Who to be on FM21

• Barcelona (Spain)

  It certainly looks as though Messi’s time at Barcelona is coming to an end, and with other influential players such as Suarez looking to move on too there’s a huge rebuilding job to do at the Nou Camp. Can you be the one to freshen things up, bring some of their talented youngsters through the ranks and build the post Messi era?

• Chelsea (England)

  Hey big spender. Roman Abramovich hasn’t let the pandemic affect Chelsea’s transfer business, they’ve been spending like there’s no tomorrow. With the likes of Timo Werner, Hakim Ziyech, Ben Chilwell and Thiago Silva now on the books, can you put together a serious title challenge and compete for the Champions League this season?

• Bournemouth (England)

  Losing Eddie Howe’s Bournemouth from the Premier League was a sad day for many, they played some lovely stuff. With a squad full of young and talented players the vultures are circling. Can you keep that core group together or build a new Cherries side capable of bouncing back to the top division?

• Charlton (England)

  Up for a challenge in League 1? Reportedly bought for £1 by East Street Investments from unpopular owner Roland Duchatelet, and with conflicting parties claiming ownership of Charlton, Addicks’ fans have been protesting. Charlton are under a transfer embargo, which is unlikely to be lifted until an owner has been approved by the EFL. You might start with a new chairman and some investment, or you could be walking straight into a transfer embargo – this one could go either way.

• Standard Liège (Belgium)

  Once a powerhouse of Belgium football, Standard had their professional licence rescinded on 8th April 2020 after the Belgian football association found that they had not paid premiums owed to players. Liege have asked former players including Marouane Fellaini and Axel Witsel to join a group of investors to buy the club’s stadium and rent it back to them, raising the cash they need to stay afloat. Without such investment, they face being relegated to the amateur ranks. Can you steady the ship and get Liege back to winning titles? They haven’t won the Belgian Pro League since 2009. In 2019/20 they finished 5th, so you’ll be without European football and you’ll be losing money on rent for some time to come.

• Ferencvárosi (Hungary)

  Currently managed by Serhiy Rebrov, the Hungarians knocked Celtic out of the 2020/21 Champions League qualifiers. Can you take things further and get them into the Champions League group stages proper?

• FC Eindhoven (Holland)

  When it comes to football in Eindhven most people would think of PSV, but the city has another team. FC Eindhoven play in the Eerste Divisie (2nd division). Can you bring this rivalry back to the top division and knock PSV off their pedestal? The two sides haven’t played each other in league competition since the 1976/77 season.

• Espanyol (Spain)

  With big changes ahead for FC Barcelona now could be the time for the underdog. Can Espanyol rise up from the Segunda División (2nd division) and stake their claim as the best side in Barcelona? You’ll have a fantastic 40,000 capacity stadium full of fans to cheer you on.

• Pafos (Cyprus)

  The Brits love a holiday to Cyprus, so much so that ex Palace man Jason Puncheon, and ex Villa man Rushian Hepburn-Murphy, have crossed the shores to play for Pathos in the Cypriot First Division. Can you continue the theme and bring more Brits abroad? Can you turn Cyprus into a retirement home for some of the best known players in the world, similarly to America and China? You’ve got the weather for it! You might want to bring some homegrown talent through the ranks as well and try to beat Michalis Konstantinou’s goal scoring record for Cyprus. He scored 32 goals in 85 appearances.

• Bryne FK (Norway)

  The first professional club of Erling Haaland plays it’s football in the second division of the Norwegian pyramid. Haaland’s 16 year old cousin, Albert Braut Tjaaland, has been banging the goals in – do we have another star in the making for you to build your team around?

Suggestions are very welcome, just add them to the comments below.