With the price of many of the established defenders in FPL going through the roof, the top-flight new boys dominate the budget options. Here are some of your budget defensive options:
Jamaal Lascelles (Newcastle, £4.5m)
The former Nottingham Forest centre-back has made huge strides in the last few seasons in the top-flight. In fact, some believe Lascelles to be one of the finest centre-backs outside the top six. He has been linked with numerous moves but remains the heartbeat of the Magpies defence. Lascelles helped Newcastle to a respectable ten clean sheets last season, while also producing an assist.
One negative for the Magpies is that they face a mixed early season schedule. However, later in the season, he could prove a very good differential.
Charlie Taylor (Burnley, £4.5m)
The former Leeds full-back is receiving a lot of love in the FPL community. He picked up seven clean sheets and produced one assist. However, his underlying stats suggest he could be ready to produce a bigger attacking haul next season.
His price tag is also an attraction, as he is cheaper than the likes of teammates Ben Mee and James Tarkowski, who at £5m seem slightly expensive. The Clarets early season schedule is a mixed one, but from gameweek 5 they have a run of six very favourable games.
James Chester (Aston Villa, £4.5m)
The former Hull centre-back will be a big attacking threat next season for the Villans. The side from the Midlands scored a league-high of 25 goals from set-pieces in the Championship. Chester scored five of those goals.
Dean Smith’s side is sure to be a threat on set-pieces in the top-flight next season and Chester could be at the heart of that threat. Villa have a tough start to the campaign away at Tottenham. However, after that, they have games ranked just two on the FPL difficulty ranking. At £4.5m, the Welsh international could prove to a decent differential when it comes to points at both ends of the pitch.
John Egan (Sheffield United, £4.5m)
Another player from a promoted team, Egan is just one of a number of Blades defenders that look like good maverick picks. The centre-back scored just one goal and one assist last season. However, those are disappointing returns considering his attacking threat. He had 27 headed attempts on goal last season, which was bettered only by Everton’s Michael Keane in FPL last season.
Egan also produced more clearances, blocks and interceptions than teammates Jack O’Connell and Chris Basham last season. With the Blades first three games ranking three on the difficulty ranking, Egan looks like a potential bargain, even if the Blades are favourites for relegation next season.
Phil Jagielka (Sheffield United, £4.5m)
One potential problem for Egan next season is likely to be the presence of veteran centre-back Phil Jagielka, who returned to the club from Everton this summer as a free agent. The former England star will add experience to the Blades backline. Whether he is a regular starter needs to be monitored. However, if he does start on a regular basis for the Blades, he could prove to be another differential in the United defence.
Martin Kelly (Crystal Palace, £4m)
The versatile former Liverpool defender could well profit from the Eagles sale of rising start Aaron Wan-Bissaka. At the minute, he looks the most likely to fill the void left by the youngster at right-back.
He picked up just 26 points last season, as he struggled for game time. However, if the Eagles do not sign another right-back, then Kelly could well be a bargain at just £4m. The fact that three of Palace’s four opening fixtures score just two on the FPL difficulty scale also adds to his appeal.
Will any of the above budget defenders be in your FPL squad next season?
