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Midfielders have the highest points potential of any position in FPL, with the top-scoring player for the last four seasons being midfielders. This is because, in FPL, even wingers are classified as midfielders, and hence they have more opportunities to gain points in different ways.
As a result, premium midfielders are higher priced than premium assets of other positions. FPL managers are, therefore, always on the lookout for cheap options in midfield to complete their squads.
On that note, let's now take a look at five budget midfielders who you should consider including in your FPL team.
Note: For uniformity purposes, we're only considering players costing less than £6.0 m as budget midfielders. But Phil Foden(MCI)(£6.5 m) is a tremendous budget option that FPL managers should try to bring in.
Also read: FPL 2020/21: Top 5 Budget Defenders this season | FPL Tips
#5 Tomas Soucek (WHU)(£5.0m)
At £5.0 m, West Ham United midfielder Tomas Soucek is the cheapest option on our list. He should be used as an enabler to free up funds to sign more expensive assets or to fill in as a starter when one of the regular starters have a temporary niggle or a tough fixture.
Soucek arrived at the London Stadium from Slavia Prague this summer and made an instant impact for David Moyes' side. The Czech Republic international scored three goals and was a source of goal threat from set-pieces. He's one of the rare £5.0 m midfielders who has a fair chance of finding the net, and he could be very useful for FPL managers.
Though he could be forced to miss the first game for West Ham due to his self-isolation following a COVID-19 incident with the national side, Soucek is an option to consider once West Ham's fixtures become better.
#4 Bukayo Saka (ARS)(£5.5 m)
At £5.5 m, 18-year old Bukayo Saka could emerge as a great budget option in FPL this season. The speedster thrived under Mikel Arteta, and his versatility is the main reason for that. Saka played in different positions for Arsenal, including left-back, but was most productive when employed as a winger or on the left side of the midfield.
He netted one goal and provided five assists last season, and that number should improve this season, as the side's regular full-backs are in full fitness. Despite the arrival of Willian, Saka's place in the side isn't under much threat. He should get more minutes than in last season, and while he's not guaranteed to start every game, he can make a huge impact when on the pitch.
A regular player playing for a top-six side at £5.5 m is pretty rare to come by, and while it might not seem like it, Saka is a great budget FPL option.
#3 Matheus Pereira (WBA)(£6.0 m)
West Bromwich Albion playmaker Matheus Pereira looks to be a good budget option in FPL. He was the main man on the attacking front for the Baggies last season and registered 24 goal involvements, the highest of any player in the side.
Pereira shares set-piece duties with Matt Philips(WBA)(£5.5 m) and that adds to his scope of scoring more points. He is versatile in the attacking third and can play as a winger or a number 10, depending on the formation. While he's certainly unproven in the Premier League, the Brazilian is worth a punt at £6.0 m.
West Brom has a decent set of fixtures barring a couple of games against Leicester and Chelsea, and Pereira could start this season very well.
#2 Allan Saint-Maximin (NEW)(£5.5 m)
Allan Saint-Maximin is the most popular FPL option on this list, and his great finish to the 19/20 season could be the reason. The Newcastle winger finally came good post the pandemic break and looked very lively for the Magpies.
At £5.5 m, he's cheap enough to bench him for the tougher fixtures, and that is certainly something FPL managers should consider. He seems to be in good form ahead of the season, as he scored in Newcastle's last pre-season game.
Owned by more than 18% of FPL managers, Saint-Maximin should certainly better last season's performance and has the right set of fixtures to do so. He's a good budget option to add to your GW 1 FPL side.
#1 James Ward-Prowse (SOU)(£6.0 m)
Southampton captain James Ward-Prowse is another budget FPL option to consider including in your team. The central midfielder played every minute of the Saints' PL 19/20 season and is guaranteed game time. He's also on set-pieces and is one of the best free-kick takers in the league. He also shares spot-kick duties with Danny Ings, and that further raises his appeal.
While most of his attacking outputs have come from set-piece situations, Southampton's game has evolved, and he's more present in their attacking moves and even scored from open play in their 7-1 pre-season drubbing of Swansea.
Ward-Prowse also underperformed concerning his XG last season. He was projected to score seven goals and provide five assists but could end up with just five goals and three assists.
His current form and promising opening fixtures suggest that he could match his attacking projections or even exceed them, and is a good all-round FPL option.
