The Hard Tackle lists options for you to replace Reece James and Kevin De Bruyne in FPL, with the duo set for long spells on the sidelines.
The 2022/23 season will resume this week when Gameweek 2 kicks off on Friday. The action gets underway with the match between Nottingham Forest and Sheffield United at City Ground. And FPL managers have another Friday deadline to look forward to, with only a few hours left for them to finalise their teams.
The Hard Tackle advised you on budget and differential picks in Gameweek 1. But this week, we bring you a different kind of column, with injuries starting to pile up. And we have seen two popular picks sustain long-term issues that will keep them on the sidelines for a few months.
Reece James and Kevin De Bruyne are out for the foreseeable future, with both players picking up hamstring injuries. In addition, managers will have to do without Jurrien Timber, who might have been a differential pick this season. But James and De Bruyne were popular picks, with the duo’s absence leaving many flustered.
Pep Guardiola has confirmed that De Bruyne will be unavailable for up to four months. On the other hand, James might be out for as long as six months after sustaining his hamstring issue against Liverpool last weekend. And without further ado, we present the best options to replace the two long-term absentees heading into Gameweek 2 of the FPL.
Reece James Replacements: Keep an eye on a teammate
If we get news that Reece James is out for a long period Malo Gusto (£4.0m) is an absolutely essential purchase for your FPL team. pic.twitter.com/7ZnDRG5ET1
— Odds On FPL (@OddsOnFPL) August 17, 2023
Replacing a defender priced at £5.5m should be straightforward, especially if you do not plan to get the expensive options like Trent Alexander-Arnold, Andrew Robertson, and Kieran Trippier into your FPL teams. While the three full-backs are attractive options, we will not advise their purchase for the next few weeks. And our list begins with James’s two Chelsea teammates.
Ben Chilwell was brilliant in Gameweek 1, often running rings around the Liverpool players. Starting as a winger, the English international ran riot while owning the left flank. And despite a bump in price to £5.6m, he is a worthwhile investment. But if you aim to go for a cheaper option, a £4.0m-priced Malo Gusto is your guy.
With James out for the foreseeable future, Gusto should see a lot of game time coming his way. And while he will not be as productive as Chilwell, the young Frenchman should be bang for the buck at just £4.0m. Now moving away from Chelsea, we have a slightly left-of-centre option for you.
Emerson Royal is not a name you would have expected from such a column. But the Brazilian is seemingly the first-choice right-back for Ange Postecoglou. And with Tottenham playing a brand of eye-catching football, Emerson should be in business this season. At just £4.5m, he can be a brilliant differential for managers.
Our final pick is William Saliba, who, at £5.1m, should be an enticing option for James owners to add money to their bank. And while the Frenchman is a centre-back, his ability to chip in with regular goal contributions makes him an attractive prospect.
Over 182,000 transfers in for Reece James this week. Ouch! pic.twitter.com/WAJ6vwMFPa
— Abdul Rehman (@FPL_Salah) August 17, 2023
Kevin De Bruyne Replacements: Time to go mid-priced?
If you want to replace Kevin De Bruyne, you can consider several options unless you do not have Mohamed Salah in your team. In that case, you might have to take a hit by downgrading elsewhere. But beyond Salah, we have many options to suggest. Bear in mind, we have not gone for the popular picks like Marcus Rashford and Bukayo Saka.
Our first pick is Gabriel Martinelli, currently in only 15.6% of the teams. And at just £8.0m, he can save you a lot of money while helping you divert the funds to more expensive signings elsewhere. Considering his output was similar to Saka and Martin Odegaard last season, the Brazilian should be a solid differential.
Next up on our list are two Liverpool midfielders, giving you alternatives to Salah. Luis Diaz (£7.6m) was on the scoresheet last weekend. And it looks like he will be in the thick of the action whenever he is on the pitch. The other option for managers is Diogo Jota (£8.0m), who might surprise a few managers. But with Jurgen Klopp playing a front four, the Portuguese international should feature prominently for Liverpool.
⚠️ No Kevin De Bruyne for a few months, #FPL managers
— Fantasy Premier League (@OfficialFPL) August 15, 2023
Tottenham might be one of the most eye-catching teams this season despite the departure of Harry Kane. And our next two picks come from the North London club. James Maddison had a brilliant debut against Brentford last week. And at £7.5m, he can be bang for your buck. Meanwhile, Son Heung-min (£9.0m) is Tottenham’s main man. And despite failing to score last weekend, he should be in business for much of the coming weeks.
We end our list with two options from mid-table clubs priced at just £6.5m. Eberechi Eze has a free role in the final third following the arrival of Jefferson Lerma. And without defensive responsibilities, he can be a pain to handle for the opposition’s defenders. Meanwhile, Bryan Mbeumo is now the main man for Brentford until January due to Ivan Toney’s betting ban. And after finding the back of the net last weekend, it is clear that he is on penalties, thus adding to his allure.
