If you can sign him, get Miguel Veloso. He's incredible, and my brother still uses him in the 2014 season, when he bought him in the first (08/09) season.
Yeah, Palacios is an incredible player too in that role. The guy is a workhorse in real life, and on the game, and you can set him to close down the whole pitch and he'll still have stamina to burn.
Veloso/Palacios probably my favourites in the DM position.
u know morgan schneiderlin from southhampton is a great player is a great holding mid and after a few seasons his stats are class, held the CM/DM spot in my league winning reading side for the 5 seasons
id suggest veloso tbh, i bought him in first season and had to fend of arsenal offering around 30mil for him. Altho now his form is terrible and id love 30m for him :L good player tho