Player Focus: Five of the Best Box-to-Box Midfielders on a Budget

There have been some real eye-catching, big money moves in the central midfield department already this summer, with Europe's elite looking to recruit the ultimate all-round midfielder. The likes of Fernando and Ander Herrera have made moves to Manchester, Toni Kroos to Madrid and Sami Khedira is also expected to be heading for pastures new next season. With speculation regarding the futures of Arturo Vidal and Yaya Toure still persisting, it may not end there.

It's all well and good for the continent’s footballing super powers to splash the cash but what of those whose means are far more modest? Is there value out there on an all-action midfielder for less than what would be an entire transfer budget for most?

A look through last season's stats suggest that there may well be, though in some cases prospective buyers have already missed a trick. We've compiled a shortlist of players that impressed across the board statistically from midfield last season, filtered by a minimum number of tackles, interceptions, key passes, dribbles and shots per game. With the purpose of this mini scouting mission to highlight players that may be available to clubs with a tighter budget, defensive attributes have been favoured slightly.

Unsurprisingly, among the 12 players that emerged are a number of options that would prove too costly for the vast majority. Luka Modric and, perhaps unexpectedly, Andrea Pirlo crop up, along with Fernandinho - a hugely successful acquisition in City's title retrieval last season. Dortmund's Nuri Sahin continues to excel in the Bundesliga despite an unsuccessful spell with Liverpool, while Radja Nainggolan is another unlikely to be up for grabs having only recently joined Rudi Garcia's impressive Roma side.

Two players also emerged having spent last season out on loan, with Romulo and Tolga Cigerci sealing permanent moves to Verona and Hertha Berlin respectively. Both were able to perform their defensive and offensive duties admirably last season, with the former directly contributing to 14 goals for the newly promoted Serie A side, whilst also averaging 2.5 tackles and 1.3 interceptions per game to earn a rating of 7.18. Cigerci's rating of 7.30 from WhoScored.com was even more impressive and, at 22, he was sold for under £2m, proving that there is still value to be had in the current market.

While the aforementioned players may be unattainable, here are five very different alternatives as far as box-to-box midfielders are concerned that may well still be available.

Daniel Baier (Augsburg) - WhoScored.com rating 7.48

He may have just turned 30 but Daniel Baier's form shows little sign of deteriorating; quite the opposite in fact. Since sealing a permanent move to Augsburg the diminutive midfielder has missed just 2 of a possible 102 matches, both through suspension, with his rating from WhoScored.com increasing year on year (6.68 / 7.20 / 7.48). Baier is a very intelligent deep-lying midfielder, whose defensive attributes are invaluable to his side.

He reads the game extremely well, averaging 3.4 interceptions per game, and doesn't let his small stature hold him back, winning more than his share of aerial duels (64/110). With a further 3.5 tackles per game, Baier isn't just a sitting midfielder and can carry the ball himself from deep (1.9 dribbles per game). Having failed to score from 40 shots last season his finishing is certainly a weak point but with an average of 1.5 key passes and 61.4 total passes per game he is as close to a complete midfielder that you'll find in the Bundesliga.

Felipe Gutiérrez (Twente) - WhoScored.com rating 7.30

We certainly didn't get to see the best of Felipe Gutiérrez with Chile at the World Cup but, particularly when coming off the bench, he did match the high-energy demands of Jorge Sampaoli's side. At just 23 he is still very young but is maturing with age, developing the defensive side of his game a great deal and consequently dropping into a deeper role in midfield in Eredivisie, having joined Twente as an exciting attacking talent.

 Gutiérrez still has the natural ability in possession to beat a man though, with a trick or two up his sleeve and an agility that allows him to ride a challenge from opposition defenders. He averaged 1 dribble per game last season and 1.8 shots per game from midfield, heralding 3 goals and 3 assists. The Chilean is a very assured passer of the ball too; completing 87.6% of an impressive 62.1 passes per game, whilst also ranking in the top 10 in the Dutch league for tackles (3.2 per game) and averaging a highly commendable 2.4 interceptions to boot.

Lars Stindl (Hannover) - WhoScored.com rating 7.21

At 25 Lars Stindl is entering an important stage in his career, yet to come into his prime but having already proved his potential. What the German offers here over the rest is versatility. Having started in as many as 6 different positions last season however, 18 of his 31 appearances came in central positions in the midfield. He can play in advanced roles but also drop deeper if needs be, as well as playing on the right, and in turn is a real asset to Hannover.

Stindl is perhaps a little less defensively sound than some on this list but is still a willing runner and averaged 2.3 tackles and 1.5 interceptions per game last season. He was dribbled past all too often though (3 times per match on average) and his passing game could improve but Stindl is a good ball carrier, averaging 2.2 dribbles per game, and gets in support of attacks very well. He's by no means the finished article but is certainly worthy of interest from those in the market for a versatile and hardworking midfielder.

Vladimir Darida (Freiburg) - WhoScored.com rating 7.08

Having become Freiburg's record signing just last year Vladimir Darida's availability may be in question but it's worth noting that the sum was just €4m. At 23, he took time to adjust to the Bundesliga, moving from his native Czech Republic, despite netting an absolute screamer in only his second appearance from the club, coming on as a late substitute to score in a 3-0 win over Nurnberg.

Although he quickly cemented a place in the midfield for his new club it wasn't until March that he would directly contribute to another Bundesliga goal, but the manner in which he ended the season suggests he is well equipped to impress in the next. Darida registered 6 assists and scored a further 2 goals in his final 10 league appearances of the campaign, earning a superb rating of 7.63 in that time span. He's not just an attacking force though, and impressed more when dropped deeper in the midfield, with an average of 1.7 tackles and 1.3 interceptions impressive when considering he spent a decent portion of the season in advanced positions, including a spell up front.

Harry Arter (Bournemouth) - WhoScored.com rating 6.95

For those from England's top-flight looking to do their business in the lower leagues, Harry Arter may well have been on the radar. The 24-year-old, brother in law to England international Scott Parker, has one fairly obvious flaw. Like Parker he relishes a battle in the midfield but he is prone to going over the top with his challenges. He committed the most fouls per game for Bournemouth last season (1.6) and consequently had the worst disciplinary record (8 yellows, 1 red). Arter would not feature for the Cherries again after being sent off against QPR in April.

If he were able to control his temperament there may well be interested parties in the Premier League, as the midfielder has a solid all-round game. He scored 3 times and registered 4 assists in 31 appearances last season, averaged an impressive 2.6 tackles per game and also mustered 1.7 shots and 1.2 key passes on average over the course of the season. With a respectable 80% pass accuracy at Championship level, Arter is capable in possession but is likely to need to make the step up sooner rather than later in order to progress such figures.

Which central midfielders do you think could represent good value for money this summer? Let us know in the comments below