no matter what and deffo not for 12.5 mil. As I say in my ASK UNCLE MAD thread you should be the boss and force players to do what you want and not vice versa. You've got a LOT of time to get him going AND make him like you/the club. He's one of the best strikers in FM and you ll need much more than 12.5m to get someone equally as good let alone better. If he's playing badly look at two things: (a) Your tactic and what you play him as (b) Keep playing him. If your tactics are good he ll start playing (there's no other way - its a PC game ultimately so if tactics are good then the cf has to score etc).

2. A good cheap cf is Abel Hernandez from Palermo (around 5mil with instalments). Or youngsters such as NEAL MAUPAY or Dybala (Palermo again). If you do sell Volland (and modeste) then your only option is TIMO WERNER (as he's German).

3. Selling Filmino - try this: go to staff responsibilities - personal assistance and change the percentage of asking price when player is offered to sell to 200%. Then offer to sell him for double his price. Teams will get interested. Then start dropping it gradually by 500k each time but waiting 3/4 days each time. I routinely employ this method and sell most players at good values ...

4. DLF - Id look at Ignacio SCOCCO but he may not want to come. Vietto is a good option otherwise and not very expensive.

5. GK - Mattia Perin or the more developed KHUNE (well within your budget with instalments). Timo Horn is a German alternative but expensive. Or Ron Robert Zieler.

6. AMR - Awesome player called SADIO MANE (within your budget with instalments). Or Msakni but wants huge wages. Or loan in Januzaj.

7. DL - Jonathan Silva is your absolute best bet. Or Sanchez Mino.

8. For general help/more players etc try this: http://www.fm-base.co.uk/forum/foot...506-ask-uncle-mad-uncle-mads-box-choccys.html

 

[LilywhiteArmy]

Cheers, MANU, I'm going to try and re-sign Voller at some point in the near future and take out the 12.5 Mill clause then. I'll have a look into the others as well.

 

[baxter51]

Try mattia perin got goalkeeper and try possibly Bruma for right wing, maybe Ben Davies at left back if he isn't to expensive