10 teams to manage after the January Transfer Update

The winter update for FM20 brings with it new player ratings, player transfers and managerial changes. With these updates and some much-changed squads to play around with, we’ve come up with ten potential save ideas. Will any of these provide the inspiration you’re looking for?

Borussia Dortmund

Erling Haaland. That is all.

Yes, we did write about Dortmund in our previous challenges piece because they smashed the summer transfer window and they’ve done it again, so it would be wrong not to include them here.

If the Norwegian’s explosive start to life in the Bundesliga is anything to go by, the sky really is the limit for what he can achieve. Haaland, Julian Brandt and Jadon Sancho are a mercurial front three that you could deploy for the next five to ten years.

Inter

Inter played some lovely football in the first half of the season, with Romelu Lukaku and Lautaro Martinez forming a deadly partnership up front. Following an interesting January window that has seen them bring in Ashley Young and Christian Eriksen, they look well poised to challenge for a first league title in a decade. Have you got the managerial nous to guide them to the top of the league and then build a new legacy?

Bayer 04 Leverkusen

Seal of approval alert. Leverkusen already boasted midfield sensation Kai Havertz and they added Argentine wonderkid Exequiel Palacios to their ranks in January. With such an abundance of talent at your disposal, your first goal is challenging Bayern München’s dominance at the top of the table. After that, it’s up to you and whether you can get these young stars to realise their enormous potential.

Swansea City

The Swans have operated on a relatively small budget since dropping down to the Sky Bet Championship, but they have managed to maximise their resources and produce some impressive results. The club took a decidedly FM approach to the January transfer window, loaning in talented youngsters Rhian Brewster, Marc Guehi and Conor Gallagher to bolster their squad. Make the most of these youngsters, as well as some of the team’s more experienced faces, and challenge for promotion in one of the world’s most competitive divisions.

A.C. Milan

Zlatan is back. The charismatic Swedish striker returned to Milan in January after spending two years in MLS and the Rossoneri were strongly in need of his services. He might be 38 but he’s still one of the deadliest strikers in the world – can you build a team that gets the most out of him and puts one of Italian football’s traditional powerhouses back where they belong?

Lille

Lille drew a number of plaudits for finishing second in Ligue 1 Conforama last season and while they’re not quite performing to that level this season, they are still in and around the European qualification places. The French side have 12 players under the age of 23 in their squad and in Victor Osimhen, Jonathan Bamba and Jonathan Ikone, they boast one of the league’s most exciting front threes. Have you got the ability to build on these exciting foundations and challenge for domestic supremacy while implementing your own unique style?

Sunderland

The Black Cats were among the favourites to escape Sky Bet League One this season after falling short in the play-offs last year but they have struggled for consistency. To remedy that, they have looked to add further quality to their squad in the shape of Kyle Lafferty, Josh Scowen and Bailey Wright. Given their resources, promotion should be your primary aim. After that, how far they go is down to your managerial ability.

Wisla Krakow

Wisla are one of the traditional powerhouses of the Polish game, winning the league title on 14 occasions. This season, however, they found themselves staring down the barrel of relegation after a run of 10 consecutive league defeats. With former national team captain and Borussia Dortmund legend Jakub Błaszczykowski leading the side, your task will be to restore some stability before pushing forward to greater things in the seasons to come.

Morecambe

One for fans of a long-term save. The club from the England’s north west coast have perennially punched above their weight in Sky Bet League Two, putting together a squad on a limited budget. Putting together their six new January signings with their existing team will be your first task but avoiding relegation is made that bit easier by just one side dropping out of League Two in the first season. Have you then got the nous to find bargains and quality youth prospects to not only maintain their status as an EFL club, but also push the Shrimpers on to that next level?

Hertha Berlin

Hertha Berlin have never won the Bundesliga in its current guise and were in the Bundesliga 2 as recently as 2013. However, they are now an established top-flight club and boast one of Germany’s biggest stadiums and most exciting squads.

Can you combine the pace of Dodi Lukebakio and Javairo Dilrosun, the guile and potential of new recruit Matheus Cunha, the midfield talents of Arne Maier and Santiago Ascacibar and the finishing prowess of Krzysztof Piatek, to challenge the established order and really put Hertha on the map as a force in European football?

Whoever you choose to manage, keep us updated on your progress on our social media channels and note any issues you encounter on our forums. Happy managing!