Six of the Best: Promising League One youngsters to improve your Football Manager side

Following on from our look at the top rated young Championship players to invest in at the start of an FM20 save, we turn our attention to League One. For a side in England's second tier seeking promotion on a budget, your best bet is to plunge into the lower leagues to find a bargain. 

The best rated players from 2019/20 aged 23 and under as of August 1st 2019 according to WhoScored's unique rating system throws out some top performers to try and acquire on a bargain. Whether you need a central midfielder, a centre-back, a winger or a striker, there is ample talent in League One to help in your push for a place in the Premier League. 

6. Cameron Brannagan (Oxford) - 7.07 rating / FM Valuation £1.7m 

Prior to football's postponement across the world, Oxford's five-match winning run had thrust them back into the race for automatic promotion with Cameron Brannagan vital in that excellent run of form. The 23-year-old has five goals and seven assists to his name in League One this season, a commendable record for a central midfielder, and it's these sort of performances that yielded a WhoScored rating of 7.07. 

Available at the start of 2019/20 for just £1.7m, Brannagan is a player who'd improve a number of Championship sides on FM20. Tidy in possession, he boasts returns of 12/20 for passing, 12/20 for vision and 12/20 for decisions, that going some way to matching a WhoScored strength of 'passing', while a player trait of 'plays short simple passes' means he could be a steal for a Football Manager looking to implement a possession-based approach. 

5. Tariqe Fosu-Henry (Oxford) - 7.16 rating / FM Valuation £1.2m 

Oxford sold Tariqe Fosu-Henry to Brentford in January after the Bees activated his £750,000 release clause, which is all the more notable considering his FM20 valuation at the start of 2019/20 is £1.2m. The winger did enough to warrant a move to the Championship side at the turn of the year with his eight goals and one assist contributing towards a WhoScored rating of 7.16. 

For any Championship side eyeing up a bargain buy for a winger before the campaign gets underway, Fosu-Henry has the tricks of the trade to appeal to any Football Manager in charge of a second tier side. The 24-year-old's best attributes in FM20 are acceleration (17/20), pace (16/20) and dribbling (16/20), that backing up a statistically calculated WhoScored strenght of 'dribbling'. And if Brentford can pick him up for just £750,000 in real life, then he'd make a fine addition to any Premier League chasing team. 

4. Benjamin Whiteman (Doncaster) - 7.18 rating / FM Valuation £1.3m 

Doncaster sit just outside the playoff spots in League One and if they are to secure a top-six finish this season, then Benjamin Whiteman will have played a key role. The young midfielder boasts a solid WhoScored rating of 7.18 in England's third tier this term with five goals and one assist a fine return for the central midfielder. 

And at £1.3m, any Championship side could tap into his potential and help guide them to the Premier League. Like with Brannagan, some of Whiteman's best qualities centre around his possession based approach. The 23-year-old boasts a statistically calculated WhoScored strength of 'passing' and is rated 14/20 for vision and 13/20 for passing at the start of 2019/20 on FM20. If you want your side to keep hold of the ball, then Whiteman could be just the bargain buy you need to succeed on a modest budget 

3. Robert Dickie (Oxford) - 7.26 rating / FM Valution £170,000 

The second current Oxford player, and third to start 2019/20 with the Us, Robert Dickie is has a lowly valuation of £170,000 at the start of the campaign, but if his performances this season are anything to go by, then that figure will rise before too long. Indeed, Dickie boasts a WhoScored rating of 7.26 in League One this campaign, a fine score for the young centre-back. 

4.4 aerial duels won per game is a solid return in League One this season with Dickie's dominant showings in the air backing up FM20 attributes of 12/20 for heading and 14/20 jumping reach. Dickie may not boast the most appealing pre-season stats, yet at such a low valuation, the 23-year-old is a low-risk option for a Championship side. 

2. Ronan Curtis (Portsmouth) - 7.29 rating / FM Valuation £515,000 

The sixth best rated player in League One this season is also the second best rated youngster in the division with a WhoScored rating of 7.29. Ronan Curtis, like Dickie, has a modest valuation of just £515,000 at the start of 2019/20, but if he can live up to his good form this season, then that could prove a steal should you be able to prise him away from Portsmouth. 

Indeed, Curtis has 11 goals and five assists to his name in League One this term to contribute to his fine rating. The now 24-year-old boasts a commendable 12/20 for finishing, to reinforce a statistically calculated WhoScored strength of 'finishing' and if you're on a budget and need a winger, Curtis could be the ideal target. The Portsmouth winger has 14/20 for acceleration, 13/20 for pace and 13/20 for dribbling and is a possible bargain buy. 

1. Ivan Toney (Peterborough) - 7.91 rating / FM Valuation £2.6m 

Ending on an expensive note, it's for good reason with Ivan Toney enjoying a wonderful campaign prior to football's suspension. The now 24-year-old is the highest rated player in League One this season, yielding a WhoScored rating of 7.91. Toney has scored 24 league goals and provided an additional five assists this term and is a key figure in Peterborough's promotion push. 

It's a quest that could end before it's even begun on FM20 and while Toney won't come cheap - his pre-season valuation is a fairly hefty £2.6m - that would prove a drop in the ocean if he fires your team to the Premier League. With a WhoScored strength of 'finishing', the frontman boasts 12/20 for finishing and 11/20 for composure, two qualities that could be improved upon, sure, but if you're a manager that needs a new penalty taker, 14/20 for penalty taking means Toney could prove a vital addition to your side down the line.