When selecting your Fantasy Premier League players for the 2022-23 season, there will be new anxiety about how to obtain the best value for your money. Many FPL teams will be supported by players like Trent Alexander-Arnold, Mohamed Salah, and Erling Haaland, but the affordable options can have a major impact once the points start coming in for managers.
There are many players that scored a tonne of points last year who are almost certainly going to be first-team regulars this year, providing potential for discounts everywhere.
Keeping that in mind, here are a few budget midfield picks for you to pick for your FPL squads to pave the way for premium signings:
PEDRO NETO (£5.5M, WOL)
Pedro Neto of Wolves is one of the most well-liked budget midfielders right now. 19 per cent of managers presently own him.
The Portuguese has made five starts after returning from a devastating knee injury in February of last year. Nevertheless, he recorded a goal and an assist. Neto started 30 games in the 2020–21 campaign, notching five goals and eight assists for an xG and xA of 6.11 and 6.99, respectively.
He had the most goals, assists, xG, and xA among his colleagues at the end of the season. He will undoubtedly be Wolves’ strongest offensive option and excellent value at £5.5m if he can regain that form.
However, Wolves need to work on improving in the final third because they aren’t the best moving forward. Even though they only finished last season with 38 goals and an xG of 44.23, Neto can still be a strong FPL option.
They have stellar opening-round opponents in Leeds United (away), Fulham (home), Newcastle United (home), Bournemouth (away), and Southampton (home). They will undoubtedly score a few goals during this period, and Neto will have an opportunity to prove himself.
He has already contributed to one assist and two goals in three preseason games at the time of writing.
GABRIEL MARTINELLI (£6M, ARS)
Last season was Gabriel Martinelli’s breakout campaign for Arsenal. In just 21 starts, he produced six goals and seven assists with an xG of 7.62 and an xA of 4.75. He secured a place in Arsenal’s first 11 players following Christmas, starting 19 of 25 games.
When the Brazilian plays, his overall statistics are outstanding, but there are concerns about his playing time. Emile Smith Rowe, a player he kicked off Mikel Arteta’s first team last season, is vying for his spot. Martinelli has played 5 games and recorded a goal and five assists thus far in the Gunners’ preseason.
The Brazilian has a decent probability of taking penalties while on the field. He converted the last one on the final day of the campaign, and some Arsenal reports suggest that he is the preferred penalty taker over Bukayo Saka (£8.0m). However, this isn’t guaranteed.
Additionally, Mikel Arteta’s group has favourable matchups to start the year. In their first five games, they take on Crystal Palace (away), Leicester City (home), Bournemouth (home), Fulham (away), and Aston Villa (home). These are fantastic attacking matchups, and if the 21-year-old can maintain a stretch of starts, he will represent incredible value at £6.0m.
LEON BAILEY (£5M, AVL)
After moving from Bayer Leverkusen to Aston Villa, Leon Bailey struggled to make an impression. He came in with strong expectations, which he might of course still meet, but this was owing to an injury.
His career totals are 55 goals and 49 assists in 251 games, which includes an astounding nine league goals and nine assists for his old team in 2020–21. He is a solid player and possesses all the qualities to be a great FPL option.
With solid performances in each of Villa’s preseason games with three goals and an assist, he appears to be a favourite of Steven Gerrard. Right now, it appears as though he will not lose the position, but it will be prudent to monitor events during the initial run of games.
If he can get a starting position in this squad, he might be one of the best £5.0 million options in the league and one of the finest affordable midfielders.
He has a lot of potential and can both score and assist. He does have competition from Philippe Coutinho (£7.0m) and Emiliano Buendia (£6.0m), so he’s possibly one to watch for the time being.
ANDREAS PEREIRA (£4.5M, FUL)
Andreas Pereira (£4.5m) is the fourth-most attractive midfielder in FPL right now, with an ownership rate of 21.6 per cent.
The Brazilian scored seven goals and provided two assists while playing on loan for Flamengo in his home country and Lazio in Serie A over the course of the previous two seasons.
Prior to his summer move, he had spent the last 11 years with Manchester United, where he had made 75 outings for the first team. Erik ten Hag’s presence at Old Trafford, however, has reduced his possibilities there, thus he has left for Fulham for a sum that is thought to be about £10 million.
Pereira, who has spent the majority of his career as an attacking midfielder, appears to be a respectable replacement for Fabio Carvalho (£5.5m, LIV). He has failed to regularly establish himself in the Premier League, but at under £4.5 million, he would represent fantastic value if given a midfield position in Marco Silva’s system.
BRUNO GUIMARAES (£6M, NEW)
Following the acquisition last year, Bruno Guimaraes was the first of Newcastle United’s “big” signings; yet, the Magpies’ outstanding performance made it difficult for him to break into the starting lineup initially.
The Brazilian excelled as soon as he was given an opportunity from the beginning and swiftly won the hearts of the crowd. Bruno started eleven games for the Magpies in the league, contributing to five goals and one assist.
The 24-year-old should succeed in the forthcoming season and is set to play a significant role in Newcastle’s anticipated stellar season now that he has completed a full preseason on Tyneside.
Bruno is a midfielder who can score goals and maybe a lot less expensive option than his Big Six clubs’ peers.
PABLO FORNALS (£5.5M, WHU)
For a midfielder who cost £5.5 million, six goals and four assists is a very respectable contribution, although Fornals’ assist ability stands out. His 117 points last season, which was actually a greater points-per-£m yield than Mo Salah’s, came from playing in 36 of the 38 league games. He can be envisaged maintaining his ongoing good form throughout the ensuing season.
Despite Bowen’s bizarre assist totals from the previous season, Fornals leads the per-90 metrics in terms of creativity. The West Ham player played more crucial passes per 90 minutes, generated more significant opportunities per 90 minutes (West Ham’s highest), and had just 0.01 xA per 90 minutes less than Bowen, who had 17 assists.
In West Ham’s preseason, Moyes has given him substantial playing time. Fornals provides an excellent differential alternative for 2022–23 thanks to the aforementioned factors as well as a favourable stretch of games starting in GW-2.
