The Hard Tackle lists the best options for you to consider to replace Pervis Estupinan in your FPL teams, with the Saturday cut-off point fast approaching.
The 2023/24 Premier League season will continue this weekend with Gameweek 8. The action will get underway at Kenilworth Road, where Luton Town and Tottenham Hotspur will lock horns. And FPL managers will frantically look to finalise their teams ahead of the deadline, an hour and a half before the lunchtime kick-off.
The latest conundrum plaguing a lot of FPL teams is the Pervis Estupinan situation. The Ecuadorian full-back is in 54.2% of the Fantasy Premier League teams, meaning a lot of managers are in trouble. And unless they want to want to keep him on the bench until he is fit, they will be scouring the market for a replacement.
Many might have already been considering replacing Estupinan following Brighton & Hove Albion’s 6-1 defeat against Aston Villa. Such is the intense knee-jerking in FPL that a loss of that magnitude would have swayed several managers.
But for those who had decided to keep Estupinan in their teams, the news of his injury comes as a blow. With that in mind, The Hard Tackle lists five candidates to consider to replace the Brighton full-back ahead of Saturday’s deadline for Gameweek 8.
Kieran Trippier (£6.8)
And just like that, the curse is lifted 😮💨
Kieran Trippier registers an early assist in #NEWBUR 👟 https://t.co/5pa08AzlZT
— Fantasy Premier League (@OfficialFPL) September 30, 2023
The first option on our list is Kieran Trippier, who has finally found peak form in the last few games. The veteran English full-back had blown hot and cold in the last few months of the 2023/24 season. In addition, the first couple of games of the new campaign also brought similar performances.
But Trippier has turned it around in the last few games, managing hauls of 8, 12, and 18 points in Gameweeks 5-7. In addition, he was on song as Newcastle United handed a 4-1 chastening to Paris Saint-Germain earlier this week. So, Trippier is an automatic candidate to come into your teams.
Apart from being the creative supremo for Newcastle United, the 33-year-old is a bonus magnet, adding to his allure. So, budget permitting, FPL managers should look to draft Trippier into their teams to replace Estupinan.
Ben White (£5.5)
Ben White will go down as an #Arsenal cult hero. One of those players who rarely drops below a 7/10, has incredible technical security, defensive stability and athletic ability, yet no one outside the club gets it. Every club needs that guy. #afc pic.twitter.com/MfVffcRzKy
— Adam Keys (@adamkeys_) October 2, 2023
The next name on our list is a player who has grown in stature in the Fantasy Premier League since joining Arsenal. His price tag of £4.5 was enticing last season, making him one of the most popular picks. But a hike to £5.5 has not dampened the spirits of the managers. We are, of course, talking about Ben White.
The English international is still a differential of sorts, considering he is in 10.3% of the teams. And while Arsenal will take on Manchester City in Gameweek 8, White, who might soon start a new contract with the Gunners, can be a long-term addition to your squads.
Arsenal’s fixtures will improve considerably after Gameweek 8, meaning White can give you solid returns for the foreseeable future. While attacking returns will come few and far between, you can bank on the Gunners to help give you clean sheet points.
Matty Cash (£4.9)
📈🔥Matty Cash Rank among Defenders this season:
Shots inside the Box- 1st
Big Chances- 1st
xG- 1st
xGI- 1st
Goals- 1stWith Chilwell & Estupinan out injured Cash should be a easy transfer in ahead of this fixture run if you don't own him yet✅#FPL #FPLCommunity pic.twitter.com/Eec0u9ZH9K
— ALLABOUTFPL (@allaboutfpl) October 4, 2023
Our list continues with an in-form full-back who can achieve high peaks throughout the season. He has already shown what he is capable of in some eye-catching performances. We are talking about Aston Villa defender Matty Cash.
A defender who can give consistent attacking returns with a price below £4.9 is like gold dust. That makes Cash one of the most eligible candidates to replace Estupinan if he is not already in your teams. In addition, with Aston Villa looking solid at the back, investing in a defender from the Midlands clubs will be sensible.
The Polish international has come up with a haul in four of the seven rounds of fixtures thus far. He also showed what he can do at his best with a 17-point haul early in the season. So, what are you waiting for? Get Matty Cash in your teams right away.
Dan Burn (£4.6)
Dan Burn is also on the rise ↗️@NUFC have kept three consecutive clean sheets, and Burn has played 90 minutes in all of those games… pic.twitter.com/NFhKcHab2n
— Fantasy Premier League (@OfficialFPL) October 4, 2023
Our penultimate pick is another sub-£5.0-priced candidate if you do not have funds to spare. And it should not be surprising that this player comes from the team with the best defence. We are talking about Dan Burn.
With a price of just £4.6, the lanky defender offers ridiculous value for money. Sure, he will hardly give you attacking returns as he tends to remain in the defensive third for most of the game. But Newcastle United will likely keep more clean sheets than any other team. So, at £4.6, he becomes an attractive option to give you consistent six-pointers.
Andrew Robertson (£6.6)
The final pick on our list is another offensive-minded full-back who can give you high peaks. But he might not be as attractive as Kieran Trippier, although he can save you £0.2 if you are dealing with small margins with your budget. We are talking about Andrew Robertson.
The Scotsman is not the offensive beast of the past but tends to be there or thereabouts to join Liverpool’s attackers in the final third. He has also had one 11-point haul when he scored against Wolverhampton Wanderers. And with Liverpool gradually improving on the defensive front, he can be a dark horse.
Robertson is in just 6.8% of the teams, making him a reasonably attractive differential amid Liverpool’s improving fixtures. So, the 29-year-old is one to keep an eye out for heading into Gameweek 8.
