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The new FPL season is nearly here, which means it is time for those final squad adjustments. If you are searching for value in midfield, these players are well worth a closer look.

We have picked out six budget midfielders, all priced at £6.5million or below, who should be on your radar for your FPL team this season.

At £6.5million, we are admittedly pushing the definition of a ‘budget’ pick, but Leeds United’s summer arrival simply had to be included alongside some cheaper alternatives. And this selection still would not put pressure on your budget in the way a Bruno Fernandes would.

Wilson finished seventh for total points among midfielders last season, ending up ahead of players such as Bukayo Saka and Bryan Mbeumo, while costing significantly less than the names above him.

There is a case to be made that Wilson may already have hit his peak and could regress towards the mean, especially if you dig into his xG numbers.

But when you factor in Wilson’s set-piece delivery, Leeds United’s side full of 6ft giants, and their existing strength from dead-ball situations last season, the picture becomes very appealing. Only Arsenal scored more from set pieces last season, and that makes Wilson’s assist potential especially attractive.

The Argentine midfielder was outstanding for Aston Villa as they ended last season in strong form, particularly during their comfortable win in the Europa League final.

After being unfortunate to miss out on the World Cup, he has returned in pre-season with a point to prove and has looked like Villa’s standout player in their friendlies. Unai Emery is a big admirer, and he is expected to take on a bigger role after Morgan Rogers left in the summer.

There are no assurances that he will stay a regular throughout the entire season, but he is definitely one to think about from Gameweek 1. Villa’s opening fixtures are a mixed bag, although that Gameweek 3 away trip to Hull City has already stood out.

Last season, Elliot Anderson ranked as the fifth-highest midfielder despite not posting especially flashy attacking returns, with four goals and five assists.

Where he really stood out was DEFCON, or defensive contributions, producing exceptional numbers for blocks, tackles, clearances and interceptions.

The England international is still the same type of player, and that work without the ball will continue to be a major part of his game. However, with Manchester City under Enzo Maresca expected to dominate possession, his points in that area are likely to fall as a result. In that context, £6.5million feels expensive.

Really, the better question may be who will be this season’s Anderson. Brentford record signing Sangare looks a very strong contender. The Mali international made his name at Lens through his superb ball-winning ability, and he should collect strong DEFCON returns as he throws himself into ground duels.

Another defensive midfielder, there is a reason Florentino is priced at just £5.0million. Do not expect him to surge forward or offer much in the final third.

But if you want a bench option who can step in now and then and bring in modest returns, the Portuguese midfielder appears a fairly reliable choice. Last season for Burnley, he picked up defensive contribution points in 14 of his 25 starts.

Gary O’Neil’s Ipswich Town will have a major task on their hands to stay in the division, so Florentino should once again have plenty of dirty work to do.

We have taken a few punts in this list, with new signings, new roles and new managers all part of the thinking.

If you prefer a more cautious approach when it comes to FPL, which, if we are being honest, is often the smarter path to success, then Garner could be the safer play. He is the sort of player where you know exactly what you are getting: same manager, same team, same role.

The 25-year-old Everton midfielder amassed 159 points in total last season, which makes his £6.0million price tag look like excellent value on paper.

Unfortunately, a groin injury has ruled him out of pre-season, and he is not expected to start Everton’s relatively kind opening match at home against Crystal Palace.

However, he is not expected to be sidelined for too long, and he should go straight back into David Moyes’ line-up once he is fully fit and available again.

The Manchester United midfielder collected 73 FPL points last season.

That is a fairly modest total, leaving him behind dozens of players you would hardly ever consider, including Emile Smith Rowe, Noah Sadiki, Jordan Henderson and Curtis Jones, to name only a few.

But 73 points is not actually bad when you remember that he was frozen out by Ruben Amorim and did not start a league match until mid-January. If you project his average across a full season, he would rank among the higher-scoring budget central midfield options.

Mainoo does not deliver spectacular output, having managed only one goal and two assists last season, and that is unlikely to change given his role and profile.

Still, if you are looking for something a little more left-field, he could be a reasonably useful FPL option because of his bonus-point potential and defensive contribution numbers.