FPL 2021/22: Midfielders buying guide
The Premier League season is just around the corner and that means it's time to get your head in gear and start thinking about your fantasy team.
Without a shadow of a doubt, the most important area of any FPL team is midfield. At the end of the season, midfielders are always the highest scoring players in the game and getting your selections right is vital.
There is so much choice, though, and only five positions to fill. Luckily 90min is here to help. Below we have compiled everything you need to know about FPL midfielders this years. Make sure you check out our goalkeeper and defender guides too.
Bargains - £6.5m and under
1. Jack Harrison (£6m)
Jack Harrison has been on loan at Leeds United for years. This summer he finally joined permanently and it could prove to be one of the smartest signings of the window.
Harrison suits Marcelo Bielsa's system perfectly and was a favourite of FPL managers last term, finishing as the seventh highest scoring midfielder in the entire game.
That fact he is still just £6m this time around is bonkers.
2. Tomas Soucek (£6m)
Despite registering 10 goals, two assists and 11 clean sheets last season, West Ham's Tomas Soucek remains affordable at just £6m.
Ever since he rocked up in the Premier League in January last year Soucek has been a revelation. He is a guaranteed starter for West Ham and is well worth picking up - even if expecting him to reach the same heights this term is a bit hopeful.
3. Bryan Mbeumo (£5.5m)
Bryan Mbeumo is the most alluring of FPL commodities - a 'midfielder' who is actually a forward.
Mbeumo made close to 50 appearances for newly-promoted Brentford last season and spent the vast majority of his time prowling the final third. His goal return was a respectable eight and he also provided 11 assists.
Well worth a punt at just £5.5m.
4. Ismaila Sarr (£6m)
Watford were not the most prolific of sides last season, but Ismaila Sarr was pretty impressive in front of goal.
Sarr managed 13 goals and 10 assists in the Championship and will be the Hornets' key man this campaign. He also emerged as Watford's penalty taker towards the end of the year - when Troy Deeney isn't on the pitch, of course.
5. Honourable mentions
Arsenal could be a good place to raid for FPL bargain buys with both Emile Smith Rowe (£5.5m) and Bukayo Saka (£6.5m) worth considering.
Aston Villa are interesting too. With Jack Grealish gone, new arrivals Emiliano Buendia and Leon Bailey (both £6.5m) will be afforded plenty of playing time from the off.
Elsewhere, last season's highest scoring bargain midfielder Stuart Dallas (£5.5m) cannot be ignored. Fellow Leeds man Raphinha (£6.5m), Jarrod Bowen (£6.5m) and Todd Cantwell (£5.5m) are interesting prospects.
Mid-tier - £7.0m to £8.5m
6. Mason Mount (£7.5m)
Mason Mount was crazy good for Chelsea last season, even after his adoptive father Frank Lampard was given his marching orders.
Finishing the season with 147 FPL points, all the signs suggest he will continue to be one of the first names on the team sheet at Stamford Bridge.
At just £7.5m he seems to represent very good value.
7. Wilfried Zaha (£7m)
Eberechi Eze is set to miss a decent chunk of the season through injury, so Wilfried Zaha will be even more crucial to Crystal Palace than usual.
With the play set to go through him once again - and Patrick Vieira's arrival possibly heralding the introduction of more expansive football - Zaha has could post his best ever FPL numbers this year.
8. Phil Foden (£8m)
Jack Grealish and Phil Foden will both set you back £8m this season, so probably only one of them can feasibly make your 14-man squad.
After much deliberation, we have decided to give Foden the nod. While Grealish's development under Pep Guardiola's tutelage will be a joy to behold his bleach-hair counterpart offers you a better chance to score points from the off.
9. Honourable mentions
Ilkay Gundogan (£7.5m) had his best ever scoring season last time out. Whether he can replicate that is another matter entirely.
Harvey Barnes (£7m) is an interesting one. Prior to getting injured in February the forward was in the form of his life, although it is not yet certain if he will start the season in Leicester's first XI.
Kai Havertz (£8.5m) will surely increase his points tally this season, as will Diogo Jota (£7.5m) - though the pair will be rotated frequently.
Expensive - £9m plus
10. Bruno Fernandes (£12m)
No midfielder managed more FPL points than Bruno Fernandes last season, obviously you should be considering him.
He scores goals, gets assists and clean sheets and is also his side's penalty taker. What's not to love?
11. Mohamed Salah (£12.5m)
No player has racked up FPL points consistently over the past few seasons like Mohamed Salah. Bursting onto the scene with over 300 in his maiden Liverpool campaign his seasonal tally has not dipped below 231 since.
Liverpool seem like a stronger outfit this term too, which is good news for Salah and everyone that owns him on FPL (48.8% of all managers at the time of writing).
12. Son Heung-min (£10m)
If you are looking for a slightly less expensive marquee signing, Son Heung-min could be your man.
Son eclipsed his highest ever FPL tally last season, racking up 17 goals, 11 assists and 26 bonus points. If Nuno Espirito Santo can mould Spurs into a dangerous counter-attacking outfit, the South Korean is likely to thrive again - even if his partner in crime Harry Kane departs.
13. Honourable mentions
Sadio Mane (£12m) can never been discounted when compiling a FPL team.
If you fancy opting for a wildcard, Jadon Sancho (£9.5m) is worth a closer look, although Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has confirmed that he will not start Manchester United's Premier League opener.