Champions League Fantasy: Midfielders for every budget

UEFA.com highlights an assortment of midfield players for those #UCLfantasy managers willing to fork out big money, as well as those looking for a lower-priced diamond.

PREMIUM OPTIONS

Whilst he understandably commands a high price, Liverpool's Mohamed Salah (€10.5m) normally guarantees a return on your investment, such is his potency in front of goal for the Reds. Normally fielded on the right of a front three, Salah accumulated six goals, one assist and 63 Fantasy points last season, the second highest among midfielders. The Egyptian isn't the only enticing premium option from within the Liverpool front three, with left-sided attacking midfielder Sadio Mané (€10.0m) also worth consideration.

Another side with two premium #UCLfantasy midfield candidates are German champions Bayern. Both Serge Gnabry (€10.0m) and Leroy Sané (€9.0m) are expected to get plenty of chances to register attacking returns, with Gnabry in particular having started the new campaign in excellent form, returning two goals and three assists from his five games in all competitions. He and Sané also found the net for Germany over the most recent international break.

Manchester United midfielder Bruno Fernandes (€10.5m) made a huge impact in his first full season for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's men, racking up 28 goals and 17 assists in all competitions including four goals and one assist in the UEFA Champions League. The Portuguese playmaker already has a hat-trick to his name in this season's Premier League and as the talisman within the Red Devils' midfield, is likely to justify his cost for those #UCLfantasy managers willing to splash the cash. Those looking to double-up on Manchester United midfielders could combine Fernandes with new signing Jadon Sancho (€10.0m), the attacking wide man accruing just two #UCLfantasy points less than Fernandes playing at Dortmund last season.

MID-PRICED OPTIONS

When it comes to mid-priced midfielders, #UCLfantasy managers are spoiled for choice, particularly among Manchester City players, and the name who immediately comes to mind is Phil Foden (€8.0m), whose return from injury is imminent. The highest scoring midfielder in #UCLfantasy last season, Foden recorded 65 points largely thanks to his accumulation across multiple avenues, having managed three goals, three assists and 34 ball recoveries.

However, Foden is one of many options among the City midfield. Riyad Mahrez (€9.0m) and İlkay Gündoğan (€7.0m) also enjoyed fruitful 2020/21 campaigns from a #UCLfantasy point of view, acquiring 56 and 58 points respectively, while those looking for a player who has started the new season in good form should consider Ferran Torres (€7.5m). The Spaniard has impressed with two goals and one assist already and has been fielded as a striker by Pep Guardiola so far this season.

Dominik Szoboszlai (€7.0m) reminded everyone what he can do going forward after scoring twice in Leipzig's 4-0 win over Stuttgart last month, which was his first Bundesliga start for the German side since joining from Salzburg last January due to injury. Also on target in that match was Emil Forsberg (€7.0m) who, like his team-mate, could prove an extremely profitable #UCLfantasy midfield asset off the back of a UEFA EURO 2020 campaign in which he scored four goals in four matches for Sweden.

BUDGET OPTIONS

For those #UCLfantasy managers looking for a bargain midfielder, a number of viable assets are on the market. One leading example is Chelsea star Jorginho (€6.0m) whose lack of a goal threat from open play justifies his cheaper price tag. However, the Italian makes up for this with his potency in the ball recovery system, having accrued 80 ball recoveries in the 2020/21 UEFA Champions League, the second most of any player last season.

Plenty of promising attacking midfielders were unearthed in last season's competition, including Charles De Ketelaere (€6.0m) of Club Brugge. Philippe Clement's side narrowly missed out on qualification for the knockout stage in 2020/21 and will be looking to go even better this season. If they are to do so, De Ketelaere is expected to play a big part, having registered two goals and 20 ball recoveries last year.

Austrian champions Salzburg pride themselves on their offensive style of play and won't be afraid to take the game to their opponents. Having been fielded largely as a No10, 20-year-old Brenden Aaronson (€5.5m) played a crucial part in Salzburg qualifying for the group stage, scoring in both legs of their play-off victory against Brøndby. The American represents a cheap budget enabler with the potential to acquire a healthy portion of #UCLfantasy points.