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Jonathan White

The Fantasy Premier League season is almost upon us and that means the virtual transfer window is open for budding managers to sort out their squads.
Many of last season’s highest scorers have prices to match their pedigree and are proving popular as proven Premier League players.
Key to getting in as many stars as you can afford with your 100 million budget is who else you bring in to supplement the firepower.
There will be compromise, so which players free up the most budget while still offering value?
Fantasy Premier League: bargain goalkeepers and defenders
Here are the midfielders and forwards that we think make the most sense to pad out your squad for the season.
Some might even rise in value over the season so you’ll do well to get in early on.

There was certainly a downpour of goals in July! ☔️

⚽️ @XylemInc
#ManCity | https://t.co/axa0klD5re pic.twitter.com/es6TpRXzcE
— Manchester City (@ManCity) August 26, 2020

Phil Foden – Manchester City (6.5m) – midfielder
OK, so he might lose his place to Lionel Messi if the Argentine does indeed reunite with Pep Guardiola at Manchester City, but the highly rated Foden, who has long been heralded as the future heartbeat of club and country still offers value. He proved himself in the FPL after lockdown and no matter who arrives he will feature more this season.

Elsewhere...

We ran out as 5-1 winners at Adams Park with @jarrodbowen_ and @manulanzini and @ArthurMasuaku bagging goals! ⚡️ pic.twitter.com/JWghOVNSBa
— West Ham United (@WestHam) August 25, 2020

Jarrod Bowen – West Ham United (£6.5m) – midfielder
The West Ham winger is another player who kicked on post-lockdown, which was all the more impressive given he only arrived in East London in the winter window. The former Hull City flyer started 11 games for David Moyes and returned a goal and four assists.

Nicolas Pépé in the 2019/2020 Premier League [Arsenal squad rank]:

133 attempted take-ons [1st]
72 successful take-ons [1st]
66 shot-creating actions [1st]
40 chances created [1st]
6 assists [1st]
4.4 xA [1st]

Expect him to go up another level next season. pic.twitter.com/K72MxLkbGi
— Statman Dave (@StatmanDave) August 26, 2020

Nicolas Pepe – Arsenal (8m) – midfielder
The French winger arrived at Arsenal as the club’s record signing last summer and there were times when that fact looked to weigh him down. He picked up, though, and by the end of the season, as the Gunners went on to win the FA Cup, he was a key part of Mikel Arteta’s side on the opposite flank to top scorer Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (12m) with Alex Lacazette (8.5m) in the middle. He is the best value of the trio.

Congratulations on your first senior @England call-up, @MasonGreenwood! #MUFC pic.twitter.com/8UCyMhHckN
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) August 25, 2020

Mason Greenwood – Manchester United (£7.5m) – midfielder
The bargain buy of last season was the rarest of FPL finds, a 4.5 million player who picks up points. While there remains debate over his stronger foot, there is no debate that he made himself undroppable in his debut season, especially after football returned. Could suffer from “second season syndrome” but still offers value now his goals count for more having dropped to midfield in the game.

I will wake up ‍♂️ https://t.co/SKDWi1O23c
— Allan Saint-Maximin (@asaintmaximin) August 27, 2020

Allan Saint-Maximin – Newcastle United (5.5m) – midfielder
The winger was a constant threat in Steve Bruce’s blunt Newcastle side last season and comes in cheaper than his misfiring teammate Joelinton. Even better, ASM is registered as a midfielder in the game so his goals – three last season – are worth more and he offers up assists (if anyone can take them).

⚒

Czech out this absolute bargain! #FPL pic.twitter.com/6iPPKnu8LM
— West Ham United (@WestHam) August 14, 2020

Thomas Soucek – West Ham United (5.0m) – midfielder
No one ever recommends defensive midfielders in the game because not everything that is important to a team’s success in the real life sport translates to Fantasy. Soucek might be worth a punt as he is not shy when it comes to shooting. The Czech played every minute of the run-in and shot more than anyone for the Hammers outside of newly relocated centre forward Michail Antonio.

Whether it’s setting up goals or scoring them, @cpulisic_10's attacking prowess has long been a national treasure.

Before They Were Stars, presented by @Allstate pic.twitter.com/VVgkyZwV64
— U.S. Soccer MNT (@USMNT) July 22, 2020

Christian Pulisic – Chelsea (8.5m) – midfielder
The US international only played around half of the games last season for Chelsea but he still piled up 127 points and was close to double figures for both goals and assists in the Premier League. Yes, he is injured again but assuming he plays more this season the former Borussia Dortmund player looks set to be a game-changer for Frank Lampard.

SCOUT: Stuart Armstrong (£5.2m) has produced attacking returns in 4 out of 6 matches since the restart

Up next: BHA (h), BOU (a), SHU (h)

A good #FPL differential option for the run-in? pic.twitter.com/uTJHoIlO1b
— Fantasy Premier League (@OfficialFPL) July 13, 2020

Stuart Armstrong – Southampton (£5.5m) – midfielder
The Scotland midfielder burst into Ralph Hassenhuttl’s starting line-up in the second half of the season and kicked on further after the game returned from its coronavirus hiatus. He started 19 games in all with all but three of them in the last 21 games. Five goals came in that stint and he kept hitting the target, matching Kevin De Bruyne (£11.5m) and Sadio Mane (£12.0m) for shots on target. Room to improve based on that.


Fantasy Premier League: all you need to know, as Liverpool, Arsenal, City spend big

FPL: under pressure like Kevin Keegan, ‘I would love it’ if I beat my rivals

Fantasy Premier League: get Watkins, Villa players with Tottenham, Man United on horizon

Fantasy Premier League: time to buy Haaland as City face Saints in Gameweek 36

Fantasy Premier League (FPL)

Fantasy Premier League guide: bargain midfielders to help bolster your squad

Manchester City's Phil Foden showed his finest form after the coronavirus lockdown. Photo: Reuters

Fantasy League guide: bargain goalkeepers and defenders

Brighton's Lewis Dunk vies with Crystal Palace's Christian Benteke in the English Premier League. Photo: AFP

Fantasy League guide: Leeds United, Fulham and West Brom present bargains for your FPL side

Could Fulham’s Aleksandar Mitrovic provide a bargain points boost to your FPL side this coming season? Photo: Reuters

Fantasy League guide: these FPL players will have new positions this season

Manchester United's Mason Greenwood celebrates a goal. He has switched from forward to midfield ahead of the new Fantasy Premier League season. Photo: EPA

Fantasy League 2020-21: how to play FPL, rules, how to score points

Liverpool’s Jordan Henderson lifts the English Premier League trophy but who will win the Fantasy Premier League? Photo: Reuters

Racist Raheem Sterling comment sees Fantasy Premier League winner stripped

A comment about Manchester City's Raheem Sterling has seen this season’s Fantasy Premier League winner stripped of his title. Photo: Reuters

Sport

Football


New positions and post-lockdown form suggest there is value in Mason Greenwood, Phil Foden and Michail Antonio
Even price hikes and mid-range players offer chance for big points returns, as Chelsea’s Christian Pulisic and Arsenal’s Nicolas Pepe suggest



New positions and post-lockdown form suggest there is value in Mason Greenwood, Phil Foden and Michail Antonio, while even mid-range players offer chance for big points returns, as Chelsea’s Christian Pulisic and Arsenal’s Nicolas Pepe suggest.
