FIFA 19: The best bargain central midfielders to sign

Whether you’re after a no-nonsense ball winner, a box-to-box workhorse, or a twinkle-toed playmaker to help you unpick an opposition defence, in FIFA 19 central midfield is one of the most important areas of the pitch.

However, if your Career Mode team is operating on a budget and the Paul Pogbas of the world are out of reach, we’ve put together a list of top-quality central midfielders who won’t cost you more than €20,000,000. There are CMs, CDMs and CAMs here, plus we’ve tried to concentrate on those who won’t also demand huge wages.

While negotiations on FIFA 19 aren’t an exact science, the transfer fees quoted are ones we’ve actually paid in-game, but you can probably strike better deals by offering sell-on clauses.

FIFA 19’s best bargain central midfielders

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Roman Zobnin (Spartak Moscow)

If you’re after a defensive midfielder who’s good on the ball and never stops running, look no further than Spartak’s Roman Zobnin. 82 for dribbling and ball control, 81 for short passing, and 90 for stamina make the 24-year-old an incredibly effective cog to have at the centre of your team. With 81 for marking, 79 for standing tackles and 75 for interceptions, he’ll put the work in without the ball as well, and while he’s no sprinter, he’s not slow either. An overall rating of 79 is enough for a place in most teams, but he’ll cost you €19m thanks to his potential of 86.

Maximilian Eggestein (Werder Bremen)

Chances are Maximilian Eggestein won’t be at Werder Bremen for much longer, so add him to your squad while you’ve still got the chance. His standout stat by some distance is the 96 he has for stamina, so you’ll pretty much never have to substitute him, and that means you can really make the most of his skill on the ball.

81 for short passing and 80 for control make Eggestein a real asset when it comes to keeping possession, and with 81 for long shots you shouldn’t be afraid to have a go from range if the opportunity presents itself. With a potential rating of 85, he’s well worth the €18m Werder Bremen will demand for the 21-year-old.

Jean-Philippe Gbamin (Mainz)

Rumoured to be a target for Arsenal this summer, Mainz’s Jean-Philippe Gbamin is a good option if you need a solid presence at the base of your midfield. With 85 for aggression and sprint speed, 83 for strength and stamina, and 80 for standing tackles, the 22-year-old takes no prisoners. His skill on the ball isn’t to be underestimated, either. 78 for short passing and 75 for dribbling mean he can help to start attacks from deep, while he’s almost as accomplished when playing as a centre-back. Mainz will want €17m for the 79-rated Ivorian, who has the potential to hit 84 overall.

Hans Vanaken (Club Brugge)

Number 10s have a reputation for being lazy when their team doesn’t have the ball, but that’s not an accusation you can level at Club Brugge’s Hans Vanaken. With 91 for stamina the 25-year-old will do his fair share of tracking back if you ask him to, without neglecting his attacking responsibilities. With 84 for short passing and 83 for vision and ball control, he’s capable of unlocking stubborn defences with both feet, and while he’s not the most agile, he’s strong enough to hold off opposition players while waiting for the best time to pass. He’ll set you back just over €16m.

CDM: Ljubomir Fejsa (Benfica)

If a no-nonsense ball-winner is what you’re after, Benfica’s Ljubomir Fejsa is worth a look. The Serbian enforcer has the defensive stats of a centre-back, with 83 for standing tackles and 82 for marking, while 84 for interceptions makes him a good reader of the game. 91 for aggression and 90 for stamina mean he won’t go missing in games, and 77 for short passing means he can also keep the ball moving.

Fejsa’s not particularly mobile, so you might want to deploy a more athletic player next to him, but for €15m you get a formidable obstacle to protect your defence.

Any one of these bargain central midfielders will improve your team

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CAM: Nadiem Amiri (Hoffenheim)

In recent years, Hoffenheim have seen a number of young talents pass through on the way to bigger things and Nadiem Amiri could just be the next one. With 81 for control, 85 for dribbling and 79 for agility, the 21-year-old attacking midfielder comes alive with the ball at his feet and can use those talents to find space in a crowded defence, before finding a killer ball with 79 for short passing and 78 for vision. Rated 78 overall now, but with the potential to reach 85, you’ll need to offer around €15m to tempt him away.

CAM: Jonas Hofmann (Borussia Mönchengladbach)

Not to be confused with Jonas Hofmann of Bundesliga III side Sportfreunde Lotte, Borussia Mönchengladbach’s 79-rated attacking midfielder can play anywhere behind the striker, but is probably best suited to the number 10 role thanks to 79 for both passing and ball control, plus 80 for dribbling and 77 for vision. With 82 for stamina, Hofmann works hard all game, plus if you find him in possession out wide, a crossing stat of 81 means he can put a dangerous ball in. An offer in the region of €14.5m will get Gladbach talking.

CM: Pierre Lees-Melou (Nice)

He might not be the kind of player who’ll chip-in with a load of goals or assists, but if you want someone to help carry the ball upfield, Nice’s Pierre Lees-Melou is well worth the €14m you’ll have to spend to secure his services.

With 86 for stamina, Lees-Melou won’t need substituting after 70 minutes, while 79 for short and long passing, dribbling and ball control, plus 76 for composure and 77 for positioning mean he’ll help your team keep possession when under pressure. The 25-year-old has a decent turn of pace, too, and while it’s not his biggest strength, he’s not afraid to put in a tackle either.

CM: Àlex Granell (Girona)

Girona’s Àlex Granell is one of those midfielders you tend not to notice until they’re not there. His neat and tidy passing will help you to keep the ball moving, but it’s his all-round game that makes him a good option to have in your squad. He can cross, tackle, dribble, take free-kicks and his finishing is pretty good for a central midfielder, too. He’s not the tallest or quickest and lacks stamina and strength, so you’re better off playing him in a three-man midfield, but for an all-rounder who’ll only cost you around €11.5m, the 29-year-old has plenty to offer.

CM: Gedson Fernandes (Benfica)

At just 19-years-old, Gedson Fernandes is by no means the finished article, but that doesn’t mean he’s not ready to make his presence felt in your team. An energetic box-to-box midfielder, he’s not afraid to put tackles in on the edge of his own penalty area, and has the agility and dribbling skill to carry the ball upfield. He can even find the top corner from long range occasionally.

Fernandes also has a good range of passing and a stamina rating of 80, so he doesn’t tire easily. He’s rated 75 overall now, but improves quickly and can go on to hit 85 with the right training, so pick him up for €11m before his price gets too high.