Yaya Toure (Manchester City)
Perhaps another player who could not exactly be categorised as an out-and-out defensive midfielder, Yaya Toure certainly fits the bill as a superb all-rounder, using his physique and defensive ability to good effect in the middle of the park, but also using his terrific technique and skill to join in the attack. Toure is quite simply one of the best box-to-box players in the world at the moment, and has a bit of everything to his game. He often starts alongside Fernandinho as one of Manchester City’s more deep-lying players, and certainly seems a contender for best defensive midfielder in the Premier League at the moment, even if he’d also fare well as the best attacking midfielder.