NEED an affordable midfielder to bring your Dream Team together ahead of the new season?
We’ve identified five players with a starting price below £4million who might fit the bill.
Morgan Gibbs-White (£3.5m)
Nottingham Forest have been dealt a relatively favourable hand by the fixture computer as they are set to start the new campaign against Bournemouth (h), Southampton (a) and Wolves (h).
And who better to take advantage than their No10?
Gibbs-White was one of just six midfielders who passed the 200-point mark last season without European fixtures to bulk out his schedule.
The 24-year-old is across all set-pieces, including penalties, and is generally at the heart of everything Nuno Espirito Santo’s side do well.
He registered 18 goal involvements in 2023/24.
See also: Callum Hudson-Odoi (£3m) and Anthony Elanga (£2.5m)
Yankuba Minteh (£3m)
How about a shiny new toy?
The Gambia winger was on Newcastle’s books but never made an appearance for them before he signed for Brighton this summer.
The Seagulls are understandably pleased to have picked Minteh up after his impressive campaign on loan at Feyenoord, where he scored ten goals and provided six assists in 27 Eredivisie appearances at an average of one goal involvement every 91.4 minutes.
Fans have been entertained by the 20-year-old’s pre-season showings and it wouldn’t be a surprise if he hit the ground running on the south coast.
Minteh is a gamble but £3m is a tempting starting price.
Kaoru Mitoma (£3.5m) is a fraction more expensive but he’s a proven performer when fully fit.
Brennan Johnson (£3m)
It may come as a surprise to some Dream Team bosses to learn that the Wales international averaged a goal or assist every 137.2 minutes in the Premier League last term.
After a relatively ineffectual start to life at Tottenham, Johnson has gradually looked more comfortable in Ange Postecoglou’s system.
He’s expected to start from the right flank once the new campaign gets underway and at £3m he offers a cheap route into Spurs’ attack.
Some gaffers may need to see a greater degree of improvement before they deem him worthy of a place in their midfield but he’s one to keep an eye on for sure.
PLAY DREAM TEAM AHEAD OF THE NEW SEASON!
Morgan Rogers (£2.5m)
The 22-year-old was given a short run as a starter for Aston Villa back in April and he repaid Unai Emery’s faith with three goals and an assist in five outings to help the club qualify for the Champions League.
Rogers is not a guaranteed starter come Gameweek 1 but he’s certainly in contention and is generally expected to play a more prominent role this season.
If the left winger does establish himself as a regular and has returned some healthy points by the time the Villains begin their European campaign, a starting price of £2.5m will look very generous in hindsight.
Jack Grealish (£3.5m)
Is 2024/25 the season Manchester City’s No10 rediscovers his best form?
Grealish showed some promising signs during the defending champions’ summer tour of America and experienced Dream Team managers will remember that he put up huge numbers once upon a time.
The fact Grealish wasn’t included in England’s Euro 2024 squad might benefit him as he’ll be fresher than the likes of Phil Foden (£6.5m) and Bernardo Silva (£4.5m) for the opening Gameweeks.
Gaffers should keep an eye on the Community Shield this weekend in search of clues for how Pep Guardiola might line up against Chelsea in Gameweek 1.
