Champions League Fantasy Football: Midfielders for every budget

Midfielders come under the spotlight as UEFA.com gives managers a helping hand for the return of #UCLfantasy, presented by Playstation.

PREMIUM OPTIONS

With the most expensive midfielder Kevin De Bruyne (€10.5m) set to miss the entire group stage due to injury, Fantasy managers will be looking elsewhere for their premium assets. Fellow Premier League midfielders Bukayo Saka (€9.5m) and Bruno Fernandes (€9.5m) could fit the bill; the Arsenal man will be making his UEFA Champions League debut, while Fernandes registered seven assists in 2021/22, the last time he featured.

Khvicha Kvaratskhelia (€9.5m) became a household name last season thanks to some scintillating displays for Napoli, and the Georgian has received a price increase after two goals and four assists in the 2022/23 Champions League.

Bayern pair Leroy Sané (€9.0m) and Serge Gnabry (€9.0m) are given large price tags, the former having started the season with three goals in three Bundesliga games. Arsenal's Martin Ødegaard (€9.0m) rounds off the premium midfielders. The Gunners skipper has scored twice already this season and recorded 23 goal involvements in last term's Premier League.

MID-PRICED OPTIONS

Marco Asensio (€8.0m) has made an impact at new club Paris Saint-Germain with three goal involvements in his first three appearances, while Phil Foden (€8.0m) has also made a bright start with three assists for Manchester City in the Premier League.

João Mário (€8.0m) was a popular Fantasy asset last season with six goals and two assists, but the Benfica man's ownership remains low, possibly due to the fact he is yet to score or assist this season.

At the other end of the ownership spectrum Jude Bellingham (€7.5m) features in more Fantasy teams than any other player. The Englishman has started superbly for new club Real Madrid, scoring in his first four La Liga games, while team-mate Federico Valverde (€7.5m) was a valuable Fantasy asset last season with two goals, three assists, three Player of the Match awards and 34 ball recoveries.

Cheaper still are Hakan Çalhanoğlu (€7.0m), who scored a penalty for Inter on 3 September and could retain spot-kick responsibilities in the Champions League, and Dani Olmo (€7.0m), who already has five goals and an assist for free-scoring Leipzig.

BUDGET OPTIONS

When it comes to ownership, there are two standout players in the budget bracket. The first is Rodri (€6.5m), an excellent source of ball recovery points last season and scorer of Manchester City's final winner. Joshua Kimmich (€6.5m) is likewise popular in Fantasy circles, the Bayern man delivering a goal, three assists and 49 ball recoveries last season.

Gavi (€6.5m) is already receiving backing having started all three of Barcelona's La Liga games to date, scoring once, while Xavi Simons (€6.5m) looks a tempting purchase having found the net in his last two outings for Leipzig.

Inter's summer signing Marcus Thuram (€6.5m) is an interesting option having been used up front so far for his new club, returning three goal involvements already. Also worth considering are Emre Can (€6.0m), who has converted a penalty for Dortmund this season, and Casemiro (€6.0m), a popular Fantasy asset at former club Real Madrid.