FPL Budget Picks: The Best MID Under £9.0

Under £9.0m in midfield: who's actually worth the money

Morgan Rogers at £7.7m is the most-owned player on this list — about 4 in 10 managers have him — and the model still puts him top of the pile. That tells you something: even at crowded ownership, a nailed starter in a Chelsea side with a favourable run, starting with Bournemouth at Stamford Bridge, is the sensible anchor. Expect a steady 5-6 most weeks with the odd big one.

The value shout, though, sits further down the price list. Pascal Groß at £5.8m projects the most points of anyone here over the next six — our model has him near 9 a week on average — off the back of a very kind run for Brighton, starting away at Sunderland. He starts every week, only about 2 in 10 own him, and at that price he pays for a premium elsewhere. That's the whole job description.

The rest, briefly:

• Cherki (MCI, £7.8m) — starts, decent fixtures, but Liverpool away first up. Fine, not urgent.
• Tavernier (BOU, £6.1m) — nailed, average fixtures, barely owned (fewer than 1 in 10). Honest enabler.
• Schade (BRE, £6.2m) — starts, but the fixtures are tough, Villa away next. Wait.
• Szoboszlai (LIV, £7.0m) — about 3 in 10 own him and the run is brutal, City at Anfield first. Points don't justify the crowd.
• Mbeumo / Cunha (MUN, £7.9m each) — both start, both average fixtures, Spurs at home next. Two bodies in one attack splitting the goods — pick neither if you can help it.
• Barnes (NEW, £6.1m) — the quiet one. Very kind run, Coventry away next, hardly anyone owns him (fewer than 1 in 20). A proper differential at an enabler price.
• Gibbs-White (NFO, £8.0m) — starts, but a very tough run makes £8.0m hard to defend.
• Ødegaard (ARS, £6.8m) — cheap for what he is, but Arsenal's fixtures turn nasty after Leeds at home.
• Scott (BOU, £6.1m) — starts, average run, fine fifth-midfielder material.

The call: Rogers is the top pick — nailed, in form, good fixtures, and the safe home for £7.7m. Groß is the best alternative and arguably the best pure value on the board — if your budget's tight, he's the buy, and Barnes at £6.1m is the one to file away if you want a cheap body who might actually score. Buy Rogers if you can afford him; buy Groß if you can't. Either way, stop paying £7.9m for half a Manchester United attack.