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Another season of Champions League football is upon us and along with it, comes fantasy football too. The best part of every fantasy campaign is unearthing hidden gems from a wide array of quality players scattered across Europe.
Everyone is aware of fan favourites such as Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane, Raheem Sterling and Eden Hazard - but the main difference in fantasy points are created by the budget-friendly players who often get overlooked. With that in mind, here's a list of the five best budget midfielder picks for the 2019/20 UCL campaign:
#5 Taison (£5.5m) - Shakhtar Donetsk
Taison Barcellos Freda, simply known as Taison, is a Brazilian playmaker who features for Ukrainian giants Shakthar Donetsk. Known for his ability to create goalscoring chances with regularity, he recorded 23 points last season through two goals and an assist across five group games.
This season to date, the 31-year-old captain has already netted two and created four assists, appearing in very good form. Recently he started sharing spot-kick duties with winger Marlos too, which means he's a threat from set-pieces and at £5.5m could be one of the best bargains for this year's competition.
#4 Florentino Luis (£4.5m) - Benfica
Florentino Ibrain Morris Luis, simply known as Florentino, is a Portuguese midfielder who plays his club football for top-flight giants Benfica. Known for their ability to create a conveyor belt of promising talent, the 20-year-old is the latest starlet on the production line - with both Manchester clubs reportedly scouting his progress, while it seems inevitable he'll make a big-money move at some stage in future.
For only £4.5m, he will provide your squad with a viable option on the substitutes' bench. Although there are other options including Lucas Tousart also available at the same price, the highly-rated youngster is likely to feature regularly going forward and should be your pick.
#3 Stefano Sensi (£5m) - Inter Milan
Stefano Sensi is an Italy international, who features in midfield for Inter Milan. Often acting as a deep-lying playmaker ahead of their backline, his ball control, distribution over short and long distances and composure is immediately apparent when you watch him. Being versatile enough to play across midfield has also proved helpful, as he's been deployed on the flanks recently.
With two goals and two assists in three league matches under Antonio Conte this term, he plays in a role which grants him more freedom further forward. Pairing with Matteo Politano, the 24-year-old provides support for Romelu Lukaku while his creativity and maturity are key factors which have helped the Nerazzurri win their opening three games this term.
At just £5m, there's no reason why he couldn't prove a welcome bargain this season - even in a tricky group with Barcelona and Borussia Dortmund involved before Christmas.
#2 Daniel Parejo (£5m) - Valencia
Daniel Parejo is a Spain midfield international who currently plays and captains La Liga side Valencia. With two goals already this term, the 30-year-old enjoyed one of his most productive seasons in 2018/19 and will be eager to better that against better opposition in Europe's elite.
A bonafide starter when fit and available, the £5m price-tag for his services is one not to be ignored. Considering he also takes most of their set-pieces, including penalties, Dani would represent a reliable option for the group stages - where Los Che face Chelsea, Ajax and Lille in a challenging yet winnable group.
#1 Kai Havertz (£5.5m) - Bayer Leverkusen
Kai Havertz is a German midfield international, who currently features for Bundesliga side Bayer Leverkusen. The 20-year-old topped his club's goalscoring charts in 2018/19 with an impressive 17 goals and at just £5.5m, is somewhat underpriced heading into the group stages.
Over the summer months, speculation was rife that Bayern Munich and other Euro giants did plenty to try signing him but the reported £100m asking price proved a hefty stumbling block and one effective enough for Leverkusen to retain their prized asset - this season at least.
He has already scored once in Germany's top-fle this term and despite being drawn in a difficult group with Juventus, Atletico Madrid and Lokomotiv Moscow, the highly-rated playmaker has an integral role to play should they stun many by earning a berth in the knockout stages after Christmas.
