Who should replace Nico González?
CM/CDMNewcastle United · 2025/26 · ranked by tactical + market fitNico González's profile ↗
Nico González is a central midfielder/defensive midfielder for Newcastle United in the Premier League, with 25 appearances in the 2025/26 season. For those seeking the best replacement for González, Mikel Merino from Arsenal, with a fit score of 80/100, stands out as a suitable option. Other notable alternatives include Carlos Baleba from Brighton & Hove Albion and Elliot Anderson from Manchester City, both of whom offer a tactical fit of 78 and 79 respectively.
Building your XI? Put Nico González in a lineup and get the whole team rated on real data.Build a lineup →Best replacements for Nico González
| # | Player | Club | Age | Value | Tactical | Overall |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mikel Merinosimilar↗ | Arsenal | 30 | €26m | 94 | 80 |
| 2 | Carlos Balebasimilar↗ | Brighton & Hove Albion | 22 | €53m | 93 | 78 |
| 3 | Thomas Parteysimilar↗ | Villarreal | 33 | €1.9m | 92 | 78 |
| 4 | Elliot Andersonsimilar↗ | Manchester City | 24 | €100m | 92 | 79 |
| 5 | Pierre Lees Melousimilar↗ | Paris FC | 33 | €4.2m | 91 | 79 |
| 6 | Mamadou Sangaresimilar↗ | Brentford | 24 | €39m | 91 | 79 |
| 7 | Mats Wieffersimilar↗ | Brighton & Hove Albion | 27 | €24m | 91 | 80 |
| 8 | Iñigo Ruiz de Galarretasimilar↗ | Athletic Club | 33 | €1.8m | 90 | 79 |
| 9 | Pape Gueyesimilar↗ | Villarreal | 27 | €39m | 90 | 79 |
| 10 | Yangel Herrerasimilar↗ | Real Sociedad | 28 | €5.6m | 90 | 79 |
| 11 | Declan Ricesimilar↗ | Arsenal | 27 | €114m | 90 | 78 |
| 12 | Rodrisimilar↗ | FC Barcelona | 30 | €50m | 89 | 79 |
* estimated market value · scores 0–100, league-strength adjusted · last 3 seasons
Why these players match Nico González
≈ 100% Nico González · strong: Duels won, Aerial duels won · low reliability
Strengths: Duels won /90, Aerial duels won /90, Possession won in att. third /90
≈ 100% Nico González · strong: Tackles + interceptions, Duels won · low reliability
Strengths: Tackles + interceptions /90, Duels won /90, Possession won in att. third /90
≈ 100% Nico González · strong: Tackles + interceptions, Touches · low reliability
Strengths: Tackles + interceptions /90, Touches /90, Accurate final-third passes /90
FAQ
Who is the best replacement for Nico González?
By Doppel's tactical-fit score, Mikel Merino (Arsenal) does the closest job to Nico González, at 94/100 on profile. Carlos Baleba and Thomas Partey follow.
Is there a cheaper player who can replace Nico González?
Yes — Iñigo Ruiz de Galarreta (Athletic Club) plays a similar central midfielder role at roughly €1.8m, a 79/100 match.
How does Doppel find replacements for Nico González?
Doppel learns Nico González's role profile from his 2025/26 season and ranks central midfielders across the big-5 leagues and more by how closely they do the same job, adjusted for league strength.
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