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The series is back for FIFA 15! In these articles I look at the best cheap, high potential players in FIFA 15, with tonight’s post focusing on central midfielders. I’ll go through a few recommendations, then show you the full list of top quality players afterwards. For a full run down of how I choose the players and what the different columns in the table mean, click on “What are these articles all about?” below.

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The articles in this series should give you some ideas if you’re looking for a new signing in a key area. There is one article for each position on the pitch to make it easy for you to quickly find players to bolster your squad.

All of the players given here have a minimum potential of 80, so you know you’re getting quality. The maximum OVR for each player is 73, both to keep transfer prices down and to avoid presenting you with too many options and thus making it too difficult to choose the player you need.

The ‘Avai?’ column is short for ‘available?’ and refers both to whether or not you can buy the specified player at the start of the first season and how long their current contract is. Let’s take Y/2 as an example – Y means that yes, you can buy him at the start of a new career, and the number means he has two years left on his contract. Similarly, N/3 would mean that no, you can’t buy the player straight away, and he has three years left on his contract. These ‘no’ players are often available for transfer if you wait until the January transfer window, however. For some players this column is blank – this means that they are out on loan at the start and are therefore unavailable for purchase until the second season.

Initial player costs may seem very low this year. The figure in the player cost column refers to the price you are given if you scout the player. But I’ve also added a new column this time round – ‘They want’. This refers to the price the other team want for the player if you enquire about him. Often there is a large difference between the player cost obtained through scouting and that obtained through an enquiry. This leaves a lot of room for negotiation, so don’t be put off if a price in the ‘They want’ column is high, as you can usually get the player for much less. Try bidding lower than what you think will be accepted – you may be surprised at their response. If the ‘They want’ column is blank it’s because the team refused to give a price, either because the player has just joined them or because they are loaning him in.

And as a final note, in FIFA 14 EA update player OVRs and potentials every week. Mose of the time these are very minor changes, and most players won’t be affected at all unless they have had a very noteworthy week. Furthermore, some players occasionally disappear if they have been put in the reserve squad that week. So just bear in mind that these figures should be read as a guide only and not a definitive account of player costs, potentials, etc, for the entire season.[/expand]

Let’s have a look at tonight’s recommended central midfielders.

Youri Tielemans: potential 88

Youri Tielemans is one of the most promising players in the game and well worth the financial outlay

If you’re after quality and have the money to spend, Youri Tielemans is the obvious choice. With potential 88 he is going to become one of the best players in the game, and he is by far the best 17 year old in career mode. With a five star weak foot and the flair trait, he has the flexibility and trickery to become a serious asset to your squad.

But it’s not just his OVR and potential that make him so good. He is ridiculously well-balanced and can adapt to whatever role you want to play him in. His passing and dribbling are in the mid/upper 70s and will make him a real threat going forward. However, he can tackle as well, and so can combine this with his passing ability to make him into an accomplished deep-lying playmaker. He can even play on the wings, where his excellent crossing will come to good use.

All this quality comes at a price – RSC Anderlecht want £14.5m for him, and I got him for £10.2m (his wages are £8,000). But if you’ve got the funds and are looking out for the next big thing, he’s your man.

Tonny Vilhena: potential 84

Tonny Vilhena is ideal if you’re looking for a central midfielder with attacking ability

If you want a multi-talented central midfielder with an attacking streak, have a look at Tonny Vilhena. The man from Feyenoord has the whole gamut of attacking skills, from 72 finishing and 70 long shots to 72 dribbling and 72 crossing. He’s got decent pace but has a strength and toughness that will make him hard to knock off the ball. He also has superb vision and passing, and even his tackling isn’t bad. He is, in short, a player for any occasion.

And with 84 potential and 73 OVR at age 19, he’s got the ability to become very special indeed. However, high quality doesn’t have to break the bank – strangely, Feyenoord want just £5m for him. My first bid of £3.4m was accepted, so you may be able to get him for around £3m. His £20,000 wages aren’t expensive either, so you can get a fantastic bargain for an awesome all-rounder.

Adrien Rabiot: potential 83

Adrien Rabiot is strong enough to hold his own and has the vision to become a deadly playmaker

My next recommendation is Adrien Rabiot, and I chose him for a number of reasons. Firstly, he’s an ideal choice if you’re looking for a playmaker, as his passing is better than that of both Tielemans and Vilhena. He’s also very strong, which will enable him to shrug off challenges that smaller players couldn’t, thereby giving him more of a chance to complete a pass. This combination of vision and strength is rare in a central midfielder, so he’s one you should give serious consideration to.

Another reason I wanted to recommend him is his price. Thanks to his one year contract, PSG only ask for £3.5m for him. Bear in mind we’re talking about a player with 73 OVR and 83 potential, and he’s just 19 years old. I got him for £2.5m, so you don’t have to shell out much to get your hands on this strong, creative talent.

See below for the full list of cheap, high potential central midfielders in FIFA 15:

And don’t forget to connect with me on social media. I’ve just launched the FIFA Scouting Tips YouTube channel, and you can follow me on Facebook or Twitter for all the latest updates.