Three standout price-friendly midfielders this season are Enzo Le Fee (£6.0m), Pascal Gross (£5.5m) and Iliman Ndiaye (£6.0m).
All of them are on not less than a share of penalties, too.
But does one stand out over the others? We’ll evaluate the trio in this text.
FIXTURES
There’s been a good bit of buzz round the concept of utilizing the first Wildcard chip in Gameweek 4. And with Le Fee in 10.9% of present squads, it’s straightforward to see why.
Our free-to-all Fixture Ticker charges Sunderland’s matches close to the high in the first three Gameweeks.
Whereas these seeking to Wildcard throughout the worldwide break (between Gameweek 5 and 6) could also be tempted to favour Gross or Ndiaye, as their fixtures look higher over this barely longer interval.
GOAL THREAT
| Player | Mins per purpose | Mins per shot | Mins per shot in field | Mins per xG |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ndiaye | 463.8 | 64.7 | 92.8 | 414.8 |
| Le Fee | 590.2 | 82.0 | 163.9 | 573.0 |
| Gross | 1641.0 | 91.2 | 182.3 | 1131.7 |
There’s just one winner right here. Finding the web each 463.8 minutes, Ndiaye’s 2025/26 menace was superior. He netted six objectives (together with two penalties), in comparison with Le Fee’s 5 (three penalties) and Gross’ one.
Even taking spot-kicks out of the equation, Ndiaye is the clear winner.
Operating as an inside ahead below David Moyes, this gained’t shock many.
The minutes-per-shot metrics are nearer for Le Fee (82.0) and Gross (91.2).
ASSIST POTENTIAL
| Player | Mins per probability created | Mins per cross | Mins per xA |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ndiaye | 93.0 | 50.6 | 631.1 |
| Le Fee | 56.0 | 29.5 | 498.5 |
| Gross | 42.0 | 13.8 | 428.5 |
Gross wins right here. As Brighton and Hove Albion’s essential set-piece taker, probability creation is his most blatant path to FPL factors.
The German created an try each 42 minutes and boasted the best cross accuracy (33.6%). The addition of aerial powerhouse and 2025 Bundesliga Goal of the Year winner Luka Vuskovic (£5.0m) is positive to up Gross’ enchantment even additional.
Le Fee’s significance in the Sunderland assault can’t be ignored, both. Last season, he registered six assists, which is on par with Gross, whereas Ndiaye arrange three objectives.
PENALTY-TAKING
This is the place issues get somewhat murkier for 2 of our candidates.
Back in March, whereas Le Fee was nonetheless on the pitch, midfield counterpart Habib Diarra (£5.5m) scored the successful spot-kick versus Leeds United. Afterwards, head coach Régis Le Bris revealed that they are going to “change [who takes the penalties] every game”.
However, that was the solely penalty Diarra took in the league, as a mix of accidents and Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) choice restricted him to only 15 top-flight begins. Le Fée scored three of 4 penalties, and looks like a protected wager in this occasion, even when Diarra often will get the nod.
Danny Welbeck’s (£6.0m) departure for Chelsea meant that Gross efficiently transformed from the spot in the recent friendly against Strasbourg. So penalties might be again on the menu for him. As the Seagulls’ most skilled outfield participant, one with seemingly much less competitors for the function, Gross has this enchantment to many FPL managers and at a lower cost.
Keep a watch out for the fly in the ointment that is Promise David (£6.0m), nevertheless.
The Toffees’ penalty-taking pecking order appears to be simple: Ndiaye has taken all 4 Premier League spot-kicks for Everton over the final two seasons.
Thierno Barry (£5.5m) stepped as much as rating from 12 yards in the pre-season pleasant towards Stuttgart – and Ndiaye was on the pitch at the time. A meaningless complication with it being a consequence-free kickabout? Probably, as Ndiaye then scored spot-kicks in the subsequent two friendlies!
ANY DEFCON POSSIBILITIES?
None of those three gamers is an Elliot Anderson (£6.5m) kind however Gross and Le Fee in specific will tick over with the odd return.
They have been each round the 20% mark for DefCon success price in 2025/26.
EUROPEAN FOOTBALL
One ultimate factor value observing is the affect of European fixtures on Le Fee and Gross’ gametime. Sunderland’s shock Europa League participation might be their first continental involvement for 53 years, so that they’ll be hoping to go away an impression.
Aged 26, Le Fee ought to have the functionality to play the majority of league and European matches. Yet the draw takes place after Gameweek 1’s deadline, so potential homeowners gained’t know what the schedule will appear to be in phrases of mileage.
As for Brighton, the first a part of their Conference League play-off tie was performed on Thursday, which means simply two full days of relaxation earlier than the opener towards Aston Villa. The second leg lies between that and Gameweek 2’s journey to Chelsea.
Carlos Baleba‘s (£5.0m) ankle injury has decreased Fabian Hurzeler’s central midfield choices, so Gross ought to hold beginning. The query is extra about whether or not the 35-year-old has the legs to carry out to his full potential in each competitions concurrently.
Ndiaye ought to profit from this example, on condition that Everton aren’t taking part in any European competitions.
FINAL THOUGHTS
All three of those gamers ought to characterize glorious worth for cash, and it’s clear why there’s a lot hype round them.
One of our articles compares final season’s factors with 2026/27’s costs, putting all of Gross (0.75), Le Fee (0.68) and Ndiaye (0.67) amongst the best midfielders for factors per million per match (PPMPM).
So, in case you’re on the lookout for constant involvement in FPL factors, you possibly can do far worse than choosing certainly one of these three.
The best candidate might come all the way down to your chip technique, however Ndiaye’s first six fixtures, outright penalty-taking function (quite than a share), open-play menace and lack of European involvement maybe give him the slight edge.
