Quick Snapshot:
As the long-awaited start of the premier league inches closer with less than a month to go, Fantasy Premier League managers are surely looking for ways to accommodate their star players with the limited budget available.
To make that task easier for FPL managers, premierleaguenewsnow.com has come out with a list of 13 stellar defenders that are available at bargain prices. This list is curated with considerations given to individual player potential, place in the starting XI, first five team fixtures and past performance.
1. Jordan Beyer (£4M) – Burnley:
The 23-year-old German international spent the 22-23 season on loan at Turf Moor. He strongly cemented his place in the starting line-up as he guided the club to securing the Championship title and promotion to the Premier League. In May, Burnley triggered the option to acquire the center-back permanently from Borussia Monchengladbach for around £13m.
Beyer stood solid at the back for his club last season and helped Vincent Kompany’s side lift the title with the fewest goals conceded in the Championship. Having played 30 matches for his side last season along with providing 3 assists and scoring once, he furthermore has an impressive tackle success rate of 83%.
Even though his side will host reigning champions Manchester City in Gameweek 1, the next 4 fixtures against Luton, Villa, Spurs and Nott’m Forest shouldn’t give Beyer’s newly promoted team any major problems.
2. George Baldock (£4M) – Sheffield United:
In his 6th season for Sheffield, the right wing-back was an instrumental figure for his side last season as they finished 2nd in the Championship and got promoted. The 30-year-old Greek international played 36 league matches for the Blades in 2022-23 with an impressive record of 39 blocks, 37 tackles won, scoring once and assisting thrice.
Baldock has plenty of experience in the premier league, having started 70 out of 76 matches for Sheffield the last time they were in the English top flight during 2019-20 and 20-21. Sheffield will host Crystal Palace for Gameweek 1 followed by Nott’m Forest, Man City, Everton and Spurs. Considering his experience, starting place in the team, and relatively straightforward fixtures barring Man City, George Baldock seems like a solid choice for FPL managers.
3. Amari’i Bell (£4M) – Luton:
Bell was crucial for Luton Town in their historic 22-23 season in which they achieved promotion to the Premier League, where they will play for the first time since its inception in 1992. The versatile 29-year-old started last season as a left wing-back but mid-way through the campaign he adapted the center-back role.
The Jamaican international played 46 matches for his side last season, more than any other outfield player in his team and hence, securing an almost guaranteed starting role. After making 57 blocks, 47 interceptions, and winning 40 challenges for Luton in 22-23, Bell should be significant for his club’s first-ever Premier League campaign this year.
Luton will visit Brighton in their first fixture, followed by: Burnley, Chelsea, West Ham and Fulham. Apart from the high-intensity matches at The Amex and Stamford Bridge, Bell has the potential to gain some serious points for FPL managers. Although he is on national duty playing the CONCACAF cup with Jamaica – and that ended just today so we have to look out for his holiday schedule and when he returns to Luton. He may be a bit rustic if he returns a bit late.
4. Rico Henry (£4.5M) – Brentford:
The left-back had a compelling campaign for his side last season. Starting 37 league matches wherein he helped his side maintain 12 clean sheets in the Premier League and finish in the top half of the table. Averaging 3 points per game in FPL last season and with a strong involvement in Brentford’s pre-season fixtures going on, Henry is certainly a bargain for FPL managers.
Henry is a decent option since Brentford are not playing in Europe and their opening 4 league fixtures are relatively manageble until they visit Newcastle in Game-week 5.
5. Ethan Pinnock (£4.5M) – Brentford:
Henry’s team-mate at Brentford, Ethan Pinnock had a season to remember in 22-23, averaging 3.7 points per game for his FPL managers. The 30-year-old center-back registered 41 blocks, 215 clearances and made 35 interceptions for The Bees last season. Moreover, Pinnock offers an attacking threat that saw him score thrice in the league for his side, more than any other Brentford defender.
With his 5th year as a Brentford player and a relatively decent set of opening fixtures for the club this season, for £4.5m the Jamaican international would certainly provide a good addition in value to FPL managers.
6. Sven Botman (£4.5M) – Newcastle United:
Arguably the biggest bargain available to FPL managers this season, for £4.5m the Dutchman is a steal. In his debut Premier League season last year, the 23-year-old established a name for himself as his team finished an extraordinary campaign that saw them qualify for The Champions League.
Newcastle United focused on defensive resilience and Botman was at the heart of it. The center-back played 36 games for his side and was integral for them in conceding only 33 goals (joint lowest) and keeping 14 clean sheets (joint 2nd highest) in the season.
The only problem for Botman and his team will be the difficult run of fixtures wherein The Magpies will face Manchester City, Liverpool and Brighton consecutively after hosting Aston Villa in their opening game. Despite that, with an average of 3.6 points per match last season and selected by a whopping 30.4% of FPL managers, selecting Sven Botman in team drafts should be a no-brainer at his price.
7. Dan Burn (£4.5M) – Newcastle United:
The 198 cm English center-back started 35 matches and featured in all 38 matches in the league for The Magpies last season. Burn played a crucial defensive role along with team-mate Sven Botman to help his side finish the season with one of the best defensive records in the 22-23 season.
Often the target of almost all set-pieces because of his height and standing tall at the back, Burn averaged 3.4 points per game last season. However, the difficult run of fixtures for Newcastle along with the fact that there is a risk of rotation which may cut down Burn’s minutes played should be considered by FPL managers looking to include the 30-year-old defender.
8. Tyrone Mings (£4.5M) – Aston Villa:
Mings had a shaky start to the 22-23 season wherein he struggled to find form in the beginning. However, towards the end of the campaign the Englishman managed to cement himself as an important player for Unai Emery, which saw Villa impressively finish 7th after a poor start to the season.
The 30-year-old made 54 interceptions, 40 blocks, scored once and assisted 3 times which allowed him to deliver 3.7 points per game on average to FPL managers.
However, FPL managers should be careful in including Mings in their drafts due to the fact that there’s an additional risk of rotation which will see the player compete for minutes with Ezri Konsa, Diego Carlos and most importantly new signing Pau Torres. Furthermore, away trips to Newcastle and Liverpool in Gameweeks 1 and 4 respectively will mean that Villa and Mings are off to a difficult start to the new season.
9. Levi Colwill (£4.5M) – Chelsea:
The 20-year-old center-back has made a name for himself for being one of the most promising young defenders in the league. Having just won the U21 Euros with England, Colwill has solid interest from Brighton and Liverpool along with his current club Chelsea hoping to retain him.
Colwill returned to Chelsea this season after spending last year on loan at Brighton where he started 13 times and quickly impressed spectators with his ability to read the game, make long-range passes and pace. He was instrumental in helping England win the U21 Euros by displaying a stellar performance in the final vs Spain.
No matter for which club he ends up playing the 23-24 season, Levi Colwill is a name to watch out for.
10. Adam Webster (£4.5M) – Brighton:
Despite struggling with his fair share of injuries last year, Adam Webster made 23 league starts in his 4th season for The Seagulls. Helping his team finish 6th and qualify for European football, Adam Webster is likely to emerge as a key center-back for Roberto De Zerbi’s side in the 23-24 season due to the departure of loanee Levi Colwill.
Webster can potentially add a lot of value for FPL managers assuming he doesn’t face any fitness issues. Brighton’s opening fixture against Luton followed by Wolves and West Ham should allow the 28-year-old defender to start the season strongly.
11. Benoit Badiashile (£4.5M) – Chelsea:
The 22-year-old Frenchman can potentially be a crucial player for The Blues. Standing at 6’4″ tall along with his combination of pace and muscle, Badiashile can be lethal at the back as well as on set-pieces.
His potential to be a good addition to FPL managers will depend heavily on his involvement under new Chelsea head coach Mauricio Pochettino. Closely following Chelsea’s pre-season fixtures might give a further insight into the young center-back’s ability.
Chelsea play Liverpool in the opening fixture, but the run in gets easier with West Ham followed by Luton Town, Nottingham Forest, Bournemouth, Aston Villa, Fulham, and Burnley. These are some decent run of fixtures which you’d expect Chelsea to do well in.
12. Marc Guehi (£4.5M) – Crystal Palace:
This one is a tricky recruitment, now if you are looking for a Palace defender – Marc Guehi has done will alongside Joachim Andersen. But the pair only managed 9 Clean Sheets last season although interestingly six of those came AFTER Roy Hodgson was appointed. Their fixture run-in is decent as well with only Arsenal at home seemingly a tricky fixture in their first five with Sheffield, Brentford, Wolves, Villa, and Fulham before visiting Old Trafford at the end of September (GW7).
He is also subject to links away from Palace with Arsenal & Tottenham interested – although the Gunners have signed Timber and their noisy neighbours are in talks to get atleast one of Mickey van de Ven or Edmond Tapsoba. So it increasingly looks like he will continue at Palace come start of the season.
13. Tyrick Mitchell (£4.5M) – Crystal Palace:
If you want an alternative to Marc Guehi, then Tyrick Mitchell could be your option. Although despite being a full-back he hasn’t contributed massively offensively. He does have more than decent tackle rate, which means he could come in handy on the bonus points every-now-and-then.