FPL Tips for Gameweek 10: Wildcard value picks

The Hard Tackle lists seven value-for-money targets for your wildcard teams in FPL as we approach Gameweek 10.

The 2023/24 Premier League season will continue this week with Gameweek 10. This time around, the round of fixtures kicks off with a Friday night match, with Crystal Palace welcoming Tottenham Hotspur to Selhurst Park. So, FPL managers will be in overdrive to get their teams in the right shape ahead of Friday’s deadline.

We are a quarter of the way through the 2023/24 season. While many managers have already played their wildcards, the period between Gameweek 8 and Gameweek 12 is usually the prime time for most managers engaging in wholesale changes.

While popular picks like Son Heung-min, Mohamed Salah, Julian Alvarez, and Ollie Watkins will invariably feature in most teams, FPL managers will also be eager to look for value-for-money targets to find the right balance between cost-effective and expensive options.

As we head into Gameweek 10 and beyond, cheaper picks who are consistent become more apparent. With that in mind, The Hard Tackle offers a list of seven players who can be value-for-money additions to your FPL teams in the coming rounds.

Sam Johnstone (£4.5)

Alphonse Areola and Matt Turner have been the go-to goalkeeping picks for FPL managers this season, considering they started the season at £4.0. Both goalkeepers have witnessed well-deserved rises in their values since the season started. But we have instead gone for a shot-stopper who has gone under the radar. We are talking about Sam Johnstone.

The Englishman was seemingly under threat as a regular starter for Crystal Palace after they signed Dean Henderson. But Johnstone has retained his spot ahead of his compatriot with several top-class performances. However, he remains underappreciated among Palace’s defensive picks.

With Joachim Andersen scoring a few goals, FPL managers have preferred the Dane ahead of any other Crystal Palace defensive option. But Johnstone has racked up the third-highest points among goalkeepers, more than popular picks like Areola and Turner.

In addition, no goalkeeper has kept more clean sheets this season than Johnstone. Meanwhile, his save percentage is among the highest in the Premier League, giving him high save-point potential. So, considering his appealing fixture run, one can back him to usurp Guglielmo Vicario, with the Italian only three points ahead.

Kostas Tsimikas (£4.5)

Our first pick among the defenders is a player who has benefitted from a long-term injury to his teammate. We are talking about Kostas Tsimikas, who has seen a rise in ownership in the last ten days.

The Greek international looked set for another season in the FPL wilderness, with Andrew Robertson being one of the first names on the team sheet for Jurgen Klopp. But an untimely shoulder injury has ruled the Scottish international, who has undergone surgery, out of action for over two months.

Tsimikas has benefitted enormously from the mishap, with his ownership trebling in the past week. The timing could not have been better, with Liverpool having a favourable run of fixtures coming up. Interestingly, Tsimikas also featured in our column last week for the best options to replace Robertson.

Gabriel Magalhaes (£4.7)

Our pick of the defender ends with a candidate who was popular at the start of the season before witnessing a mass sale. We are talking about Gabriel Magalhaes, who has become a mainstay at the back for Arsenal.

The Brazilian international was one of the most popular defensive picks before the season began, with over 2.5 million FPL manager picking him in their teams. That number has halved since then, with failure to start the first three games sending punters into panic mode.

However, Gabriel has started the last six games for Arsenal, becoming a regular again for the North London club. With the Gunners facing a decently appealing fixture run and with Newcastle United experiencing a turn for the worse, it makes sense for you to bring in someone like Gabriel, who at £4.7, can offer you enormous value for money.

Pedro Neto (£5.8)

Moving into the midfield department, we have our next pick. Here is a player who has overcome injury woes to become one of the most highly-coveted wingers in the transfer market. We are talking about Pedro Neto.

The Portuguese international was highly rated during his days as a youth footballer after taking age-group football by storm as a teenager. But Neto has not translated that into sustained success at the club level, with the style of play at Wolverhampton Wanderers not being the ideal foil.

However, the 23-year-old has shown why pundits and fans revered him many years ago with his performances in the early days of the 2023/24 season. That has paved the way for high-profile clubs like Arsenal and Liverpool to show interest in him. Meanwhile, at just £5.8, he can be an attractive pick for your FPL teams if you are looking for a fourth or fifth midfielder.

Cole Palmer (£5.0)

Staying with the midfielders, we pick a player who turns out for a team that has not necessarily set the stage alight with a high offensive output in the last 12 months. But his arrival has suggested a change in fortunes. We are talking about Cole Palmer.

The English prospect joined Chelsea from Manchester City on Deadline Day of the summer transfer window. But the signing did not excite many despite his undoubted potential, with many questioning why Chelsea shelled out nearly £50 million to sign an unproven youngster instead of splashing that cash on a striker.

But six weeks since his arrival at Stamford Bridge, Palmer has started proving his worth for Chelsea. The 21-year-old has scored in back-to-back games and seems to be Chelsea’s designated penalty taker. Considering he is already a first-choice attacker, a price tag of £5.0 makes him an appealing prospect for FPL managers who want to make ends meet and add a solid fifth midfielder to their squads.

Anthony Gordon (£5.6)

From one promising Englishman to another, we move from the southern part of England to the North for our third and final midfield pick. We are talking about Anthony Gordon, who has finally started showing why Newcastle United spent heavily to prise him away from Everton in January.

Many were scratching their heads when Newcastle United shelled out £45 million to sign Gordon. He was also a target for Chelsea in the 2022 summer transfer window before a move failed to materialise. The doubts grew stronger after Gordon struggled to hit the ground running at St. James’ Park last season.

But the 22-year-old has been sensational at the start of the 2023/24 season, easing the goalscoring burden on Callum Wilson and Alexander Isak. His directness also gives him assist potential.

Gordon has already scored thrice and provided four assists, helping him rack up the second-highest points tally for Newcastle United despite a one-match ban. So, at £5.6, he becomes a no-brainer to not just become the fourth midfielder but one of the first names on your team sheet.

Lyle Foster (£5.0)

Our list ends with a striker who might not be a popular pick amid the popularity of Julian Alvarez and Erling Haaland and the explosiveness of Ollie Watkins and Callum Wilson. But this player can be a dark horse if you have spent too much on defence and midfield. We are talking about Lyle Foster.

Foster has by far the most points for Burnley after scoring thrice in nine outings thus far. And with the Clarets playing most of their tough fixtures in the first half of the 2023/24 season, the South African striker might be in business to rack up big hauls week after week.

According to the Fixture Difficulty Rating, only two of Burnley’s next nine games exceed a score higher than 2. So, with Burnley’s upcoming run turning in the club’s favour, it might be wise to make Foster your under-the-radar signing and usurp the competition with clever haul.