Mid-Priced Midfielders: Unearthing Fantasy Football Gems for the New Season
Identifying Value in the £7.0m-£7.5m Bracket
As the football season approaches, Fantasy Premier League managers are on the hunt for value, particularly in the midfield. Last term saw players like Bryan Mbeumo, Jarrod Bowen, and Luis Diaz significantly outshine their initial price tags. However, their success has led to price adjustments, with all three now at £8.0m, and Bowen even shifting position. This leaves a crucial question: who are the standout midfielders in the £7.0m to £7.5m range for the upcoming campaign?
Aston Villa’s Dynamic Duo: Morgan Rogers
Morgan Rogers (£7.0m) emerged as a brilliant budget enabler for Aston Villa last season. Frequently deployed in an auxiliary forward role or cutting in from the left flank, he notched eight goals and provided 11 assists. His creative threat was evident, ranking joint-sixth among midfielders for big chances created (16) and eighth for overall attacking returns. His £5.0m starting price made him exceptional value.
With 37 starts last season and only missing one match due to suspension, Rogers is expected to remain a consistent starter. The departures of Marcus Rashford and Marco Asensio further solidify his place. Villa’s favourable opening fixtures, potentially including Newcastle, where they’ve scored eight in their last three home games, suggest early attacking potential for Rogers, who impressively created seven big chances in the final nine gameweeks of last season.
Bournemouth’s Attacking Threat: Justin Kluivert and Antoine Semenyo
At Bournemouth, both Justin Kluivert and Antoine Semenyo (both £7.0m) offer compelling options. Semenyo finished last season with 165 points, placing him seventh among midfielders, while Kluivert was just seven points behind in tenth. Kluivert edged Semenyo with one more goal and assist, achieving his total in 29 starts compared to Semenyo‘s 36.
Kluivert also holds the advantage as Bournemouth’s designated penalty taker, converting all six spot-kicks he faced last term. Semenyo, however, is a prolific shooter, attempting 125 shots, second only to Mohamed Salah and Cole Palmer. Both players ranked highly for expected goal involvements, with Semenyo slightly ahead. The choice hinges on whether managers prefer Semenyo‘s volume and consistency or Kluivert‘s penalty duties and efficiency. After a tough opening fixture against Liverpool, Bournemouth face a gentle run of games, offering opportunities for both players.
Brentford’s Pace Setter: Kevin Schade
Kevin Schade (£7.0m) enjoyed his most productive season last term, amassing 143 points, a significant leap from his previous campaign. Having finished last season strongly with 16 consecutive starts, his game time appears assured, especially with Bryan Mbeumo‘s departure to Manchester United and potential interest in Yoane Wissa.
Schade contributed 11 goals and four assists in just 26 appearances. While Mbeumo‘s creative influence will be missed, Schade can still benefit from the assists of Mikkel Damsgaard (£6.0m), who provided 10 assists last season. The former Freiburg man’s stats are trending positively, and he finished strongly in the latter part of last season, ranking third among midfielders for goals scored (four) from Gameweek 30 onwards. His goals per 90 minutes of 0.42 matched Cole Palmer‘s and surpassed Jarrod Bowen‘s. Brentford’s manageable opening fixtures further enhance his appeal.
Chelsea’s Creative Force: Pedro Neto
Pedro Neto (£7.0m) became an increasingly important player for Chelsea under Enzo Maresca, starting 13 of the final 14 games last season. With Callum Maduyke (£7.0m) having departed and Noni Madueke (£6.5m) still developing, the right-wing spot appears to be Neto‘s to command. His pivotal role in Chelsea’s FIFA Club World Cup triumph also highlights his impact.
Neto was the sixth-highest midfielder for crosses last season with 149. While Chelsea were heavily reliant on Cole Palmer (£10.5m) for attacking output, the potential service to new arrivals like Joao Pedro (£7.5m) and Liam Delap (£6.5m) could boost Neto‘s 2024/25 tally of 10 attacking returns. Chelsea’s favourable early schedule should allow Neto to build on his strong finish to last season, where he ranked first for crosses and fourth for big chances created among midfielders from Gameweek 30. In the 2023-24 season, Chelsea averaged 2.1 goals per game at home, showcasing their offensive potential.
Nottingham Forest’s Playmaker: Morgan Gibbs-White
Morgan Gibbs-White (£7.5m) was instrumental in Nottingham Forest’s strong performance last season, contributing 11 assists, the third-highest among midfielders, and seven goals. Despite the departure of Anthony Elanga (£7.0m), Gibbs-White is expected to thrive in a favourable run of early-season fixtures, with Arsenal in Gameweek 4 being the main challenge.
While his appeal has been slightly dented by a loss of penalty and corner duties, Elanga‘s exit could see Gibbs-White reclaim some set-piece responsibilities. It is worth noting that Elliot Anderson (£5.5m) achieved a similar points tally to Gibbs-White with comparable game time, offering a significant cost-saving alternative.
Other Considerations and Potential Pitfalls
Players like Leandro Trossard (£7.0m) and Gabriel Martinelli (£7.0m) at Arsenal could see their game time impacted by new signings such as Cole Maduyke (£7.0m) and Kai Havertz (£7.5m). James Maddison (£7.0m) and Brennan Johnson (£7.0m) at Spurs face fitness concerns and potential competition from new arrivals like Mohammed Kudus (£6.5m).
At Newcastle, Anthony Gordon (£7.0m) faces uncertainty due to Alexander Isak‘s (£10.5m) situation and increased competition, coupled with Champions League rotation. Liverpool’s Cody Gakpo (£7.5m) moves to midfield but faces stiff competition from the club’s numerous attacking signings. Manchester City’s Matheus Nunes (£7.0m) is another difficult proposition due to the wealth of midfield options. Finally, Eberechi Eze (£7.5m) at Crystal Palace had a strong second half of the season, but transfer speculation and potential competition at a new club could affect his minutes. In the 2023-24 season, Crystal Palace scored an average of 1.2 goals per game away from home.
