The 2025/26 Premier League season kicks off on Friday night when Liverpool takes on Bournemouth.
With the arrival of the new season, millions of Fantasy Premier League (FPL) managers will be hunting for a few budget midfield options for their teams.
Here are five interesting budget options to consider in the midfielder position for the upcoming season:
Tijjani Reijnders
Manchester City enters the 2025-26 season without an ever-present lynchpin in Kevin De Bruyne. Hoping to fill the midfield void will be Netherlands international Tijjani Reijnders. The attacking midfielder has the knack for getting on the end of goalscoring opportunities, evidenced by his 10 goals from midfield for AC Milan in Serie A last season. A bucketload of goals in preseason makes him a great midfield option in FPL at just 5.5 million. But with the infamous ‘Pep Roulette’ always striking fear in FPL managers, his could be a case of wait and watch.
Koaru Mitoma
Koaru Mitoma has been a trusted budget midfielder in FPL over the past two seasons. But an indifferent start to the 2024-25 season saw him disappear from FPL lineups. However, he had a strong end to last season, where he scored three in his last five appearances. 10 goals and four assists across a season is still a decent return for a budget option, especially considering he is a nailed-on starting option on the left wing for Brighton and Hove Albion.
Ismaila Sarr
Another winger with the potential for a strong points haul is Crystal Palace winger Ismaila Sarr. Eight goals and seven assists in the preceding season make him one of the best options at 6.5 million. With Eberechi Eze’s future in the balance following interest from both North London clubs, Sarr could be the one to step up as the FA Cup winner’s creator-in-chief.
Pape Matar Sarr
As a central midfielder, Pape Matar Sarr isn’t an ideal candidate for a midfield berth in FPL. But injuries to Dejan Kulusevski and James Maddison have opened up a slightly more attacking starting slot for Sarr. A strong showing in pre-season, where he scored a long-ranger against North London rival Arsenal, has furthered his potential for returns in the game. At just 5 million, he remains a great option to alternate between the bench and the starting XI.
Granit Xhaka
Former Arsenal skipper Granit Xhaka could be another budget midfielder to rotate off the bench. With the latest update awarding more points for defensive contributions, the Sunderland midfielder could be in for a good points haul. An added boost is his ability in dead-ball situations and the possibility of assist points on set pieces.
