The Hard Tackle looks at the best budget options to enable a better balance for your FPL teams ahead of Gameweek 1.
The 2023/24 season is nearly here, and fans are bracing themselves for Gameweek 1. While they will be eagerly looking forward to a potentially positive start to the campaign, managers of the Fantasy Premier League (FPL) will be making the finishing touches on their teams, hoping for a big haul.
But fitting all your desired players in your team is an impossible task due to the budget of £100.0m. So we cannot overstate the importance of cost-effective options enough. These players do not only come up clutch if anyone from the starting eleven does not play a single minute but also become enablers to purchase the more expensive candidates that go into most teams.
These are the Erling Haalands, Harry Kanes, Mohamed Salahs, and the other popular figures in FPL. So managers are constantly scouring the market for the cheapest options to become enablers and dark horses in their teams. With that in mind, The Hard Tackle now lists 10 players who you should have your sights set on heading into Friday’s deadline.
Matt Turner (£4.0m)
If Matt Turner goes to Nottingham Forest and they aren't looking to buy another goalkeeper then we have our £4.0m goalkeeper (as long as he moves before GW1!).
This is how he rotates with the popular £4.5m goalkeepers.
Green = playing the £4.5m GK. pic.twitter.com/6x5i9Ogqg8
— Andy (@LetsTalk_FPL) August 6, 2023
Nottingham Forest aimed to sign at least one goalkeeper heading into the 2023/24 season. But they have left it too late for the transfer to materialise. Nonetheless, the Tricky Trees have now landed the 29-year-old from Arsenal in a cut-price deal.
Priced at just £4.0m, the USMNT international can be your budget enabler in the goalkeeping department. Granted, Nottingham Forest will look to sign another goalkeeper this summer. But the former Arsenal shot-stopper can be a viable option for your squads at least until next month’s international break.
The punt might even become a stroke of genius if Nottingham Forest cannot sign another goalkeeper this summer. Alternatively, Alphonse Areola can be another £4.0-priced option to add to your goalkeeping ranks.
Jordan Beyer (£4.0m)
It is not often that FPL offers us multiple £4.0-priced defenders heading into the 2023/24 season. But you are in luck as each newly-promoted club will likely field such a player regularly in the upcoming campaign. As for Burnley, Jordan Beyer should be a mainstay at the back.
The Clarets were phenomenal at the back last season, conceding a league-low 35 goals in the EFL Championship. While Burnley will unlikely match such numbers in the upcoming campaign, they should boast of one of the most frugal defensive units in the bottom half. That makes Beyer a viable candidate to be a permanent option on your bench while the more expensive stars make hay.
Issa Kabore (£4.0m)
Best 3 Picks in every price point
🧱Defence
£4M
🥇Isaa Kabore (LUT)
✅No rotation risk. He will play as a WB.
❌Luton is the weakest team of the league.🥈Baldock (SHU)
✅1 Goal in pre season, 1 goals & 3 assits in Championship, Likely to play as WB.
Continue⤵️#FPL pic.twitter.com/vvcT4YbZHx
— Emon (@Emonhasan07) July 31, 2023
The next newly-promoted club under the scanner is Luton Town. And Issa Kabore is an attractive option to add to your squads ahead of Gameweek 1. The same logic applies as it did to Burnley, and the Hatters are not expected to be the most solid team in the upcoming season.
But Kabore is still an enticing option for managers, as he is an attacking full-back. So while Luton might be among the favourites for the drop, the 22-year-old might offer some haul with his exploits in the final third. So the Burkina Faso international is a player to keep an eye on.
George Baldock (£4.0m)
While Burnley and Luton Town have one budget defender each in their squads, Sheffield United might offer us two options. One of them is Birmingham City FC’s Player of the Season for 2022/23, Auston Trusty. And after arriving from Arsenal this month, he might settle into the Blades’ backline immediately. But we have picked George Baldock for your teams.
The 30-year-old has prior experience in the Premier League after making his mark for two seasons with Sheffield United before the club’s relegation two years ago. And he should be a mainstay in the South Yorkshire club’s backline in the 2023/24 season. So having the Englishman in your squad from the get-go should serve you well.
Pau Torres (£4.5m)
After three £4.0-priced options, we end our defensive list with a player who should take the Premier League by storm. We are talking about Pau Torres, who has joined the Villans from Villarreal in the ongoing transfer window.
The Spaniard was one of the best defenders in La Liga last term. And his addition should shore up the Aston Villa backline significantly. Considering the Villans were a hard team to beat last season, Torres should make them an even tougher opponent. That raises Aston Villa’s clean-sheet potential considerably.
Carney Chukwuemeka (£4.5m)
With the Nkunku injury news this is what I’d expect from Poch early on
FPL prices added
– Chukwuemeka I thought was brilliant in a 10, he should start there
– Mudryk the only player who should be playing LW
Chukwuemeka/Mudryk/Jackson ones to benefit the most from Nkunku’… pic.twitter.com/bWiMjAHL72
— FPL Reactions (Louis) (@FPLReaction) August 7, 2023
At first glance, you might be surprised to see Carney Chukwuemeka in our list of the best budget options for your squads. But we have a good reason to include the 19-year-old Chelsea prospect in our shortlist.
Christopher Nkunku was set to reprise the no. 10 role behind the central striker in Mauricio Pochettino’s team this season. But the Frenchman picked up a knee injury during the pre-season campaign, rendering him sidelined for at least a dozen weeks. That opens up a spot in the Chelsea attack. And that is where Chukwuemeka comes into the equation.
The former Aston Villa prodigy is best suited to reprise the no. 10 role. And with Chelsea yet to sign a midfielder who can be a regular, Chukwuemeka might become a mainstay in the team. So at £4.5m, the Chelsea prospect might be the most attractive budget option ahead of Gameweek 1.
Julio Enciso (£5.5m)
Our next midfield offering comes from Brighton & Hove Albion, who tend to produce such options season after season. And after giving us much joy through Lewis Dunk, Pervis Estupinan, Alexis Mac Allister, Pascal Gross, and Kaoru Mitoma over the years, a new candidate has emerged this term. We are talking about Julio Enciso.
Enciso rose to prominence during the final weeks of the 2022/23 season. And he showcased his tendency to score world-class goals from distance with aplomb. With Alexis Mac Allister moving to Liverpool, the no. 10 spot has opened up at the Amex Stadium. And with Mohammed Kudus yet to arrive, Enciso is nailed on as the first-choice option for the spot. So what are you waiting for?
Philip Billing (£5.5m)
For me, the second FPL forward slot alongside Haaland is down to two players.
Watkins 🦁 vs 🕊️ João Pedro
The decision should be: which player suits your team structure and strategy?
Watkins (£8.0) allows flexibility ✅
Pedro (£5.5) allows for greater spending in midfield ✅ pic.twitter.com/0RtjW9rqug
— FPL Mate (Dan) (@FPLMate) August 8, 2023
Our final midfield offering is a player who became a talismanic figure for Bournemouth as they warded off the relegation threat last season. And Philip Billing should be in business again this season, especially with a more attack-minded manager taking charge at the Vitality Stadium.
The Danish international chipped in with seven goals and two assists last season. And that happened when Bournemouth did not have a threatening style of play. So imagine what Billing can do under the tutelage of Andoni Iraola. And if you have started licking your lips, perhaps it is time for you to add Billing to your squad.
Joao Pedro (£5.5m)
Roberto De Zerbi has gradually become infamous for showing the Pep Guardiola syndrome. If you are hearing that term for the first time, you might be familiar with the phrase ‘Pep Roulette’ if you have been a regular FPL player in the last half a dozen years. And De Zerbi is showing similar tendencies. Nonetheless, Joao Pedro is an intriguing candidate for your teams.
The Brazilian striker is Brighton’s record signing. So he will fancy his chances of featuring prominently for the Seagulls in the 2023/24 season. With that in mind, he is an ideal candidate to have in your squads as the third forward, with his value likely to escalate as the season wears on.
Divin Mubama (£4.5m)
We end our list with another left-of-centre option for the FPL managers to consider. And at first sight, readers of this column might not be pleased reading the name Divin Mubama as a budget candidate. But hear us out, because at £4.5m, he is an intriguing consideration.
Gianluca Scamacca has left West Ham United to join Atalanta. Meanwhile, recent reports have linked Michail Antonio with a summer departure. So Danny Ings will be the only recognised striker in David Moyes’s squad. And with West Ham struggling to get signings over the line, Mubama might become a regular option off the bench for Moyes.
What’s more, Ings has a poor fitness record, meaning he might have spells on the sidelines. And Mubama owners might be in for a good haul of points if Ings picks up an injury. If not, the 18-year-old can be the permanent third sub in your squad. Either way, he is an intriguing prospect.
