In the latest of our FM26 series on bargain players across different positions, we have reached the midfield, where we will look at defensive and central midfielders. Here are five of our favourite midfield bargains in the latest edition of our favourite:
Mads Bidstrup (Red Bull Salzburg)
The Danish midfielder offers tremendous value for money. The 24-year-old Salzburg star can play as a central defensive midfielder or more of a number eight, box-to-box player.
As has been the case for a while, Salzburg have become a treasure trove of bargains when looking to sign players in past editions. I am thinking about the likes of Karim Adeyemi and Nicolas Capaldo (who is still a bargain signing on FM26, despite now being at Hamburger) before they made almost inevitable moves to the German Bundesliga.
Bidstrup’s stats may not have the same standout attributes as the pair, but his stats are pretty solid for a player who can often be bought for under £5m.
He is a decent squad player for a mid-table Premier League team or a starter for a team likely to be in a relegation battle. The midfielder was also one of our favourites on FM24.
Albert Sambi Lokonga (Hamburger)
The former Arsenal midfielder was a bargain in FM24. The same applies to the latest edition of the game. The Belgian star can play as a defensive midfielder and a central midfielder, but can also be retrained as a centre-back and an attacking midfielder.
Lokonga’s starting stats are solid, especially for a player who costs just over £7m to sign. His technique, passing, composure, and teamwork are all 15-plus, which are all qualities that are handy for a midfielder.
The 25-year-old would likely be a decent signing for midtable Premier League teams, and a regular first-teamer in relegation-threatened teams. The only issue with signing Lokonga in the first transfer window is that he is injured. His injury status may even stop him from passing his medical.
In real life, Lokonga has made a bright start to life in the Bundesliga, playing for HSV and making seven appearances in the German top flight.
Yassine Kechta (Le Havre)
The Moroccan is something of a hidden gem, with some promising stats currently playing for Le Havre. The central or attacking midfielder has 14+ stats in dribbling, first touch, passing, and technique, among others.
At 23, he still has time to improve and become an even better player. He has the potential to become a very good player in the top European leagues. Kechta is available for a fee of around £7m plus add-ons, which is an absolute steal, as he can become a key player or be sold on at a massive profit.
Julien Ponceau (Real Valladolid)
The 24-year-old Frenchman is another relatively versatile midfielder who offers great value for money. Although he can play as a central midfielder, his best stats reflect his attacking talents, with a plus 14 in technique, passing, and first touch.
He is an excellent addition for most clubs in the mid-lower of most of Europe’s biggest leagues, as Ponceau is currently with Spanish outfit Real Valladolid.
His stats belie his value, which is £3.8m. The attacking midfielder is obviously worth more than that, and he has a release clause in his contract of £8.25m. However, he can be signed for £6.5m, including add-ons and instalments. Even if you pay the minimum clause in his contract, Ponceau is still worth the fee.
Aljoša Vasić (Palermo)
The 23-year-old Serbian is currently plying his trade with Serie A outfit Palermo. Like most of the players on this list, Vasić’s stats are strong for a player who hasn’t got a significant reputation in the world’s game.
Some of the highlights of his stats are his technique, passing and first touch, which contributed to his ability to play in a number of positions. He is highly versatile, not only playing as a central midfielder, but also all across the attacking midfield positions.
You can often buy Vasić for £3.5m plus add-ons, which is a steal. If you negotiate, the fee can be cut down slightly. He could be one of the biggest bargains on our list.
