Hopefully, your 293rd draft was junked yesterday and you’re already tinkering with your 5th draft of today as you read this. No? Then why are you even playing FPL?
On a serious note, we’re now less than two weeks away from the big kick-off. New signings are being announced almost every day, while some fans are growing increasingly frustrated at the lack of activity from their clubs. A few players have already caught the eye in pre-season, while others are yet to return to training.
There’s plenty to think about, and the tinkering has well and truly begun as we try to put together that perfect squad before the deadline on 21st August.
So, hello and welcome to the second article of the new season, where we continue our search for value picks – this time, turning our attention to the midfielders.
Link to all our 2026/27 Pre-Season articles including all team pre-season friendly updates, best drafts, fixture analysis, position-wise analysis, differentials, players to target, budget enablers and more. Completely free to access as well!
Top Value for Money Midfielders for FPL 2026/27 season
Kevin Schade (£6.0m) – MID, Brentford – 2.1% TSB
If you are looking for a £6.0m midfielder who can genuinely make a difference, Kevin Schade deserves a very close look.
The German quietly put together an excellent season last year, returning 8 goals and 5 assists. No midfielder available at £6.0m matched his 13 attacking returns. More interestingly, his underlying numbers were even better than his actual output. His 12.08 xG was the highest among all midfielders, while he also topped the position for big chances and ranked fifth for shots inside the box. His xGI of 14.13 was also the best among midfielders in his price bracket.
📈Schade Rank among Mids last season:
- Big Chances- 1st
- xG- 1st
- Shots inside the box- 5th
The obvious catch? Minutes.
Schade started 32 games but completed the full 90 only 18 times. He was therefore regularly withdrawn before the final whistle, which makes his £6.0m price considerably less appealing if the same pattern continues. Anthony’s arrival adds another layer of uncertainty.
But that is precisely why he is interesting.
If pre-season gives us confidence that Schade is moving towards becoming a regular 90-minute player, his price could prove to be an absolute bargain. His underlying numbers suggest that the 8 goals last season were well below what his chances warranted, giving him plenty of scope for an improved return.
And the opening run is difficult to ignore: Spurs (H), Leeds (A), Sunderland (H) and Bournemouth (A) in the first four Gameweeks.
Spurs and Leeds conceded the highest goals last season among the non-relegated Premier League sides, while Bournemouth will bring back particularly fond memories for Schade – he scored a hat-trick against them last season.
Most projection models currently rate Schade as one of the strongest midfield options priced at £6.5m or below for the opening 4–5 Gameweeks.
At just 2.1% ownership, he therefore looks like a classic high-upside differential. The numbers are already there. The fixtures are there. The only question is whether the minutes follow.
Fantasy Football Hub(FFHUB) Free AI Team Rating Tool
Enzo Le Fée (£6.0m) – MID, Sunderland – 12.8% TSB
The Sunderland midfielder enjoyed an excellent debut Premier League campaign last season, finishing with 147 FPL points from 6 goals and 6 assists. That was more points than the likes of Foden, Eze and Ødegaard managed, while his 11.07 xGI suggests there was plenty of substance behind the returns. He also created 13 big chances, the joint-most for Sunderland, and finished joint-top for assists (6) and third for goals (5) for the Black Cats.
The appeal doesn’t end with his attacking numbers. Le Fée averaged 9.66 defensive contributions per start last season, which gives him another route to bonus points. In fact, his 16 bonus points were the most among Sunderland players.
And then there are the added responsibilities. Le Fée has a share of penalties, corners and free-kicks, giving him multiple avenues to points. Most importantly, he looks nailed for 90 minutes whenever available – a particularly attractive proposition at this price, at least until Sunderland’s Europa League commitments begin to complicate the picture.
Pre-season has provided further encouragement, with Le Fée already finding the net three times, including against York City and Liverpool. He did miss Sunderland’s latest friendly with a minor injury, though, so that is something to keep an eye on before the deadline.
The fixtures are another tick in his favour. Sunderland open with Ipswich (A), Fulham (H) and Brentford (A) – a very appealing run for a £6.0m midfielder.
At this price, with penalties, set pieces, strong underlying numbers and the prospect of regular 90-minute appearances, Le Fée has plenty going for him. If the minutes remain secure, he could prove to be one of the better value midfielders to start the season.
Further Read: FPL Rotational Pairs & Combinations for the 2026/27 FPL Season
Pascal Groß (£5.5m) – MID, Brighton – 9.4% TSB
At £5.5m, Pascal Groß isn’t necessarily the midfielder you’re buying for explosive hauls. He’s the one you buy to make the rest of your squad possible – and there is plenty to like about him as an FPL enabler.
Groß returned to Brighton in January and immediately became a regular, playing 85+ minutes in 18 of his 19 appearances. That gives us plenty of confidence over his minutes, which is crucial when you’re looking at a £5.5m midfielder whose primary job may be to sit quietly in your squad while the premiums do the heavy lifting.
But there could be considerably more upside than that.
Danny Welbeck’s departure potentially opens up penalty duties for Groß, and he has already provided an early hint of what could be coming, converting from the spot in Brighton’s recent 4-3 friendly win over Strasbourg. He is also expected to retain responsibility for corners and other set pieces, giving him multiple routes to attacking returns.
And creativity has always been Groß’s calling card. He created 103 chances in 2023/24, while even in his short spell after returning last season, he produced 24 chances across his final seven Gameweeks. His ability to accumulate bonus points is another reason why he can quietly tick along even when he doesn’t return a goal or assist.
The defensive numbers add another layer to his appeal. Groß averaged 7.98 defensive contributions per 90 minutes, while his 4.29 points per 90 after returning would have translated to roughly 146 points over a full season before accounting for any additional penalty returns.
There are, of course, two obvious concerns. First, he’s now 35, and Brighton’s European commitments could create a rotation risk. Second, penalties are still a potential rather than a confirmed source of points. But if Groß does become Brighton’s regular penalty taker, that £5.5m price starts looking extremely generous.
At that price, you don’t need Groß to become a superstar. You simply need him to deliver a steady stream of minutes, set-piece involvement, chances created and the occasional return while freeing up funds elsewhere.
That’s exactly what makes him such an attractive enabler. If the penalty duties are confirmed and his minutes remain secure, Groß could be one of the best £5.5m midfield options to start the season.
Further Read: Best FPL Goalkeepers to Target For The 2026/27 FPL Season
Mamadou Sangaré (£5.5m) – MID, Brentford – 1.3% TSB
If Pascal Groß is the creative enabler at £5.5m, Mamadou Sangaré offers a completely different route to value. He could be one of the best defensive-point enablers in FPL.
Sangaré arrives at Brentford as their marquee summer signing, joining from Lens for a club-record fee, and his numbers from Ligue 1 immediately explain the excitement. He averaged a remarkable 14.2 defensive contributions per 90 minutes last season, ranking among the very best defensive midfielders across Europe’s top five leagues. More importantly for FPL, he hit the DEFCON threshold in 18 of his 27 starts – a 65% success rate.
But Sangaré isn’t simply a ball-winning midfielder who sits deep. He is comfortable in possession, carries the ball forward and isn’t afraid to take a shot from distance. Across 29 Ligue 1 starts, he produced 3 goals and 4 assists, while his 5.33 xGI shows that there is at least some attacking potential to complement his defensive floor.
His all-round numbers are particularly interesting: around 1.8 shots and 1.2 chances created per start, alongside those elite defensive numbers. He also ranked 5th among midfielders in Europe’s top five leagues for ball recoveries per 90 last season.
Pre-season has offered further encouragement. Sangaré made his second start against Rennes and recorded 12 defensive contributions, immediately demonstrating the route through which he could earn FPL points.
The biggest question is whether he is genuinely nailed. However, Brentford’s record investment in him, coupled with his profile and early involvement, suggests he has a very strong chance of establishing himself as a regular in the midfield.
At just £5.5m and 1.3% ownership, Sangaré is therefore a fascinating alternative to the more traditional attacking enablers. He isn’t someone you’re buying expecting a 10-point haul every week. Instead, he offers something far more useful at this price: a potentially reliable defensive-point floor, guaranteed involvement and enough attacking ability to provide the occasional bonus.
If he can replicate anything close to his Ligue 1 defensive numbers in the Premier League, Sangaré could become the ultimate £5.5m FPL enabler – and one that allows you to squeeze an extra premium asset into your squad.
Christos Tzolis (£6.5m) – MID, Arsenal – 2.3% TSB
There may not be a better way to introduce Christos Tzolis to FPL managers than this: he used to captain himself every single Gameweek in the Belgian Fantasy Football game. 😂
And perhaps that tells you something about the man. Tzolis revealed that Fantasy Football was actually one of his motivations during an extraordinary campaign at Club Brugge, where he produced 22 goals and 29 assists. Apparently, chasing his own FPL-style returns was enough to push him to keep scoring and creating. We may have found our first player who genuinely understands us!
More importantly, he has wasted absolutely no time making an impression at Arsenal. Tzolis reportedly smashed the club’s pre-season fitness tests before making his mark on the pitch, scoring on his debut in Arsenal’s 4-1 victory over Girona.
And his pre-season hasn’t slowed down since.
Four games. Five attacking returns.
🅰️⚽️🅰️🅰️🅰️(One of the assist was penalty won)
That is exactly the kind of start that gets FPL managers reaching for the transfer button.
At just 2% ownership, Tzolis is already an intriguing differential, and Arsenal’s opening fixture against Coventry (H) in GW1 makes the appeal even greater.
There is, however, one obvious caveat: minutes. The competition for places at Arsenal means nothing can be taken for granted. But so far, Tzolis has consistently started ahead of Martinelli in pre-season, and based on the current pecking order, he looks increasingly likely to get the nod against Coventry. Getting Tzolis is a good shout for Managers considering a early Wildcard Chip Strategy.
If that starting spot is confirmed, Tzolis could quickly become one of the most exciting low-owned options in the opening Gameweek. A player who captains himself in Fantasy Football, arrives at Arsenal with a monster goal involvement record and has already delivered five attacking returns in pre-season? You couldn’t write a more FPL-friendly origin story.
Other Value Midfielders on the watchlist for FPL 2026/27 season:
- Gomez(5.0) – Likely to start the season on the wings for Brighton with Mitoma not fit and Minteh injured in latest friendly
- Ampadu(5.5)– 90 minutes player and hit DEFCON in 18 out of 35 starts last season(one of the highest among mids)
- Garner(6.0)/Norgaard(5.0)– Garner currently injured(but may be fit soon). Norgaard has joined Everton and has good Defcon numbers. Need to keep an eye on Garner fitness and Norgaard’s minutes
- Tavernier(6.0)- Tough fixtures to start the season and also linked with a move away. But good value for money if he stays with Kroupi out injured long term.
Further reads from ALLABOUTFPL ahead of FPL GW1 of the 2026/27 FPL Season
FPL Basics:
2026/27 FPL Season – New Rules & Changes | What’s New in FPL?
Best & Funny FPL Team Names for 2026/27 PL Season
GW1 Articles:
FPL GW1 Scout Selection based on Stats, Fixtures and Matchups
Top FPL GW1 Differential Picks to Target Ahead of GW1 Deadline
2026/27 PL Season: Predicted GW1 Lineups of All 20 PL Teams
FPL Gameweek 1 Bench Boost Drafts- BB1 vs BB2 vs BB Later Analysis
2026/27 Pre-Season Summary of All 20 Premier League Teams
2026/27 Premier League Penalty and Set Piece Takers for all 20 Teams
Top FPL Gameweek 1 Captain Picks Based on Analysis & Metrics | 26/27 Season
Must Read Articles:
FPL Team Structure Guide with Drafts, AI Team Rating, Formations, Pros, Cons and Key Notes
2026/27 Premier League Penalty and Set Piece Takers for all 20 Teams
Best FPL GW1 Drafts for the 26/27 FPL Season with Pros & Cons
FPL Chip Strategy Guide- Best Windows to Play Free Hit, Wildcard, Triple Captain and Bench Boost
Ultimate DEFCON Analysis: Top Players & Best Opponents to Target
FPL Rotational Pairs and Combinations for 2026/27 FPL Season
Eight Simple FPL Tips to Secure a High Rank | 26/27 Season
2026/27 Pre-Season Summary of All 20 Premier League Teams
FPL Fixture Analysis for 2026/27 Season- Teams with Best and Worst fixtures
Five Must Own Players in GW1 for FPL 2026/27 season
AK FPL’s Final GW1 Draft & Team Reveal | 3x Top 5K Finishes
How Chelsea could line-up under Xabi Alonso for 2026/27 season
FPL Players To Avoid in Your GW1 Drafts | 2026/27 FPL Season
Position Analysis:
GKs and Defenders Series:
Best FPL Goalkeepers to Target based on Stats and Fixtures
Best FPL Defenders at Each Price Point for the 2026/27 Season
Best £4.0 Million FPL Defenders for 2026/27 FPL Season
Best Premium Defenders for 2026/27 season based on Stats and Fixtures
Best £5.0-5.5 Million FPL Defenders for the 2026/27 FPL Season
FPL Rotational Pairs and Combinations for 2026/27 FPL Season
Best £4.5 Million FPL Defenders for the 2026/27 FPL Season
Best Value for Money Defenders and GKs for 2026/27 FPL season
Midfielders Series:
Best FPL Premium Midfielders(8.0-12.0) for 2026/27 FPL season
Best FPL Midfielders at Each Price Point for the 2026/27 Season
Best Mid-Price FPL Midfielders for the 26/27 Season | £6.5 to 7.5M
Best Budget FPL Midfielders for 26/27 Season | £4.5m to £6.0m
Best Value for Money Midfielders for 2026/27 season
Forwards Series:
Best FPL Budget Forwards (£4.5 – £6.0 Million) | 26/27 FPL Season
Best £6m Forwards Comparison for the 2026/27 FPL Season
Best FPL Premium and Mid-Priced Forwards (6.5 million and above) for 2026/27 season
Top Forwards at every price point for the 2026/27 FPL Season
If you’re new to FPL, here is a link to all our FPL Beginners Guide including FPL Beginner’s Guide- How to play?, Bench boost, Team value, Triple captain, Effective ownership, Price Changes, Free Hit, Bonus Points, and more.
Link to all our 2026/27 Pre-Season articles including all position-wise analysis, team previews, fixture analysis, position-wise analysis, and more. Completely free to access as well!
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