Supercoach EPL 2025/26: Mid-fielders Analysis

This is a position with a lot of value beyond the two most obvious picks – there aren’t too many I can talk you out of because of the uptick in points for goals.

Combine that with the bonuses for clean sheets and those with the big clubs set to provide the best value – the trick is going to be as much about predicting who will start consistently in the league with European Football set to take out some of the big name options.

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Must-haves

Cole Palmer (12.72mil)  – Only Mo Salah would have outscored the Chelsea star last season & his strong form continued at the Club World Cup where he led Chelsea to victory in the final when scoring a brace.

Retaining free-kick and penalty duties along with the numbers he’ll have the ability to put up in a team that should improve – all signs point to some monster scores and barring injury he’ll be a fairly certain hold for me across the entirety of the season.

Any risk of a slow start is negated by the fact he’s currently owned by 50% of SuperCoach owners meaning even if he doesn’t meet expectations plenty of others will be feeling the pain.

Rodri (3.75mil) – Strange to have him in this category given the price point but then you remember he won the Ballon D’Or back in 2024 after City’s historic treble winning season. Injury ravaged his last season and there was a direct correlation between his absence and City’s form slump.

Although I’m expecting him to build some value early, he’ll be easily tradable should City start slowly or once we get into the depths of the season having built his value. Should City flop, a trade out to another underpriced midfielder will be easy enough.

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Guns to Watch

Bruno Fernandes (11.49mil) – A reliable pick for FPL players in the past because of his consistent output from set-pieces and penalties for Manchester United and I’m not expecting that to change too much this season. Even in a down year for United he would have been the 3rd highest scoring midfielder across SuperCoach.

If you’re avoiding Palmer – you probably need Fernandes filling his position at a slightly lower price point. My hesitation stems from the fact United have the equal toughest fixture in the opening 2 months and with visits to Arsenal, City & Liverpool in that stretch I’m confident there will be a price drop as injuries become a factor 8 weeks in.

Eberichi Eze (10.27mil)  – Transfer rumours have dulled somewhat on the Palace star was heavily linked to a move to the Emirates early in the summer. That doesn’t mean a deal won’t happen – and whether he stays or goes the midfielder who led Palace to their first piece of major silverware in the FA Cup is a legitimate option.

He’s another of these gun midfielders that has penalty and free-kick responsibility at Palace – when you add that to his open play threat (he made more key passes than any other Palace player last season) he becomes an attractive option.

The decision you’ll need to make is whether you can fit he and another gun into your midfield and fill out the rest of your squad with enough quality. Slightly better options at the top end combined with the slight uncertainty over his future means I’m steering away for now – but he could become an early trade in if Palace can continue their form from January-February when they were one of the most entertaining sides to watch in the Premier League.

Jarrod Bowen (11.7mil) – A standout of the last two seasons at West Ham who ticks all the boxes in terms of general play and set-piece output and will continue to be one of the first names on the team sheet for Graham Potter in the early season.

The durability of the 16-time England International is as attractive as anything – he’s missed just 10 league games over the past 5 seasons which is the reason for his price point above some of the bigger names you’ll see in the mid-range segment.

West Ham should be an improved outfit playing more attacking football under Graham Potter this season and if you’re looking for a player to set and forget in this position you could do worse. The big question is if you have the guts to leave out Palmer or you end up costing yourself with your mid-rangers to fit him in. If you’re brave enough, there will be a stage this season you’ll be rewarded.

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Mid-Range

A whole range you could move to here – I’d be having 2-3 in my makeup along with your chosen gun and Rodri in making up your midfield. Here’s my pick of the bunch.

Martin Odegaard (7.9mil) – Despite Arsenal’s glut of off-season signings – Odegaard will still be the man they base their attack around this season regardless of what’s happening around him. In an injury affected season – Arsenal form dropped off markedly without him in the side so we can be confident he’ll be one of the first names on Mikel Arteta’s team sheet again this time around.

The only slight drawback is he won’t get too many of those handy bonuses from the penalty spot and he does come in at a slightly higher price point that some others on this list. But, if he stays fit he’ll be an option plenty will turn to over the course of the season.

Bernardo Silva (7.8mil) – If you are looking for City player in that position – the Portuguese maestro might be the one given he was favoured by Guardiola during the Club World Cup. In last year’s disaster Silva was the one producing somewhat consistently and given the minutes we’re expecting him to get early he’s the Sky Blue I’m edging toward to start the season.

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Phil Foden (7.8mil)  – As you’ll have figured by now – I’m high on Manchester City returning to former glories this season and because of last season’s disappointment a lot of their stars are coming in at bargain basement prices.

Foden is no exception after a campaign where he battled against a downturn in form in a team that were well below the level they’d achieved in season’s past. 

In 22-23 & 23-24 though – Foden was the league’s pre-eminent creative midfielder – he turns 25 this season – the time in most player’s careers where they hit their peak – his 7 goals and 2 assists were the lowest return by far since he broke into Pep Guardiola’s first team consistently.

We need to keep an eye on whether he’s being picked consistently though – he wasn’t first choice for City during the Club World Cup on the back of his topsy-turvy form over the season. He won’t be in my Week 1 lineup but particularly if he’s starting regularly I have little doubt I’ll be trying to find a way to get him in.

Lucas Paqueta (5.3mil) – At a lower price point to start the season than most in this category – I reckon the Brazilian is worth a gamble as a POD early in the season.

The last two years have been marred by dramas off the field that have no doubt affected his ability to produce consistently – but with the off-field cloud now cleared and Graham Potter having the opportunity to bed in his system over the summer the style of football should suit his skill set and hopefully get him further up the pitch more than has been the case during his first two years at the club. West Ham’s noted struggles in the transfer market will mean he’s forced to shoulder a lot of responsibility and if Paqueta takes that up I can see him having a career best season in England.

Pape Sarr (4.89mil) – Began his first season at Spurs as one of the shining lights in Ange Postecoglou’s high-flying side – his form and consistency has tapered since – hence the low price point – but with a new manager and his development in England continuing he has been well tapped into by the SuperCoach community early on.

I have had a number of drafts with him involved because of his goal threat, the fact he is under a new manager in Thomas Frank who has a history of bettering players with similar attributes and the fact he’s been starting consistently over Spurs’ pre-season.

Spurs early fixtures are amongst the most favourable in the competition over the first 2 months with City their only Top 4 opposition in the first 6 Gameweeks. A solid choice particularly if you’re looking to try and squeeze in two top end midfielders.

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Cheapies

Kobbie Mainoo (3.9mil) – One of the highest owned at 30% because like his teammate Rasmus Hojland he’s coming at a significantly cut price. Most are expecting him to rise significantly on the 19 starts he made last season and entering his third full season in the first team he should be one of the first names on Ruben Amorim’s team sheet if they don’t secure another midfielder in his position.

Lewis-Skelly (3.9mil)  – Another who’ll be playing regularly at a cut price on the evidence of pre-season. Mikel Arteta looks set to use him as a full-back. The obvious question is there to be asked? Can I then rely on him to score for me – and my answer is given the way Arsenal play… Yes. Attack will come through him down the flanks and if you’re looking to go somewhere other than Rodri as your cheapie – he’s one of my first picks.

Jack Harrison (4.3mil) – Part of a newly promoted side and already experienced at Premier League level you can be sure a lot of attacking responsibility will fall on his shoulders.

Simon Adingra (4.6mil) – Makes the move to Weairside after two impressive campaigns at Brighton with some significant output in his limited starting time, particularly two seasons ago.

Sunderland’s significant investment in the 23 year old means he should be seeing plenty of time on the field in the early season.

Avoids

Morgan Gibbs-White (9.46mil)  – With his future now secure after Forest signed him to a new deal seeing off Spurs’ advances in the summer, he’s bound to play a key role in Forest’s campaign throughout. As I wrote in the Forwards preview regarding teammate Chris Wood – I worry about their ability to repeat the heroics of last campaign.

We’ll know fairly early how Forest are set to fare given a fairly soft opening to the season but with such a glut of promising mid-range options – Gibbs-White’s price at just under the 10mil mark is a step too far for me given I expect it to drop over the course of the season.