England's attacking midfield options - ranked
- England have superstar playmakers at their disposal
- Jude Bellingham, Cole Palmer and Phil Foden are standouts
- Thomas Tuchel must build around attacking talent for future tournaments
By Tom Gott, Sean Walsh
For all the joy Gareth Southgate brought England supporters, the football on display was rarely swashbuckling.
The former England manager, who departed after Euro 2024, prioritised defensive structure over attacking flair, with the country's best attacking midfielders often finding themselves hamstrung by a negative approach.
Thomas Tuchel's arrival doesn't promise free-flowing, attacking football, but the experienced German coach may be able to get a more coherent tune out of England's leading number tens.
Here are England's best attacking midfield options - ranked.
11. Emile Smith Rowe
Smith Rowe has already made a handful of appearances for England and scored his debut goal at senior level in a 10-0 demolition of San Marino back in 2021. However, injuries and a lack of game time at Arsenal saw him fall out of contention.
A lucrative switch to Fulham last summer has allowed Smith Rowe regular Premier League minutes, but the dynamic operator has impressed without being outstanding in west London.
For now, he remains on the periphery.
10. Harvey Elliott
Elliott was part of the young England Under-21 side that lifted the Euros in 2023 and had emerged as a canny playmaker for Jurgen Klopp's Liverpool.
Yet to earn a senior cap, Elliott has the misfortune of fighting with some of the best players in world football for a spot in the England midfield, although he continues to thrive at youth level.
A significant injury limited his involvement under Arne Slot at the start of the 2024/25 season, meaning he wasn't available for selection when Lee Carsley took the reins, but he's nonetheless an option Tuchel will consider for future squads.
9. Angel Gomes
One of the stalwarts of the brief Carsley era, Gomes earned four caps under the England boss but hasn't been picked by Tuchel for the start of the Three Lions' World Cup qualifying campaign.
The former Manchester United youth prospect has blossomed since leaving Old Trafford for Lille in 2020 and he also shone for Carsley's Under-21s in recent years.
Gomes can play in a myriad of roles but generally enjoys operating in attacking zones, either as a box-to-box midfielder or as a more advanced playmaker.
8. Mason Mount
Mount has fallen considerably down the England pecking order following his nightmarish move to Manchester United. A flurry of nagging injuries and some disjointed team displays have seen him long ignored on the international stage.
However, the appointment of Tuchel will be a relief to Mount. The indefatigable midfielder was the former Chelsea manager's most used player during his spell at Stamford Bridge and they enjoyed a close relationship.
Perhaps Tuchel's arrival can bring the best out in Mount, even if the United midfielder will struggle to get his foot back in the England door. Ruben Amorim's admiration for him should facilitate plenty of exposure, but he must stay fit.
7. James Maddison
His omission from Southgate's Euro 2024 squad means Maddison will be 29 by the time he has another chance to feature for England at a major tournament for the first time.
Tottenham's excellent creator struggled after returning from an ankle injury during the second half of 2023/24 having set the division alight during the first ten games.
He simply didn't do enough heading into the Euros to be picked over several stellar alternatives and although his numbers have been impressive this season, Maddison hasn't quite done enough to woo Tuchel.
6. Morgan Gibbs-White
Gibbs-White starred at youth level for England, claiming glory at the U21 European Championship and U17 World Cup, and his standout performances for a burgeoning Nottingham Forest outfit means his first senior caps beckon.
The former Wolves starlet has taken on the armband at the City Ground, leading by example with his work-rate and scintillating ability when given space to run into.
Gibbs-White is superb in transition, but he's also shown an ability to control and dictate games from a deeper position.
5. Eberechi Eze
Eze's stock has risen remarkably over the past two seasons and he found himself as a regular substitute at Euro 2024, often making a positive impression with his tricky feet and direct running.
The talented forward, who can play as a number ten or out on the left flank, has honed his skills at Crystal Palace and has now earned a reputation as an unstoppable dribbler and scorer of worldies.
Such a reputation will keep him firmly in England's plans over the coming years, even if he's been outshone by a couple of teammates in 2025.
4. Morgan Rogers
Making the move from Championship Middlesbrough to an up-and-coming Aston Villa side was not straightforward for Rogers, but he took little time to settle in the Midlands.
A lively end to the 2023/24 season has been followed by an exceptional year two, with Rogers blossoming into an undroppable figure at Villa Park despite the arrivals of Marcus Rashford and Marco Asensio.
He's operated as both a number ten and shadow striker for the Villans and has the necessary skill set to thrive on the international stage.
3. Phil Foden
Foden has been an ever-present in the England squad since making his debut back in 2020. The Manchester City star was an automatic pick for Euro 2024 having enjoyed the best club season of his career.
He didn't enjoy a particularly fruitful tournament despite reaching the final with England and that may harm his reputation under a new regime, but, realistically, there is no chance that the Manchester City star isn't dazzling audiences in the near future.
How to get the best out of Foden on the international stage is a challenge that faces Tuchel, with the Stockport-born maestro comfortable as an attacking midfielder and winger.
2. Cole Palmer
Cole Palmer's remarkable debut campaign at Chelsea meant Southgate had no other choice but to include the attacking midfielder in his Euro 2024 squad, with the former Man City man rewarding him in Germany.
Palmer should have featured more regularly at the tournament and proved his worth in the 2-1 final defeat to Spain, scoring a beautiful goal to offer England brief hopes of victory.
He continues to ooze class on a weekly basis for Chelsea and his tally of goals and assists speaks for itself. There's been a dip in 2025 and we won't see him in March due to injury, but Palmer will be back wreaking havoc for the Three Lions soon.
1. Jude Bellingham
Bellingham's meteoric rise has been nothing short of astonishing, yet at the same time, it hasn't been all that surprising.
The Real Madrid superstar has looked destined to reach the top of the game ever since he pulled on a Borussia Dortmund shirt, and he's ready to run things for England on the international stage.
While not at his best at Euro 2024, he was still key in England getting out of the group stage and reaching the final following his extraordinary stoppage-time overhead kick in the last 16.
He remains the game-changer for England despite a less productive 2024/25.
READ MORE ON ENGLAND'S SQUAD OPTIONS & BEST IN EVERY POSITION
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