FM27 · Red Star Belgrade

Full Squad Audit

Every first-team player as of 26 October 2026 — filter by position group or verdict, sort by age, value or priority, and click any row for the full assessment. Verdicts are deliberate: useful veterans stay where performances and economics justify it.

Player	Age	Pos	Contract	Status	Value	2026/27	Verdict	Priority
▶Matheus Brazil · right foot	34	GK	2028	Owned (€1.5m, Braga 2025)	€2.0m	1,586' across 21 apps	KEEP	Summer 2027
Strengths Shot-stopping; sweeping; experience Weaknesses Age curve; distribution under press Best role Line-setting #1 with sweeper moments Development outlook One more top season; succession must be planned for 2027/28 Economics Modest wage; no resale value Note Manage cup load from spring; Radanović is the internal successor.
▶Ivan Guteša Serbia · left foot	24	GK	2027	Owned (academy)	€800k	0 minutes	SELL	Jan
Strengths Serviceable reserve profile Weaknesses Overtaken by a 17-year-old; no upside Best role Third goalkeeper at best Development outlook None at this club Economics Dead wage on an expiring deal
▶Savo Radanović Serbia/BIH · right foot	17	GK	2028	Owned (academy)	€700k	331' · 4 apps · 3.0 PPG	DEVELOP	Long-term
Strengths Composure; 1.95m frame Weaknesses Raw; teenage goalkeeper Best role Future #1; #2 next season Development outlook Genuine successor candidate — 4 senior apps already at 17 Economics Academy asset; UEFA List B eligible
▶Yūta Nakayama Japan · left foot	29	CB	2029	Owned (€1.1m, Machida Aug 2026)	€1.5m	720'	ROTATE	—
Strengths Left-foot balance; reading; positioning Weaknesses Pace; aerial duels Best role Ball-playing LCB in both systems Development outlook At peak; stable Economics Cheap; occupies a foreign slot
▶Mihailo Ristić SRB/BIH · left foot	30	LB	2029	Owned (free, Celta Aug 2026)	€800k	390' · 1 assist	KEEP	Summer 2027
Strengths Crossing; set-piece delivery Weaknesses 1v1 defending vs elite wingers Best role Bridge starter at LB until Avdić is fit Development outlook Bridge player by design Economics Free transfer; low risk
▶Miloš Veljković SRB/SUI · right foot	31	CB	2028	Owned (ex-Werder 2025)	€2.5m	1,020' · 1G 2A	KEEP	—
Strengths Ball progression; leadership; duels Weaknesses Recovery speed; load management Best role Front-of-back-four organiser; System B mid-block leader Development outlook Veteran plateau — hold level Economics Free 2025; excellent value
▶Franklin Tebo Uchenna Nigeria · right foot	26	CB	2028	Owned (ex-Sarpsborg 2025)	€2.5m	557'	ROTATE	—
Strengths Physicality; aggression; aerials Weaknesses On-ball under press Best role Aggressive RCB; Europe man-marker Development outlook Prime years Economics Foreign slot; solid mid-tier value
▶Derrick Luckassen GHA/NED · right foot	31	CB	2029	Owned (free, Pafos Jul 2026)	€800k	688'	SELL	Jan
Strengths Duel strength; depth Weaknesses Turning pace; wage-to-output ratio Best role Cover CB only Development outlook Declining Economics Wage exceeds output; sellable if bid ≥ €500k
▶Stefan Gudelj SRB/BIH · right foot	20	CB	2031	Owned (academy)	€2.0m	946' · 1G 1A	DEVELOP	Immediate
Strengths Progression passing; box presence Weaknesses Discipline — 7Y+1R in 12 apps Best role Ball-playing CB heir to Veljković Development outlook Immediate discipline work; otherwise top-4 CB already Economics Academy; contract to 2031
▶Adem Avdić Serbia · left foot	19	LB	2030	Owned (academy)	€10.0m	0' — ACL rehab (2nd knee injury)	KEEP	Long-term
Strengths Elite talent; attacking left-back Weaknesses Two serious knee injuries Best role Starting LB when fit Development outlook All conditional on the knee — no rush, no pressure Economics €10m TM indicative even injured; protect with careful contract
▶Matej Strika SRB/BIH · left foot	17	LB	2028	Owned (U17)	€750k	394'	DEVELOP	Long-term
Strengths Fearless; engine Weaknesses Frame still developing; defensive shape Best role Rotation LB now, starter candidate later Development outlook Real senior minutes at 17 — fast tracker Economics Academy asset
▶Andrej Sibinović Serbia · both foot	17	CB	2029	Owned (academy)	—	11'	LOAN OUT	Summer 2027
Strengths Two-footed; mature (scouting thin) Weaknesses No men's-football exposure Best role Long CB project Development outlook Needs a loan with real minutes Economics Academy; low cost
▶Mahmudu Bajo Gambia · right foot	22	DM	2029	Owned (€3.5m, DAC 2025)	€2.0m	437' · 1 assist	DEVELOP	Long-term
Strengths Press resistance; interceptions Weaknesses Physicality vs target men Best role Rotation pivot behind Händel Development outlook Developing into the Krunić succession Economics Foreign slot; fee already sunk
▶Tomás Händel POR/AUT · left foot	25	DM	2029	Owned (€3.1m, Vitória 2025)	€5.0m	581' · 2G (11/21 squads — injuries)	BUILD AROUND	Immediate
Strengths Tempo-setting; pressing; best single pivot in the league Weaknesses Injury record Best role System A pivot; System B holder Development outlook Peak approaching; manage load ruthlessly Economics Foreign slot; core-level value
▶Timi Max Elšnik Slovenia · left foot	28	CM	2028	Owned (€1.5m, Olimpija 2024)	€5.0m	1,239' · 3G 3A (19/21 apps)	BUILD AROUND	Immediate
Strengths Engine; late runs; set pieces Weaknesses No like-for-like backup in the squad Best role Box-to-box 8; the system's lungs Development outlook Peak; extend contract Economics EU (Slovenian) — registers domestic; renew now
▶Mohammad Abu Fani Israel · right foot	28	CM	2029	Owned (€1.5m, Ferencváros)	€2.0m	831' · 3G 3A	KEEP	—
Strengths Goal threat; footwork; experience Weaknesses Tackle discipline — 5Y+1R Best role Rotation 8; System B closer Development outlook Holding level Economics Foreign slot; tradeable if an offer lands
▶Rade Krunić BIH/SRB · right foot	33	DM/CM	2027	Owned (ex-Fener 2024)	€3.5m	864' · 2G	ROTATE	Jan
Strengths Game management; versatility Weaknesses Age; legs in transition Best role Manager on the pitch for 20–25 appearances Development outlook Declining; minutes reduce as Gaštarov grows Economics Expiring deal — decide in January
▶Mirko Ivanić MNE/SRB · right foot	33	AM/LW	2027	Owned (ex-BATE 2019)	€3.0m	761' · 5G 3A	KEEP	Jan
Strengths Chance creation; big-game record Weaknesses Minutes already managed; age Best role Left-creative starter, 60–70% of minutes Development outlook Succession: Šljivić recalled 2027/28 Economics 1+1 extension maximum
▶Aleksandar Katai Serbia · right foot	35	AM	2027	Owned (since 2020)	€700k	741' · 5G 6A (club top assister)	KEEP	Jan
Strengths Set pieces; efficiency; legend status Weaknesses Age; defensive work Best role Rotational 10 with set-piece duties Development outlook Kostov inherits the 10 permanently in 2027/28 Economics One-year reduced base + bonuses
▶Vasilije Kostov Serbia · right foot	18	AM	2028	Owned (academy)	€25.0m	1,195' · 6G 2A	BUILD AROUND	Immediate
Strengths Generational dribbler; end product already Weaknesses Contract only to 2028; hype load on an 18-year-old Best role Free 10 — everything flows through his right half-space Development outlook The franchise; best young player in the league 2025/26 Economics Most saleable asset in Serbian football — renew to 2030/31 NOW
▶Vladimir Lučić Serbia · right foot	24	LW	2029	Owned (academy)	€1.8m	456' · 2 assists	ROTATE	Summer 2027
Strengths Work rate; tactical discipline Weaknesses Ceiling; end product Best role Utility wide rotation Development outlook What he is now is what he'll be Economics Sellable if a Miladinović-type arrives
▶Kim Ye-geon Korea Rep. · right foot	18	AM	2031	Owned (€500k, Jeonbuk)	€500k	71' (very small sample)	DEVELOP	Long-term
Strengths Technique Weaknesses Adaptation; physical development Best role Understudy to Kostov long-term Development outlook Patience project Economics Foreign slot; small fee
▶Matej Gaštarov MKD/SRB · right foot	19	DM	2031	Owned (U19)	€1.5m	889' · 2 assists	DEVELOP	Long-term
Strengths 1.90m frame; scanning; line-breaking Weaknesses Physical maturity Best role Krunić succession starts now Development outlook Ready for 1,500+ minutes next season Economics Academy; bonus-player eligible
▶Dimitrije Šarić Serbia · left foot	17	RW	2028	Owned (U19)	€750k	118' · 2G	DEVELOP	Long-term
Strengths Impact sub; finishing instinct Weaknesses Teenage variance Best role Super-sub winger Development outlook Fun profile — develop in-house Economics Academy asset
▶Marko Arnautović AUT/SRB · both foot	37	CF	2027	Owned (free, Inter 2025)	€2.0m	574' · 5G 1A	KEEP	Jan
Strengths Link-up; penalties; aerials Weaknesses Age; pressing volume Best role Impact/penalty CF — 20–25 appearances, mostly from bench Development outlook Rationed correctly already (10 sub-offs) Economics One-year terms only
▶Bamba Dieng Senegal · right foot	26	CF	2028	Owned (free, Lorient Aug 2026)	€12.0m	528' · 2G	BUILD AROUND	Immediate
Strengths Movement; pressing; channel runs Weaknesses Consistency; European pedigree unproven here Best role Modern pressing 9 — the profile the club lacked Development outlook Entering prime; System B's transition outlet Economics Free transfer already worth €12m TM indicative
▶Osman Bukari GHA/SRB · right foot	27	RW	Loan to 6/27	Loan (Widzew Łódź)	€2.5m	795' · 3G 3A	KEEP	Summer 2027
Strengths Direct speed; second-spell comfort Weaknesses End product; wage level Best role Starting RW in System A Development outlook Assess buy vs return in June 2027 Economics Loan with known economics from his Austin sale ($7m, 2024)
▶Muhammed Cham Austria · left foot	26	AM	Loan to 6/27	Loan (Trabzonspor)	€3.5m	900' · 1G 1A	ROTATE	Summer 2027
Strengths Dribbling; super-sub profile Weaknesses Not producing starter output — 900 minutes for 1G 1A Best role Bench creator only Development outlook Redirect his minutes to Balov and Šarić Economics No buy — loan ends June 2027
▶Loizos Loizou Cyprus · left foot	23	RW	2030	Owned (€3.5m, Hapoel TA)	€2.0m	590' · 3G 2A	KEEP	—
Strengths Work rate; pressing Weaknesses Physical ceiling at elite level Best role Rotation RW; System B wide worker Development outlook Useful, unspectacular Economics EU passport — registers domestic
▶Kristiyan Balov BUL/SRB · right foot	20	LW	2030	Owned (€3.0m, Slavia Sofia)	€1.5m	260' · 1G 1A	DEVELOP	Long-term
Strengths Flair; combination play Weaknesses Strength; small sample Best role Cham's minutes go to him now Development outlook First real season — needs 1,000+ minutes Economics Chose Zvezda over Anderlecht/Trabzonspor/Ludogorets

Loans out & development players

Player	At	Loan expires	Terms	Outlook	Call
Uroš Sremčević (20, CF)	Radnički 1923	Jun 2027	4th career loan; fee/option unverified	Hot — ~5 goals in 731' this season; scored at Partizan	Recall
Jovan Šljivić (21, AM)	OFK Beograd	Jun 2027	18-month loan; parent contract to 2028/29	Best attacking talent outside the first team — direct Ivanić succession	Recall
Luka Zarić (18, FW)	OFK Beograd	Season loan	One unused bench before loan	Promising; needs minutes more than level	Keep loan
Edmund Addo (26, DM)	OFK Beograd	26/27	Repeated loans since 2024; contract expires Jun 2027	~557' this season; no pathway here	Sell
Shavy Babicka (26, RW)	United FC (Dubai)	Jun 2027	Season loan; option unverified	€4m signing with 6 apps before this loan — the cautionary tale	Sell
Ognjen Mišić	Torlak	Season loan	Low tier	Fringe	Extend

Depth chart — by role, not position

Quality dots: strong, patchy, thin. A squad can be deep on paper and hollow where it matters.

Goalkeeper Matheus · cover: Radanović (rising), Guteša starter cover gap: Medium — age succession

Ball-playing RCB Veljković · cover: Uchenna, Gudelj starter cover gap: Low

Left-footed LCB Nakayama · cover: Gudelj (right), Sibinović starter cover gap: Medium

Cover CB Luckassen · cover: Sibinović starter cover gap: Medium

Attacking LB / LWB Ristić · cover: Strika (2), Avdić (injured, 4 potential) starter cover gap: Medium short-term

Right-back / RWB nobody — committee · cover: none starter cover gap: Severe

Single pivot Händel · cover: Bajo, Krunić (33), Gaštarov starter cover gap: Medium if Händel is injured

Box-to-box 8 Elšnik · cover: Abu Fani starter cover gap: Medium — Elšnik irreplaceable

Creative 10 Kostov · cover: Cham (leaving), Kim starter cover gap: Existential on succession

Wide playmaker left Ivanić (33) · cover: Lučić, Balov starter cover gap: Medium — ageing

Direct winger right Bukari · cover: Loizou, Šarić starter cover gap: Low–medium

Mobile pressing 9 Dieng · cover: no like-for-like starter cover gap: Medium

Target 9 / late outlet Arnautović (37) · cover: Sremčević (on loan) starter cover gap: Medium-high

The core — build around these

Vasilije Kostov

The franchise. 6G+2A at 18 in a Conference League team; everything tactical flows through his right half-space. Renew, protect, build around.

Bamba Dieng

The profile-modern 9 the club lacked — movement, pressing, channels. Free transfer already worth ~€12m indicative.

Timi Max Elšnik

The system's lungs: 19 of 21 matches, engine, late runs, set pieces. EU-registered (Slovenian). Renew now.

Tomás Händel

Best single pivot in the league when fit — the one irreplaceable profile. Load management is the whole game.

Stefan Gudelj

Academy ball-playing CB under contract to 2031. Fix the discipline, extend the rest.

Mahmudu Bajo

Press-resistant rotation pivot on a long contract — the Krunić succession in-house.

Matej Gaštarov

1.90m line-breaking DM, 19, academy, contract to 2031. Ready for real minutes next season.

Franklin Tebo Uchenna

The athletic RCB Europe demands; prime age; cheap.

Adem Avdić (conditional)

€10m talent at 19 — core membership is entirely conditional on the knee. No rush, no pressure.

The exit strategy

Sell immediately

Ivan Guteša — Dead wage, expiring deal, January window
Derrick Luckassen — If bid ≥ €500k — wage exceeds output
Edmund Addo — Contract-year; sell January rather than lose for nothing
Shavy Babicka — Permanent sale or let loan expire — the €4m lesson

Sell if the offer is right

Vasilije Kostov — Only above €30m, summer 2027, with sell-on + buy-back — never before
Loizos Loizou — If a UCL-level RW upgrade arrives
Vladimir Lučić — If Miladinović (or equivalent) signs
Mohammad Abu Fani — Tradeable at the right price with Bajo/Gaštarov ready

Do not renew

Rade Krunić — Likely — unless he accepts a 1-year reduced role in January
Ivan Guteša / Edmund Addo / Shavy Babicka — Contracts resolved by sale first, expiry by default
Muhammed Cham — Loan ends June 2027 — no buy

Loan out

Andrej Sibinović — 2027/28 — needs men's football
Kim Ye-geon — Possibly; decide after pre-season
Savo Radanović — Only with a recall clause

Recall / reintegrate

Jovan Šljivić — Summer 2027 — the Ivanić succession
Uroš Sremčević — Summer 2027 — Dieng's backup

Untouchable (except exceptional offer)

Kostov, Dieng, Elšnik, Händel — Except an exceptional offer
Gudelj, Gaštarov, Bajo — Contract-secured core, 2029–2031
Avdić — Injured asset — value recovers with fitness

Risks & structural weaknesses

The three most worrying weaknesses

No right-back — Seol, N. Stanković and Bojat all sold or released; zero natural RBs in a 30-man squad. January priority #1.
The 2027 contract cliff — Eight deals expire June 2027 (Ivanić, Katai, Krunić, Arnautović, Bukari, Cham, Guteša, Addo) — and Kostov's own deal ends June 2028, handing buyers leverage unless renewed now.
Striker depth is a single point of failure — Dieng's backup is either a 37-year-old or a loanee at Radnički. Sremčević's form is promising but untested at the top.

Strong domestically, liability in Europe

Stefan Gudelj — 7Y+1R in 12 apps — higher tempo punishes it in Europe
Derrick Luckassen — Turning pace is Conference-League level, not UCL
Mihailo Ristić — 1v1 defending vs elite wingers
The right channel — No natural RB — elite wingers will target it all night
Mohammad Abu Fani — 5Y+1R — a suspension time bomb across two-legged ties
Matheus — 34 and a high-wire European dependency; distribution under press

Ageing / expensive — reduce minutes gradually

Aleksandar Katai (35) — Still the top assister — keep, but cap at 60–70% of available minutes; set-piece duties
Mirko Ivanić (33) — Managed well already; 1+1 max, succession arrives via Šljivić recall
Rade Krunić (33) — Shed minutes now that Gaštarov is ready; 1-year reduced role or clean exit
Marko Arnautović (37) — Correctly rationed; retain purely as impact/penalty CF on one-year terms
Muhammed Cham (26) — Not age — output: 900 minutes for 1G+1A belongs to Balov and Šarić

Succession plan

Mirko Ivanić (33, 2027)

18-month runway. Recall Jovan Šljivić from OFK for 2027/28 — left-creative, between-the-lines, profile match. If he stalls, buy a SuperLiga-age AM in summer 2027.

Aleksandar Katai (35, 2027)

Kostov inherits the 10 permanently; Kim understudies; Katai himself stays one more year as rotational 10 with set-piece duties if he accepts reduced terms.

Rade Krunić (33, 2027)

Already solved internally: Bajo starts, Gaštarov rotates. Sign no one. January task: agree the reduced role or part cleanly.

Marko Arnautović (37, 2027)

Sremčević returns as pressing-CF backup; pair him with a modest external target-man (€2–4m) so Dieng has two complements, not one legend.

The Kostov decision: Retain through 2026/27 and renew IMMEDIATELY (January) to 2030/31 with a defined release clause; sell only above €30m in summer 2027. An 18-year-old producing 6G+2A in a Conference League team is the club's biggest asset since Jović — and the contract to 2028 means every month without renewal costs leverage (pre-contract exposure from January 2028). Selling now is selling at an emotional low, post-qualifying humiliation. One full season as the undisputed 10 maximises the fee if a sale ever happens. If renewal is refused by spring 2027, flip to active sale that summer — never risk 2028 free agency.

Proposed first-team squad, 2027/28

12 players balanced by role.

Role slot	Primary	Rotation / development
GK	Matheus (or sold successor ≥€2m)	Radanović + new senior #2
RB	New signing (€3–5m — priority #1)	Ristić tucking / youth
RCB	Veljković	Uchenna, Gudelj
LCB	Nakayama / Gudelj	Uchenna, new RCB prospect
LB	Avdić (fit-conditional) / Ristić	Strika
Pivot	Händel	Bajo, Gaštarov
Box-to-box 8	Elšnik	Abu Fani, Gaštarov
Creative 10	Kostov	Šljivić (recall), Kim
LW	Miladinović (target) / Balov	Lučić, Ivanić (1-yr if kept)
RW	Bukari (if bought) / Živković (free)	Loizou, Šarić
Pressing 9	Dieng	Sremčević (recall)
Target 9	New modest buy (€2–4m)	Arnautović (1-yr if body holds)

Reference date 26 October 2026 · Real-world research is provisional until confirmed against the FM27 database · valuations are Transfermarkt-indicative, not achievable fees · site generated with astro build.