5. Xherdan Shaqiri
Wing WizardClub: Bayern Munich Nation: Switzerland Position: Right Midfield Overall FIFA 13 Rating: 78 Last year, FC Basel had a serious talent on their hands, not only in real life, but also within the confines of EA Sports' massive yearly football game: Shaqiri was one of the most written names on FIFA 12 forums - an essential purchase if ever there was one. At around £12m or so, he was never particularly cheap, but his quickly rising potential, which would peak at around 85 and the development of key winger skills that regularly hit the 99 mark made him one of those players definitely worth paying big money for. In FIFA 13, Shaqiri's ability is closer to his potential, which is up to 86 this time out from a starting level of 78, and he is still the kind of eye-catching winger that Champions League finalists tend to be attracted to when transfer windows open (hence his new club). He is still fast (sprint speed is a relatively conservative 83, with still hot 92 acceleration) and that potential makes him a good bet for top level clubs, even if he isn't quite at the very highest level yet (watch out for the winter update changing that if he has as good a season in Germany as expected).
Worth buying? He's undoubtedly worth trying to buy, but that recent move to Bayern Munich will have sky-rocketed his in-game value, and thus the likely price-tag it would take to prize him away from the Germans. It wouldn't be likely to happen straight away either, but any player with a high 80s potential level and the kind of speed, balance and agility that Shaqiri does as a winger would be a no-brainer of a purchase.