3 Low-Cost Forwards to Complete Your Serie A Fantasy Squad

Everyone loves a star striker, but stacking your attack can drain your budget fast. That’s where low-cost forwards come in — players who can still make an impact without breaking the bank. We’ve picked three forwards under 10 credits who could prove to be shrewd signings, plus a wild card pick for those willing to take a calculated gamble.

Forwards under 10 credits to complete your attack

M’Bala Nzola (Pisa, 9 CR)

A striker with potential that’s gone largely untapped over the past two seasons, but who knows how to carry a provincial side on his shoulders in Serie A. M’Bala Nzola looks like the perfect profile for Gilardino’s Pisa. His last two seasons, split between Fiorentina and Lens, brought 14 goals (7 and 7), respectable but far from the explosive campaign at Spezia when his 15 goals weren’t enough to save the team from relegation.

At 29, the French-Angolan striker returns to Italy eager to prove himself once again in Serie A. He’s highly likely to overtake Alexander Lind (8 goals in Serie B last season) as Pisa’s starting number nine — and he’ll be the team’s penalty taker. Getting fit and finding rhythm quickly won’t be easy for a player of his build, but once he does, he could become the key piece in Pisa’s fight for survival.

Giovane Santana (Verona, 6 CR)

Every year Hellas Verona offers up a handful of lottery tickets — some pay off, others flop. Last season many went for Mosquera and Sarr (the latter eventually nailed down a starting spot). This year, our recommendation is Giovane Santana. He’s the classic exotic South American pick, fresh from a strong preseason, that dazzles you when filling out your last slots. If he explodes, you look like a talent scout; if not, he ends the season goalless and maybe leaves on loan in January.

But we’re backing Santana. A Brazilian attacking midfielder born in 2003, he joined for free from Corinthians, where he grew up. He’s a left-footed, mobile forward who can drift across the front line and play around a target man like Sarr or Mosquera. He’s got pace, technique, and a powerful shot, which he showed in preseason with 4 goals in 3 friendlies. We hope it’s not just a flash in the pan.

Walid Cheddira (Napoli/Udinese, 5 CR)

Here the transfer market helps us out. Walid Cheddira is moving (not yet official) from Napoli, the reigning champions, to Udinese — the opposite route taken by Lucca, leaving Runjaic’s team short of a real striker. The current squad (Davis, Bravo, Brenner, Sanchez, Pizarro) lacks a true number nine with consistent scoring ability. Cheddira doesn’t guarantee it either, but his arrival could freshen up Udinese’s attack.

The Moroccan striker, born in 1998, has a mixed record. He shone at Bari and Frosinone with 12 and 8 goals respectively across two seasons, but struggled at Napoli and Espanyol (just 1 goal last year between Serie A and La Liga). With 187 cm of height, strength, pace, and decent technique, he has the tools — it’s up to Runjaic to unlock them again. Moving from Mergellina and Barceloneta to the Dolomites might be exactly what he needs to rediscover his old self.

Lorenzo Venturino (Genoa, 7 CR)

Our wild card pick, just as we did with defenders and midfielders, is a very young talent — this time Italian. Lorenzo Venturino, a winger born in 2006, plays for Genoa. He’s behind Carboni and Messias in the pecking order, but coach Vieira has already shown signs of appreciation. In a summer press conference, he said: “I really like him as a player, he’s shown quality, but he needs to grow. He must keep working hard and prove he deserves to play.”

At just 18, Venturino might not see huge minutes straight away, but his talent, potential, and the coach’s words make him one to watch closely.

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