With the FPL deadline just hours away, every transfer counts. Budget midfielders are the hidden gems that free up funds for your big hitters, and we’ve scouted the best low-priced options who can deliver steady returns without draining your budget.
Nail these picks now, and your squad depth could give you the edge from Gameweek 1 onwards.
Emile Smith Rowe (£6.0m, Fulham)
Hale End graduate Smith Rowe leads the low-priced midfielders’ pack after an impressive first season with Fulham. The attacking midfielder scored six and assisted
three to help the Cottagers to an 11th-place finish.
Most importantly for the Englishman, Smith Rowe avoided any major injuries — something that had truncated his career for several years.
Another injury-free campaign could see him take the next step by becoming more clinical in the final third and cementing his place in Marco Silva’s set-up.
Hwang Hee-chan (£6.0m, Wolves)
Hee-chan endured a miserable season playing second fiddle to the duo of Strand Larsen and Matheus Cunha.
However, the departure of Cunha to Manchester United now gives the tricky attacker the chance to play a more crucial role this term.
The last time Hee-chan was trusted with leading the line for Wolves, he ended the season with an impressive tally of 12 goals and three assists.
Leon Bailey (£5.5m, Aston Villa)
The arrival of stars like Marcus Rashford and Marco Asensio saw Leon Bailey play a very limited role for the Villains last season.
Featuring in just 24 games — many of them from the bench — his return of one goal and two assists was a huge drop from the 10 goals and nine assists he recorded in the 2023/24 season.
With Rashford and Asensio now back at their parent clubs, Bailey could have a big role to play for the Villains this season.
Georginio Rutter (£6.0m, Brighton)
Rutter showed glimpses of his potential in his first season with Brighton, scoring five goals and providing three assists.
The Frenchman’s knack for arriving late in the box to finish off team moves should make him more of a threat in front of goal this season.
His tally of 15 assists for Leeds in the 2023/24 campaign shows he’s equally adept at creating chances for teammates.
Daniel James (£5.5m, Leeds)
Daniel James played a major role in Leeds’ return to Premier League football, scoring 12 goals and assisting a further nine. The Welsh winger has plenty of top-flight experience and shouldn’t encounter any trouble adapting to EPL defenders.
Jaidon Anthony (£5.5m, Burnley)
Anthony was a major force from midfield for the Clarets last season, scoring eight and assisting seven. Extremely skilful and rapid, Anthony should cause plenty of problems for Premier League defences this season.
Who’s your go-to budget midfielder for Gameweek 1? Drop your picks in the comments and let’s see which bargain proves the most popular.
