Whether it be premium players or budget midfielders, there’s an extensive list of midfielders who could prove to be of value this year’s Champions League fantasy football.
Here are the best midfielders to pick in UCL Fantasy 2023/24.
Bukayo Saka
- Price: €9.5m
- Picked by: 21%
Saka is undeniably enjoying an exceptional start to the season.
His underlying statistics and current form establish him as one of the top choices for the group stages.
Saka has already notched up 3 goals/assists (G/A) in just 4 Premier League games, with an impressive 0.94 xGI per 90 minutes.
Notably, according to FPL, Saka currently holds the top rank among midfielders in the ICT Index (Influence, Creativity, and Threat).
Additionally, Saka’s role as Arsenal’s penalty taker further enhances his appeal.
With fixtures against PSV, Lens, and Sevilla, Arsenal’s potential for attacking returns is exceptionally promising.
Jude Bellingham
- Price: €7.5m
- Picked by: 76%
Bellingham might be one of the most underpriced players in UCL fantasy this season, coming in at just €7.5m.
Real Madrid has kicked off the new season in spectacular fashion, winning all of their four games, and Bellingham has been the standout performer in each of them.
In his 4 matches with Real Madrid, he has contributed significantly with 5 goals and 1 assist.
Given his low price, it’s unsurprising that he is currently selected by 76% of managers, making him the second most owned player.
Real Madrid’s group stage opponents, Union Berlin, Braga, and Napoli, present a great opportunity for attacking returns.
Furthermore, he may even find himself playing as a potential number 9.
If you want to gain a cheap advantage other players you can ignore him and hope for the best, but make no mistake, Bellingham at €7.5m is a bargain.
Bruno Fernandes
- Price: €9.5m
- Picked by: 4%
Despite Manchester United’s somewhat uncertain start to the season, Bruno Fernandes still stands out as an excellent choice for UCL fantasy.
This is primarily because of his favorable upcoming fixtures and impressive creative abilities.
In the Premier League, Bruno has 2 G/A in 4 games, boasting an xGI of 0.94 per 90 minutes and a total xGI of 3.8 (mirroring Saka’s statistics)
Last season, he led the charts with the highest xA at 10.7 and ranked sixth in terms of the most shots taken.
As United’s designated penalty taker, he solidifies his position as one of the top picks in UCL fantasy for this season.
However, it should be noted Man Utd do start with a daunting away trip to Bayern Munich in MD1. This does mean he is a differential at this stage, though.
Khvicha Kvaratskhelia
- Price: €9.5m
- Picked by: 10%
Kvaratskhelia is priced at €9.5m this season, and while he may not offer the same value as he did in the previous season, he remains an appealing choice.
Given Napoli’s favourable fixtures against Union Berlin and Braga, his price tag may not deter too many managers.
In Napoli’s last UCL campaign he contributed 6 G/A, and it’s reasonable to expect him to strive for an even better performance this time.
However, keep in mind that he has not yet played a full 90 minutes in Serie A, with 1 start and 1 appearance in the league so far.
Xavi Simons
- Price: €6.5m
- Picked by: 19%
Leipzig is set for a favourable MD1 fixture against Young Boys, and Simons is set perfectly to make an impact.
Last season, Simons while playing for PSV had 27 goal contributions (19 goals, 8 assists).
Simons has transitioned into the new season with Leipzig with ease, already accumulating 5 G/A in just 3 games.
Fixtures against Man City in MD2 and MD5 are ones you’ll want to avoid but if you have the squad to navigate that then Simons is great value.
Phil Foden
- Price: €8.0m
- Picked by: 5%
Foden is off to an impressive start in the Premier League, having provided 3 assists in as many starts.
Rotation with City is always a concern but with KDB sidelined, he is in a prime position to start most games.
Given Man City’s upcoming favorable fixtures, having City assets alongside Erling Haaland is strongly recommended.
It’s also worth noting that in last year’s UCL campaign, Foden played only 381 minutes but still managed to contribute with 3 G/A.
His 5% pick percentage seems a little low for what he could offer.
IIkay Gundogan
- Price: €8.0m
- Picked by: 7%
Barcelona have appealing fixtures in the group stages and Ilkay Gundogan is a reliable presence in their midfield.
His start at Barcelona has been promising, with 2 assists in 4 games to his name.
In the previous UCL season, he contributed with 3 goals/assists (G/A) and accumulated a total of 44 fantasy points.
He boasts a good track record in fantasy football, having excelled in both FPL and UCL.
Leroy Sane
- Price: €9.0m
- Picked by: 10%
Sane has started the season in fine form in the Bundesliga, having scored 3 goals in just 3 games.
His record in the UCL speaks for itself, as he finished last season with 4 goals and 2 assists in 7 starts.
Sane’s ability to shine on the Champions League stage is well-established.
During the 2021/22 season, he finished the campaign with a remarkable 12 G/A in just 9 starts.
With Musiala potentially sidelined for a while, Sane could have more room to showcase his creative talents.
Rodri
- Price: €6.5m
- Picked by: 28%
In the previous UCL season, Rodri had 3 G/A, an impressive 68 balls recovered, and a total of 64 fantasy points.
Valued at just €6.5 million, he has a ownership of 30% of managers, making him the third-most owned player behind Bellingham and Haaland.
With KDB’s injury and Rodri among the attacking returns over the last year, the Spaniard is an astute pick.
Moreover, In the Premier League, Rodri has already contributed with 3 G/A in just 4 games.