Budget options for the upcoming Fantasy Premier League campaign

Its Fantasy Premier League season and everybody would be excited to kick off their campaign. Managers have plenty of time to adjust their squads before the first game kicks off on August 10^th. A number of players’ prices will be revised, which means a lot of managers are going to find it hard to fit in all the top performers from last season.

Each year, the game gets harder and more competitive. Last year, a record 7 million people took part in the game.

It’s not possible to afford all the top stars in the league. Every manager is going to have to carefully pick his squad and decide how many marquee and budget players he can bring in. Remember, Fantasy League isn’t a game where you bring in all the big club stars, expecting them to perform on a regular basis. It’s a game that requires skill and close attention to the games.

A number of budget players are availavble every season that makes things a lot easier for managers. Budget midfielders are players who deliver impressive points per million spent. The promotion of Fulham, Wolves and Cardiff should see a number of cheaper alternatives be available this season. Here we take a look at two budget defenders and two budget midfielders the managers can sign.

Budget Defenders

Barry Douglas (Wolverhampton Wanderers)

The left wing-back supplied a whopping 14 assists in the Championship last season. He was the top assist provider as the Wolves romped to the title. Douglas was a major threat going forward, with his marauding runs often causing trouble to the opposition defenders.

Wolves were also solid at the back, which means Douglas possesses the potential to rack up clean sheets. Managers should certainly sign up the defender who is available for just £5million.

Ryan Bertrand (Southampton FC)

The Saints captain looked impressive in a wing-back role under Mark Hughes. The 28-year-old racked up 4 assists last season and was a constant threat down the left flank. He is one of the most consistent performers for Southmpton and given their lacklustre season last time out, the Saints could be aiming to make a strong start this season. He’s available for £5million.

Budget Midfielders

Pascal Gross (Brighton and Hove Albion)

The German midfielder became a peripheral figure for the Seagulls last season. He was their creative threat going forward and was largely influential for Brighton. The 27-year-old scored 7 goals and provided 8 assists in 35 appearances in the league.

He’s also in charge of set-pieces, which makes him a very enticing prospect. Gross looks very appealing for a midfielder priced at £7million. He could hit the ground running this time as well.

Andre Schurrle (Fulham)

The former Chelsea man was a tasty option during his time at Stamford Bridge. Fulham have completed a massive signing by landing the versatile German. Schurrle can play a number of roles up front, which is always very appealing to fantasy managers.

He’s a regular on the scoresheet and a devastating forward when in form. Schurrle racked up 8 goals in his first campaign with the Blues and 3 in his final season, in which he was mostly restricted to the bench. At the price of just £6.5million. Schurrle could be a huge early budget option for a number of managers.