The Hard Tackle helps you prepare for the upcoming FPL double gameweek, suggesting budget options to add to your squad.
Ask any FPL regular, and most will point to the double gameweeks as the most exciting period of the season. These rounds of fixtures provide managers the opportunity to scale new heights in the campaign by leapfrogging others in the rankings.
Most importantly, it provides the chance to mix things up and utilise chips, which, in turn, help managers rise in the rankings. So, with the first double gameweek (DGW) of the 2023/24 season on the horizon, managers need to start preparing for the 25th round of fixtures in advance, considering they will want to get multiple players in their teams.
With that in mind, we are dedicating our column for this weekend to the budget picks. With that in mind, The Hard Tackle brings to you a list of four players you should target for your FPL teams heading into DGW 25. Some might serve you well this weekend, particularly the Luton Town players, with the Hatters taking on Sheffield United.
Alfie Doughty (£4.6m)
We begin our list with a player who has been one of the top performers for Luton Town this season. His output from the flanks has helped bring the best out of the attackers, who had been faltering in the initial weeks of the 2023/24 season before rediscovering their form. We are talking about Alfie Doughty.
The 24-year-old has been a revelation from both flanks, excelling as a right wing-back and a left wing-back. He has an excellent tally of one goal and seven assists thus far this term, with his creative output helping him scale the heights and rank among the top defenders in FPL this season.
Third-placed Oleksandr Zinchenko is only 13 points ahead, and Doughty can make up the gap with a few game-changing performances in the coming games. With Luton Town facing two vulnerable defensive units in as many games, it is worth backing the Englishman.
Neal Maupay (£4.9m)
Ivan Toney is back, and the spotlight is rightly on him after his return. But another Brentford striker has been delivering the goods in the last few weeks and deserves your attention. We are talking about Neal Maupay.
The 27-year-old took some time to get going at the Gtech Community Stadium after rejoining Brentford in the summer transfer window. While his overall tally of five goals and three assists might not inspire much confidence, it is worth noting that he has found the back of the net in his last three outings.
Toney’s return has helped Maupay, who has struck a solid partnership in the final third with the in-demand English striker. Meanwhile, with Brentford also playing in the black gameweek 26, it behoves managers looking for a budget striker to invest in him.
Elijah Adebayo (£4.9m)
We continue with the offensive theme, with Elijah Adebayo joining the list. With Luton Town being one of the most impressive teams in the Premier League in the last few weeks, it makes sense to back the Hatters’ assets, particularly a striker.
Adebayo has enjoyed an excellent debut season in the Premier League, scoring nine goals in 22 outings thus far. Five strikes have come in his last four outings, including a match-winning hat-trick against Brighton & Hove Albion last month.
That hat-trick made Adebayo the first Luton Town player to score a top-flight hat-trick since September 1990. With the Hatters facing vulnerable defensive units in their next two games, it is worth backing the 26-year-old to continue producing the goods in the final third.
Joe Gomez (£4.6m)
Our list ends with a somewhat risky pick. With Andrew Robertson back, Jurgen Klopp might install the experienced Scottish full-back as the first-choice left-back. But with the Liverpool manager easing Robertson back into the thick of the action, Joe Gomez might remain in the scheme of things.
Gomez will likely start as Virgil van Dijk’s central defensive partner in the game against Burnley this weekend. But DGW 25 might see him mixing up the roles, especially with Trent Alexander-Arnold also recovering from his recent fitness issues. So, it might be worthwhile to take a punt on Gomez if you do not have much funds to spare.
