The 2019/20 season is just around the corner, so now is the time to piece together your Fantasy Premier League team.
As the season starts afresh, you are given £100million to spend on your squad of 15 players – but it’s not just a simple case of picking the best ones.
Your bench is equally as important as your starting XI; finding cheap, value for money purchases will give you the platform to succeed over the course of a long season.
Injuries and suspensions are frustrating, so being equipped and prepared for those is important.
Want to find out the best bargains for your Fantasy Premier League team this season? Look no further…
Matthew Ryan (Brighton) – £4.5m
Although Ryan only kept six clean sheets last season, Brighton will be hopeful of bouncing back and improving on last year’s disappointing season. Graham Potter will be desperate to get off to a good start managing his new club, and his priority will be keeping clean sheets and setting his team up to avoid defeat.
A defensive set-up is expected, and this will help with the points Ryan will accumulate, whether that be through saves or clean sheets.
Lukasz Fabianski (West Ham) – £5m
Fabianski made the most saves in the Premier League last season and the Hammers are recruiting well again this summer.
West Ham signed three defenders last season, all of whom are regular starters in the side, and with the players more familiar with the speed of the Premier League, you can expect to see more clean sheets this coming season.
Rui Patricio (Wolves) – £5m
Wolves’ goalkeeper surprisingly only kept eight clean sheets last season. However, this side will now be accustomed to life in the Premier League and will be aware of the quality on display going forwards.
Coming off the back of a phenomenal campaign, Nuno Espirito Santo will be focusing on solidifying his back five to improve on their seventh placed finish.
Ryan Fredericks (West Ham) – £4.5m
After an injury-hit first season in the Premier League, Fredericks has been extremely undervalued at £4.5m. Given Manuel Pellegrini’s attacking intent and philosophy, coinciding with Fredericks’ pace and danger going forwards, it is a steal of a purchase.
Even if he makes up your bench, I would label him as one of the bargains of the season at just £4.5m, which could also free up extra cash for other players.
Max Aarons (Norwich City) – £4.5m
This is a gamble on a newly-promoted player. However, given Norwich City’s attacking philosophy and the style of football they play, Aarons could be a real coup.
You can find excellent value when looking at the promoted teams, and I believe this is one of them. The young left-back will be keen to impress on his first Premier League season, and I feel he will have a great season.
Patrick van Aanholt (Crystal Palace) – £5.5m
The Crystal Palace left-back racked up the points last season, accumulating a total of 140. Van Aanholt registered three goals and two assists in the 2018/19 campaign, and with the departure of Aaron Wan-Bissaka to Manchester United, you can expect those figures to rise this season.
Roy Hodgson is a manager who plays counter-attacking football, and that was reflected in the 12 clean sheets Crystal Palace kept last season. This player looks great value.
Ben Chilwell (Leicester City) – £5.5m
Chilwell accumulated a respectable 118 points last season, and under further guidance of Brendan Rodgers, that tally will inevitably rise for this forthcoming campaign.
The Foxes look like a team to watch for next season, and Rodgers is all about attacking football. The left-back may not get you the points you want from clean sheets, but his attacking capabilities makes him a real bargain.
Matt Ritchie (Newcastle United) – £5.5m
Under the leadership of Rafa Benitez, Ritchie was converted into a wing-back to suit the style of the Spanish manager. However, he has since departed, yet the recognised winger is listed as a defender.
Essentially, you can get an attacking player, who I must add is one of Newcastle’s better players, in a defensive position for your squad. Again, a great option for your bench to boost points or replace an injured player.
Ilkay Gundogan (Manchester City) – £5.5m
The German midfielder will likely get more game time next season, especially given that Fernandinho isn’t getting any younger. Gundogan registered six goals and three assists last season, and given Manchester City’s firepower and relentless nature, £5.5m for one of their midfielders is a steal.
With Champions League the target next season for Pep Guardiola, Gundogan will be sure to play more minutes in the Premier League as Fernandinho will be used for European nights.
Roberto Pereyra (Watford) – £6m
The Watford midfielder registered six goals and four assists last season in the Premier League. However, given the Hornets’ success in the F.A Cup where they reached the final, focus was turned away from the league campaign.
This season, it is unlikely they will be strained in as many cup competitions, and this should allow Pereyra to flourish and improve his numbers from last season.
Harvey Barnes (Leicester City) – £6m
The talented youngster was recalled from his loan spell at West Bromwich Albion mid-way through last season, and it somewhat disrupted his football.
However, he looks an exciting talent and Rodgers will be keen to utilise his pace and attacking threat. This could be a great season for Barnes and will relish playing under Rodgers’ attacking mentality.
Mason Mount (Chelsea) – £6m
Mount was a key figure for Derby County in the Championship last season – netting eight times and chipping in with five assists in 35 league appearances – and he continues to play under Frank Lampard’s leadership with Chelsea.
The departure of Eden Hazard coupled with the Blues’ transfer ban this summer forces Lampard to bleed youth into his plans; Mount is strongly admired by the manager and he will have a key role for the forthcoming season. £6m is cheap for a player who is likely to be an influential character for a top-six side.
Emil Buendia (Norwich City) – £6m
The Argentine registered eight goals and 12 assists last season in the Championship, but with his quality, there is no reason he cannot produce similar numbers in the Premier League this season.
At just £6m, it looks worth the gamble and could be a fantastic player to have on your bench. As previously mentioned, it is more than just having a strong starting line-up, the bench should also be a key part of your planning process.
Ayoze Perez (Leicester City) – £6.5m
Perez had an excellent finish to his 2018/19 Premier League season. The Spanish forward has switched to Leicester City this summer for £30m, and with the creativity they have behind him, it’s a great purchase.
Labelled as a midfielder, Perez often plays as a forward and, although a little more expensive, is still a bargain. He will score you goals, and it looks a sneaky coup for Fantasy Premier League players.
Danny Ings (Southampton) – £6m
Ings has been riddled with injuries over the past few years, and it’s safe to say his switch to Liverpool didn’t exactly go according to plan.
However, he has moved to Southampton on a permanent deal, and could be the striker the Saints have been crying out for. At 26-years-old, we could see him hit his peak, and when Ings in firing, he fires on all cylinders.
Diogo Jota (Wolves) – £6.5m
The Portuguese forward had an excellent first season in the Premier League, scoring nine goals, accompanied with eight assists. At just 22-years-old, he is not even close to his peak, and will improve and adapt as each year passes.
Jota accumulated 139 points last season, and when you compare that to Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s 205 points, it’s a cheaper, but worthwhile alternative to the highly-priced players.
Gerard Deulofeu (Watford) – £6.5m
Watford endured a lot of success last season, and Deulofeu is responsible for large amounts of that success. The Spanish forward scored 10 goals and registered five assists last season – relishing a more attacking, striker role.
Javi Gracia plays two strikers, with Deulofeu given more freedom to attack, rather than have the defensive duties a winger has, so expect another high-scoring season from the Spaniard.
Teemu Pukki (Norwich City) – £6.5m
Pukki scored 29 goals and registered 10 assists in the Championship last season. The Canaries have a prolific goal scorer in their side, and with numbers like those, you cannot help but notice him.
He is 29-years-old, but he has demonstrated that he will score you goals, and I see no reason why that will change this season. A gamble worth taking.
Olivier Giroud (Chelsea) – £7m
Due to Chelsea’s transfer ban, it looks like Giroud will be their main striker next season. The Frenchman only started a handful of games in the 2018/19 Premier League campaign, but with a run of games under his belt, everyone knows how prolific he can be.
There is a reason Giroud finished top goalscorer in the Europa League with 11 goals last season, and if he gets regular starts for Chelsea, he will score them in the Premier League, too. To get a striker from a side in the top six for £7m is extremely rare, so this is certainly a bargain.
Sebastien Haller (West Ham) – £7.5m
The France striker will undertake his debut Premier League season and, even at £7.5m, he is undervalued. Haller joins the Hammers as their club-record signing (£45m) and brings the goals with him – netting 20 times last season for Eintracht Frankfurt.
With the attacking talent of Felipe Anderson, Pablo Fornals and Manuel Lanzini creating chances for the 25-year-old, we can expect to see a plethora of goals in his first season at London Stadium.