Fantasy Football: The top 10 new Premier League signings on a budget
With the Premier League season fast approaching, fantasy football fanatics the world over are building their teams, looking to get the edge over their competitors and friends by finding that undervalued gem.
New signings are always among those that can represent a bargain, with no previous score to base their price upon, and we’ve picked ten that may be just that.
Naby Keita (Liverpool) - FPL Price: £7.5m
It’s fair to say that Liverpool fans are very optimistic for the upcoming campaign following an exciting transfer window, though it’s Keita, whose signature was secured this time last year, that is still the most eagerly anticipated arrival. The all action midfielder has been a revelation in the Bundesliga having had a hand in 26 goals in two seasons, averaging a goal or an assist every other start in Germany’s top-flight.
Felipe Anderson (West Ham) - FPL Price: £7m
The Hammers’ record signing will be hoping to hit the ground running in the Premier League and his ability to play wide or behind the striker will be a real asset to Manuel Pellegrini. The 25-year-old operated primarily from a central position last season and despite seeing limited action, he scored seven goals and registered ten assists across the league and Europa League, with a direct hand in a goal every 89 minutes.
Richarlison (Everton) - FPL Price: £6.5m
The Brazilian’s fantasy football price is far more modest than his actual fee was and he could prove an astute pick up given the likelihood that he’ll start in a very advanced position on the left for the Toffees. The youngster was at his best under Marco Silva at Watford last season and his new employers will hope the pair can spark up a similar understanding that should see Richarlison hit double figures at Goodison Park.
Ricardo Pereira (Leicester) - FPL Price: £5m
Not only is Pereira a shoo-in to start on the right ahead of Danny Simpson, but he may well be deployed in an advanced position that gets the best out of his attacking tendencies. Claude Puel could switch to a back three at times and the Portuguese is the ideal wing-back, with the 24-year-old registering a respectable four assists in each of his last three league campaigns.
Jannik Vestergaard (Southampton) - FPL Price: £5m
While Saints’ defensive record was disappointing last season, it was a lack of goals at the other end that saw them flirt with relegation and Mark Hughes will hope to put both right this time around. He’ll be hoping the giant Vestergaard can help remedy the former, and his aerial threat could even assist in the 'goals for' column having scored seven times in two seasons at Gladbach.
Bernardo (Brighton) - FPL Price: £4.5m
Noticing their lack of depth at full-back, Chris Hughton was quick to move for RB Leipzig’s Bernardo and the 23-year-old is set to take the starting spot on the left. Perhaps stronger defensively than he is offensively, the Brazilian should bolster an already strong backline and is cheap as a result.
Willy Boly (Wolves) - FPL Price: £4.5m
Whilst he’s not technically a new face at Wolves, Boly has made his move to the Midlands permanent this summer and fans of the newly promoted club will be thrilled to see the Frenchman stay on. One of the strongest defenders in the Championship last season, his sheer power is a huge boost at both ends, having had a direct hand in five goals last season and helped keep the best defensive record in the division.
Rui Patricio (Wolves) - FPL Price: £4.5m
A European champion with Portugal, Patricio has joined the Iberian revolution in the Black Country and will undoubtedly be Wolves’ starting goalkeeper next season. The former Sporting stopper represents another coup for a club that kept clean sheets aplenty in the second tier last season, and while the number will diminish this time around, the 30-year-old’s arrival should ensure that Nuno’s side can live up to some lofty expectations next season.
Lukasz Fabianski (West Ham) - FPL Price: £4.5m
One of the most consistent goalkeepers in the top-flight over the past two seasons, not to mention among the busiest at struggling Swansea, the fact that West Ham have picked up Fabianski on a free is superb business. You don’t have the same luxury in fantasy football but the Pole remains a very cost effective signing, having earned the third most points of any goalkeeper last season (Fantasy Premier League).
Vicente Guaita (Crystal Palace) - FPL Price: £4.5m
Another new goalkeeper that looks sure to be the first choice at his new club next season, Guaita may be Palace’s only confirmed signing to date but his acquisition was an important one. Key to an outstanding defensive record during his time at Getafe last season - only Barcelona and Atletico Madrid conceded fewer goals - the Spaniard should improve the Eagles' clean sheet tally too and is another great value pick up.
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