THT FPL Top Budget Buy Recommendations: Gameweek 23

The Hard Tackle lists the five best budget buys to consider to bring into your team heading into FPL Gameweek 23 of the 2025/26 season.

Gameweek 23 in FPL brings some tasty match-ups where smart managers can grab cheap players ready to rack up points. With tight budgets, picking defenders, midfielders, and forwards who face shaky opponents makes all the difference in climbing those mini-leagues. These guys are under £6.5m, own low percentages, and their teams have juicy fixtures ahead.

Think about it. Aquads fighting relegation or leaking goals give your punt a real shot at hauls. Manchester United travel to Arsenal, Sunderland take on West Ham United, Fulham welcome Brighton & Hove Albion, Chelsea visit Crystal Palace, and Leeds United face Everton. Each of our budget buy recommendations has form behind them, plus opponent flaws that scream opportunity.

There is no need for big-money stars when these lads deliver clean sheets, goals, or assists without breaking the bank. Managers scraping by on free transfers will love how they fit any squad. Recent runs show they are not flashes in the pan but reliable picks for the long haul.

Stick around as we break down why Patrick Dorgu, Nordi Mukiele, Harry Wilson, Enzo Fernandez, and Dominic Calvert-Lewin top the list. Their prices, points history, and fixtures make them no-brainers for Gameweek 23 transfers.

Patrick Dorgu: The versatile prospect

Manchester United defender Patrick Dorgu stands out as a prime budget enabler heading into Gameweek 23. At £4.3m, he offers massive value against an Arsenal side that has shown cracks at the back lately, shipping goals in key games despite their top-of-the-table push. Dorgu’s ability to pop up as a winger adds attacking threat, turning defensive solidity into bonus points and maybe more.

His season highlights include that strike against Manchester City recently, where he bagged a goal playing out wide. Points hauls have spiked, and he has produced double digits in recent outings, with clean sheet potential despite Manchester United’s leaky run. Playing higher up exploits Arsenal’s full-back woes, and at that price, he is a steal for FPL managers needing defender upgrades without the premium tag.

Nordi Mukiele: Sunderland’s rock

Sunderland’s Nordi Mukiele screams clean sheet points against West Ham United, who have struggled and fired blanks up front all season. The Hammers’ toothless attack hands Mukiele, priced at £4.4m, a golden chance for defensive returns in a fixture Sunderland bosses at home. His every-present reliability since early in the season cements him as a set-and-forget option.

Mukiele piles on DECON points like clockwork, snagging bonuses regularly thanks to his no-nonsense defending. Recent history shows steady hauls in Sunderland’s solid backline, which sits third-fewest goals conceded league-wide. Overperforming xGA means more shutouts ahead, making this £4.4m defender a budget beast on current trajectory.

Harry Wilson: Fulham’s spark

Fulham midfielder Harry Wilson bounces back strong for Gameweek 23 versus Brighton & Hove Albion’s rollercoaster form. After a quiet spell, his explosion against Tottenham in Gameweek 13 signalled peak timing. Since then, the Welsh international has notched up five goals and five assists to become a mainstay for many FPL managers.

Brighton & Hove Albion’s slips open doors for Wilson’s creativity in a home setting where Fulham thrive. That massive haul has bumped his price to around £5.9m, but recent starts post-AFCON gaps keep him central. Points streak includes double digits multiple times lately, fitting perfectly as a budget midfielder who chips in goals and assists regulars. Against an inconsistent Brighton, expect more magic.

Enzo Fernandez: Chelsea’s advanced engine

Chelsea’s Enzo Fernandez will be eyeing Crystal Palace’s wobbly run at Selhurst Park this weekend. The South London club’s ups and downs leave gaps for Fernandez, at £6.5m, to boss midfield with his forward surges. Often pushed high, he blends creativity and shots for multi-way points in a winnable away day.

Season stats shine: 6 goals, 3 assists in heavy minutes, plus DECON hauls. Per 90, shots and big chances flow, with recent outings showcasing his captaincy potential. The Argentine’s price holds steady as a mid-table steal, making him ideal for GW23 against Crystal Palace’s soft underbelly.

Dominic Calvert-Lewin: Leeds United’s FPL go-to player

Leeds United’s Dominic Calvert-Lewin will hunt goals against Everton’s inconsistent backline at the Hill Dickinson Stadium. His last ten games scream form – 8 goals, 1 assist – turning him into a penalty-box menace. Everton’s unreliable defence plays right into Calvert-Lewin’s aerial power and finishing boot, and he will be eager to exact revenge against his former side.

At £6.0m, the Englishman is pure budget gold to exploit Everton’s shaky backline that still feeds counters. Breaking a long drought recently boosts confidence for double-digit hauls ahead. Meanwhile, Calvert-Lewin’s resonasbly low ownership of 14.0% makes him a budget differential with penalties in pocket for explosive hauls.

FPL Budget Transfer Recommendations at a Glance

Honourable Mentions

Keep an eye on these for deeper punts: Marc Guehi, Matty Cash, Joachim Andersen for defensive steel; James Garner, Iliman Ndiaye, Granit Xhaka to adjust the midfield combinations; Brian Brobbey and Mateus Mane up top for for bank and forget budget strikers.