The best central midfielders to sign in Football Manager 2021
By Tom Gott
A good spine is key to any successful team in Football Manager 2021, and a vital part of that is central midfield.
You need a real star in the heart of midfield to lead by example, and there are plenty of top players for you to choose from, regardless of what kind of budget you're working with at the start of the game.
Here are some of the best central midfield options at various different price points.
Cheap Options
Victor Camarasa
Real Hispalis
He might have struggled in the Premier League in real life, but Camarasa is good enough to make an impact in FM21. At 26, he can help any side out for a good few years.
Mauricio Pereyra
Orlando City
At 30, Pereyra is past his best, but his expiring contract means he can be signed for pennies, or you can approach him about a free transfer at the end of the year.
Victor Sanchez
Free Agent
The best option in free agency, Sanchez is more of a defensive-minded midfielder, and he comes with some outstanding mental attributes.
Hernanes
SPO
Former Inter and Juventus midfielder Hernanes is approaching the end of his career, but he's still good enough to give a top side a year or two of solid service.
Carlos Rodriguez
Monterrey
Having spent years impressing in Mexico, 23-year-old Rodriguez is ready for a big move to Europe, and he's got the potential to become a top player in any of Europe's top five leagues.
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Roberto Gagliardini
Inter
Gagliardini is on the transfer list at Inter, meaning they're more than happy to accept less than half of his value just to get him off the books. He's not going to win the Ballon d'Or, but at that price, you can't go wrong.
Anton Miranchuk
Lokomotiv Moscow
Twin brother Aleksey is now strutting his stuff in Italy with Atalanta, and it'll be Anton's time soon. He's been impressing in Russia and has been tipped to become a solid player for a bigger team in the near future.
Borja Valero
Fiorentina
At 35, Valero is obviously only going to be around for one season or so, but his value reflects that. If you've got a small budget and need a quick impact, he's your man.
Tonny Vilhena
Krasnodar
No longer the wonderkid he once was, 25-year-old Vilhena is still good enough to hang in a top league. He's got some fantastic passing attributes and the physicality needed to make up for his small frame.
Oier
Atletico Pamplona
Comfortable both in midfield and at the back, Oier is a cheap option to plug a number of holes in your squad.
Reasonable Options
Maximilian Arnold
Wolfsburg
The perfect box-to-box midfielder, Arnold should justify his price tag with a handful of long-range screamers across the season.
Joao Mario
Inter (on loan at Sporting)
Another of those Inter are keen to cut ties with, Mario has been sent out on loan this season, and if you're happy to wait until his contract with Sporting is up, you can land him for his base value.
Bryan Cristante
Roma
Roma playmaker Cristante combines elite passing with above-average defending, while his long shots are also something to keep an eye on. A real do-it-all kind of midfielder.
Sergi Darder
Espanyol
An anchor man with a real eye for a pass, Darder can be picked up for close to his base value, and at 26, he still has a few years left to continue growing.
Rodrigo De Paul
Udinese
It seems like just a matter of time before De Paul seals a big move away from Udinese, so make sure you're at the front of the queue. His outstanding playmaking and ability to play out wide make him a real asset.
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Otavio
FCP
He might not be an outright central midfielder, but Otavio's versatility means he can stand out anywhere in the middle third. He's an outstanding dribbler but never shirks a tackle, and he manages to do everything with some incredible flair. A real fun watch.
Kevin Kampl
RB Leipzig
Another player with real versatility, Kampl can impress anywhere across the midfield because he does everything at a solid level. He might not be the star of the show, but he's good enough to fill a number of roles for you.
Remo Freuler
Atalanta
A box-to-box threat, Freuler has grown into a real star since joining Atalanta a few years ago. He thrives on tackling but can still hold his own in the attacking third as well.
Hakan Calhanoglu
AC Milan
Calhanoglu is more of an attack-minded player, and he prefers making an impact with his outstanding set-pieces, long shots and passing. He's guaranteed to grab you plenty of goals and assists.
Radja Nainggolan
Inter
The next Inter midfielder being pushed out the exit door, Nainggolan will command a little more money as he's arguably the best of the bunch, but I Nerazzurri still don't put up too much of a fight to keep him.
Expensive Options
Manuel Locatelli
Sassuolo
If you've got the time to wait for your player to grow into a star, Locatelli is your man. He's a solid player now but has the potential to grow into one of the world's best midfielders. At 22, he can be a mainstay in your team for ten years.
Lorenzo Pellegrini
Roma
If you get in early, Pellegrini's £27.5m release clause is perhaps the biggest bargain on the game. You'll have to throw some serious wages at him, however, as Roma always do their utmost to keep him around.
Jack Grealish
Aston Villa
Villa might rate Grealish at £100m in real life, but on FM, he can be picked up for less than half that sum, which is a real bargain for one of the Premier League's finest creators.
Piotr Zielinski
Napoli
26-year-old Zielinski is an elite creator, and he boasts the kind of passing skills which would make him a star in any team.
Marcelo Brozovic
Inter
Another Inter midfielder. Brozovic's £45.5m release clause means he can be signed relatively easily, and while that might sound a little expensive, he's good enough to reward your investment pretty quickly.
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Corentin Tolisso
Bayern
Bayern have so many elite midfielders, which has left them willing to cut ties with Tolisso for close to his base price. That's a real bargain for a player who is good enough to star for any team on the planet.
Rodrigo Bentancur
Zebre
At 23 years old, Bentancur comes with a sizeable, yet affordable price tag. He might be the only signing you make in your first summer, but there are definitely worse ways to spend £50m.
Joshua Kimmich
Bayern
He's one of the best players on the game, but Kimmich is actually a realistic signing for any side with around £70m to spend. That's a huge sum, but as a star in about 1,000 different positions, Kimmich is worth every penny.
Luka Modric
R. Madrid
Modric won't command much of a transfer fee - around £7m - but he's in the expensive bracket because of his mammoth wages. You'll need to have plenty of money in the bank to get a deal for Modric over the line.
Houssem Aouar
OL
Aouar is already a top talent, but he's got the potential to blossom into a bona-fide star in a number of different positions. He's going to get snapped up by a top side soon, so make sure you're the one laughing when the dust settles.