England's attacking midfield options - ranked
- England have some of the world's best creative midfielders
- 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. 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.
10. 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 in the most recent summer transfer window could kickstart his international career, with Smith Rowe having already impressed en route to becoming a starter for the Cottagers.
The talent and potential is there, now it's up to him.
9. Harvey Elliott
Elliott was part of the young England Under-21 side that lifted the Euros in 2023 and has been in impressive form with Liverpool ever since. Now fully transformed into an attack-minded central midfielder, the youngster was particularly influential in the latter stages of the Jurgen Klopp era.
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 has limited his involvement under Arne Slot in 2024/25 but the diminutive midfielder should find himself in England contention over the coming years.
8. Angel Gomes
Gomes was an incredibly surprising inclusion in interim boss Lee Carsley's first England squad for the September international break and the Lille midfielder made his senior debut off the bench against Ireland in the UEFA Nations League.
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.
7. Morgan Gibbs-White
Gibbs-White is certainly a player that has flown under the radar at Nottingham Forest and he was unfortunate not to earn a senior cap under Southgate following some impressive purple patches
The midfielder, who has won the Under-21 Euros and Under-17 World Cup with England, made his senior debut against Ireland during Carsley's first game in charge.
The Forest star has huge potential but, like many others in his position, he must best some of the world's finest talents for a starting berth.
6. 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 start to the new campaign, with Rogers having emerged as one of Unai Emery's favourite attacking options.
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.
5. 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 he currently faces a battle to retain his Spurs starting spot, too.
4. 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.
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 strike 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. Right now, there are few better attacking midfielders in world football.
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 slow start to 2024/25.
READ MORE ON ENGLAND'S SQUAD OPTIONS & BEST IN EVERY POSITION
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