When looking at the premium midfield options for this season, I have decided to include players priced between £8.0m and £12.0m. While £8.0m may not traditionally be considered a premium midfielder price point, there are only seven midfielders priced within this bracket, so I have felt it makes sense to include them all together.
How many of these players you can fit into your squad will largely depend on your overall structure. Whether you decide to build around Erling Haaland, Bruno Fernandes, both, or even other premium options across your squad will have a big impact on how much money you can invest in your midfield.
For some managers, this article may help identify two or three premium midfielders they want to build around, while for others there may only be room for one. There is no right or wrong approach. Unless, of course, you spend all your budget on midfielders and then realise you need a goalkeeper and five defenders… we have all been there!
This article aims to provide a deeper look into each player, combining the underlying statistics with my own thoughts on their FPL appeal and how I would approach this price bracket.
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Bruno Fernandes (12.0m)
Coming in as the most expensive midfielder in FPL this season, and the second-most expensive player overall behind Erling Haaland, Bruno Fernandes is one of the biggest investments you can make in midfield. However, his price tag is backed up by a hugely impressive FPL campaign last season, where he finished as the second-highest scoring player in the game.
The Manchester United captain registered 9 goals and 24 assists, breaking the Premier League record for most assists in a single Premier League season. Those numbers underline just how important he is to Manchester United’s attack, with Bruno involved in nearly all of their creative output!
His performances reached another level following Michael Carrick’s appointment in Gameweek 22. Across the final 17 matches of the season, Fernandes was the highest-scoring player in FPL, producing 129 points at an impressive average of 7.6 points per match. During that run, he returned in 14 of those 17 fixtures and recorded eight double-digit hauls, demonstrating both his incredible consistency and his ability to produce explosive FPL returns.
As mentioned, another major factor in Bruno’s appeal is his involvement in almost every attacking situation. He is expected to remain on penalties and is heavily involved from set pieces, including corners, while operating as the creative hub of the Manchester United attack. When you combine his creativity, goal threat, near-guaranteed involvement, and nailed-on minutes, it is difficult to find many midfielders with a higher ceiling.
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Manchester United’s opening fixtures are also a huge positive. They begin the season with matches against newly promoted Hull and Ipswich, before a Manchester derby in Gameweek 4. Outside of that fixture, the opening period remains very favourable and gives Bruno an excellent opportunity to start the season strongly.
For me, Bruno Fernandes is the standout premium midfield option this season and a player I would be looking to build my midfield around. At £12.0m, he does require a significant investment, but his combination of consistency, explosive potential, set-piece involvement and early fixtures makes him one of the strongest captaincy alternatives to Erling Haaland.
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Cole Palmer (9.5m)
Another premium midfielder who I think is worth keeping a close eye on during pre-season is Chelsea’s Cole Palmer. Coming in at £9.5m, Palmer is priced below the very top-end Bruno, but he still has the potential to be one of the most explosive options in the game.
Despite having a disappointing season by his incredibly high standards, Palmer still managed 10 goals and 2 assists in FPL last season. Those numbers may not match the expectations many managers had after his outstanding previous campaign, but they still highlight the attacking threat he possesses, even when Chelsea’s overall output was not at its strongest.
One of the biggest reasons I remain interested in Palmer is the potential improvement around him. Chelsea have continued to strengthen their attacking options, and the addition of Morgan Rogers from Aston Villa could make their frontline even more dangerous. I think Palmer and Rogers have the potential to develop a strong partnership, while the likes of Joao Pedro and Pedro Neto provide further attacking quality and could help Chelsea become one of the more exciting teams to watch this season.
Top Midfielders for xG per Appearance last season:
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From an FPL perspective, Palmer’s appeal is obvious. I expect him to remain on penalties, which gives him a huge advantage at this price point, while his role as one of Chelsea’s main attacking outlets gives him the potential for big returns.
After missing out on a place in England’s World Cup squad, Palmer has also had an extended period of rest and recently spoke about his excitement to “get back to work.” He will be determined to prove why he should have been involved, and that motivation could be another positive heading into the new season.
Chelsea’s opening fixtures also add to his appeal. They start the season with matches against Fulham and Brighton, two teams that have lost important players during the summer transfer window and may need time to settle. A Gameweek 3 London derby against Arsenal is a tougher test, but the fixtures that follow, including Hull, Brentford, Bournemouth and Everton, provide plenty of opportunities for attacking returns.
For me, Palmer is not guaranteed to be in my Gameweek 1 draft. However, he is certainly someone I will be monitoring closely throughout pre-season and into the early stages of the campaign.
With his penalty responsibility, attacking role and the potential improvement around him at Chelsea, I would not be surprised to see a point during the season where Palmer becomes one of the midfielders I turn to for some important FPL points.
Antoine Semenyo (8.5m)
The next premium midfielder I want to look at is Manchester City’s Antoine Semenyo, who comes in at a slightly cheaper price point of £8.5m. After an outstanding season last year, Semenyo has quickly become one of the most exciting midfield options in FPL, and his move to Manchester City only increases his appeal. Semenyo averaged 5.5 points per match last season, which is an excellent return, while also recording 17 goals and 6 assists, his best attacking output in a Premier League campaign.
One of the things that stands out with Semenyo is his ability to combine goal threat with consistent attacking involvement. A midfielder capable of producing those numbers becomes extremely appealing when priced at £8.5m, especially when playing alongside the attacking quality Manchester City possess. He is currently selected by around 20% of FPL managers at the time of writing, which makes him an interesting option for those looking for a premium midfielder who offers a slightly different route compared to the more obvious picks.
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Having represented Ghana at the World Cup, Semenyo will still have experienced the demands of international football, but their early exit means he has had a longer rest period than some other players in this price bracket. Being knocked out in the Round of 32 has allowed him to return with plenty of time to recover and prepare for the new season, and he should be fully focused on hitting the ground running from Gameweek 1.
Manchester City’s opening fixtures also make Semenyo a player worth monitoring closely. They begin with Bournemouth, Crystal Palace and Coventry, followed by a Manchester derby against United in Gameweek 4 and Sunderland in Gameweek 5. The opening three fixtures in particular are very appealing, with Bournemouth and Palace both going through periods of transition with new managers, while Coventry face the challenge of adapting to the Premier League.
I would expect Manchester City to start the season with a real point to prove after missing out on the Premier League title last season. If they hit the ground running, Semenyo could be one of the players who benefits. The main concern, as with any Manchester City attacker, will always be minutes. There could still be some uncertainty in the opening weeks as Enzo Maresca works out his strongest XI. With players such as Erling Haaland, Rayan Cherki and Elliot Anderson returning late following their World Cup involvement, it may take a little time before we have a clear picture of the preferred lineup.
Semenyo will also face competition for minutes from the likes of Phil Foden, Jeremy Doku and Omar Marmoush, meaning pre-season will be crucial in understanding how secure his role is.
For me, Semenyo is one of the most exciting premium midfield options this season. I would like to see how regularly he starts before committing to him in my Gameweek 1 squad, but his attacking numbers, price point and access to one of the best teams in the league make him a player I will be monitoring very closely.
Matheus Cunha (8.0m)
Another premium midfielder in this price bracket is Manchester United’s Matheus Cunha. For me, Bruno Fernandes remains the standout Manchester United attacking option and the player I would prioritise if I wanted to invest in their attack. However, given United’s favourable opening fixtures, Cunha could quite possibly be the best second option for managers looking to double up.
Priced at £8.0m, Cunha provides a much cheaper route into the Manchester United attack, costing £4.0m less than Bruno Fernandes while still offering plenty of attacking potential. Last season, he recorded 10 goals and 4 assists, meaning he has now reached double figures for goals in three consecutive Premier League campaigns, which is a very impressive level of consistency.
At the time of writing, Cunha is selected by just 15.2% of FPL managers, which makes him an interesting option for those looking for a premium midfielder who is not as heavily owned as some of the more obvious picks. One of the biggest attractions with Cunha is his versatility. He was predominantly used as a left winger last season, but his ability to operate both out wide and through the middle gives him multiple routes to attacking returns. With some fitness concerns around Benjamin Sesko heading into the start of the season, I would not be surprised to see Cunha take up a more central role during the early stages of the campaign, which would only increase his FPL appeal.
The opening fixtures are another major positive. As mentioned with Bruno Fernandes, Manchester United begin the season with matches against newly promoted Hull and Ipswich, before a favourable run of fixtures continues outside of the Manchester derby in Gameweek 4. If United’s attack starts strongly, Cunha could be one of the players who benefits.
One factor managers may consider is his pre-season schedule. Cunha represented Brazil at the World Cup, where he scored three goals in five appearances before they were eliminated in the Round of 16. This means he will have had a shorter preparation period than some players who were not involved in the tournament, such as teammate Bryan Mbeumo, who has had the benefit of a full pre-season ahead of Gameweek 1, and most recently scored a brace in United’s pre-season friendly vs Athletico Madrid.
However, Cunha’s performances at the tournament, combined with his ability to play in multiple attacking positions, make him an extremely interesting option. His flexibility could prove particularly valuable early in the season, especially if Manchester United need him to fill different roles across the front line.
For me, Cunha is either the ideal second Manchester United attacker alongside Bruno Fernandes, or a strong alternative for managers who cannot find the budget for Bruno. At £8.0m, he provides a cheaper route into a potentially improved Manchester United attack and is a player I think could offer excellent value this season.
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Morgan Gibbs-White (8.0m)
The final premium midfielder I want to discuss in this price bracket is Nottingham Forest’s Morgan Gibbs-White. After an excellent individual campaign last season, Gibbs-White enters the new season as one of the more interesting £8.0m options in FPL.
He finished last season with 188 FPL points, the third-highest total among midfielders, while also producing his best-ever Premier League goal return with 15 goals. In terms of overall attacking output, he recorded 19 goal involvements, highlighting just how important he was to Nottingham Forest’s success last season. In fact, it is difficult not to wonder where Forest would have finished without Gibbs-White’s contribution. He was central to almost everything they created, and his ability to contribute both goals and assists makes him a very appealing FPL option when he is priced alongside some of the more expensive midfielders.
Gibbs-White will also be looking to make a strong impression under new manager Oliver Glasner. Glasner’s work at Crystal Palace was extremely impressive, and his appointment feels like an exciting one for Nottingham Forest. Despite losing Elliot Anderson to Manchester City, Forest still have a talented squad and will be hoping for a much stronger season after a disappointing campaign last time around.
Another positive is that Gibbs-White will enter the season fully rested after not being selected in England’s World Cup squad. That should allow him to have a full pre-season and arrive ready to make an immediate impact, while also providing extra motivation to prove why he should have been involved. At the time of writing, Gibbs-White is selected by just 12% of FPL managers, making him a very interesting differential in this price bracket.
The main reason I would hesitate on including him in my Gameweek 1 squad is Nottingham Forest’s opening fixture run. While a home fixture against Leeds in Gameweek 1 is appealing, the following weeks bring tougher tests against Liverpool, Tottenham, Aston Villa and Arsenal in Gameweek 7.
Because of those fixtures, Gibbs-White may not be a player who immediately makes it into many managers’ opening squads, and that is completely understandable. However, he is certainly not a player I would overlook for the rest of the season. His attacking output, importance to Forest, and ability to produce FPL points make him someone I will be monitoring closely once the campaign gets underway.
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After looking through these premium midfield options, Bruno Fernandes is the standout pick for me heading into Gameweek 1. His attacking numbers, security of minutes, set-piece involvement and Manchester United’s favourable opening fixtures make him a player I would be very keen to include in my squad.
There are also a few players in this bracket who I will be monitoring closely throughout pre-season. Antoine Semenyo is one of the most interesting options, but I want to see if he can cement a place in Manchester City’s starting XI and how many minutes he is expected to receive under the new manager.
Similarly, Matheus Cunha is someone I really like as a cheaper route into the Manchester United attack. If he looks set to play a significant role, he could become a very appealing option at £8.0m.
For the eagle-eyed managers reading this, you may have noticed that Bukayo Saka has not been included in this list despite being priced at £9.5m. This is purely down to the uncertainty around his fitness heading into Gameweek 1. While he performed well at the World Cup, including scoring a hat-trick in England’s final game, he did not play a significant number of minutes throughout the tournament, and there are still question marks over whether he will be fully ready to start the season. Saka is certainly a player I will be keeping an eye on, but at the moment, the fitness concerns mean he is unlikely to be part of my opening squad.
Overall, Bruno Fernandes is the only midfielder in this bracket who I currently feel confident locking into my Gameweek 1 team. However, I will be watching Semenyo, Palmer and Cunha closely throughout pre-season because if any of them secure strong roles and look ready to hit the ground running, I would not be surprised to see them enter my squad before the season begins.
Thanks for reading, and do drop me a follow on Instagram @bazzabarrett20 and feel free to ask questions.
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