Champions League Fantasy Football: Midfielders for every budget

As the group stage of the 2022/23 UEFA Champions League draws ever closer, UEFA.com runs the rule over those midfielders who could prove lucrative, regardless of their price tag, on #UCLfantasy, presented by Playstation.

PREMIUM OPTIONS

On the back of his summer transfer to Bayern from Liverpool, former UEFA Champions League winner Sadio Mané (€10.5m) has begun the new campaign in red-hot form for the German champions. The Senegalese star scored five goals in last season's competition and will spearhead Julian Nagelsmann's attack. However, new team-mate Leroy Sané (€9.0m) also stands out as an enticing premium option having finished as the top Fantasy scorer among midfielders last season with 84 points.

This year brings a significant #UCLfantasy development regarding the 2021/22 UEFA Champions League Young Player of the Season. Vinícius Júnior (€10.0m) played a huge part in Real Madrid once again being crowned European champions last season, registering six assists and four goals, including the winner against Liverpool in the final. Having been listed as a forward in 2021/22, the 22-year-old is classed as a midfielder for 2022/23, which should only increase his appeal among Fantasy managers.

Mané's depature means the importance of Mohamed Salah (€11.0m) to Liverpool side is magnified even further, but the Egyptian certainly justifies his vast #UCLfantasy price-tag. Salah scored eight UEFA Champions League goals for the Reds last season alongside two assists, and only Sané bettered his overall score of 78 points among midfielders.

MID-PRICED OPTIONS

Premier League champions Manchester City boast plenty of viable #UCLfantasy midfield assets at a variety of prices. For those not looking to spend too much but who would be willing to push the boat out a little for the right player, Phil Foden (€8.5m) stands out as an ideal mid-priced choice. The England international has already opened his account in front of goal for Pep Guardiola's side domestically and will be confident of increasing on his five attacking returns in last season's UEFA Champions League.

Given the start to the season made by attacking midfielder Steven Bergwijn (€7.0m) at new club Ajax, his #UCLfantasy price tag looks like it could be a bargain. Since joining the Dutch champions this summer, Bergwijn has started every game in all competitions as part of an attacking front three, scoring five goals at the time of writing including a hat-trick against Groningen.

Another player listed as a midfielder on #UCLfantasy, but who spends most of their time playing as a forward is Celtic's Kyogo Furuhashi (€7.5m). The Japanese star can't stop scoring since arriving in Scotland in July 2021, racking up 20 goals in 33 appearances in all competitions across the 2021/22 campaign. Kyogo has started this season in similar fashion and has amassed six goals in his last four appearances. In he can carry this form onto the European stage, then his Fantasy potential is undeniable.

BUDGET OPTIONS

Jorginho (€5.5m) has been a handy #UCLfantasy asset at a friendly price over the past few seasons, especially with his status as Chelsea's first-choice penalty taker, and is already proving popular among managers again.

David Raum (€5.0m) has established himself as a regular starter at Leipzig and has been afforded plenty of opportunity to push forward on the left. The 24-year-old recorded 11 Bundesliga assists for Hoffenheim in 2021/22, helping to persuade Leipzig to swoop for his services this summer.

Finding a low-priced midfielder who starts regularly is always a challenge for #UCLfantasy managers, but Florentino (€4.5m) appears to be one such player. The 23-year-old has started in every fixture for Benfica this season, including their successful UEFA Champions League third qualifying round and play-off ties.