From Christopher Nkunku to Joao Pedro – The best FPL budget picks to look out for ahead of the 2024/25 season

The new Fantasy Premier League season kicks off tonight as managers scramble to assemble their teams ahead of the FPL transfer deadline.

Managers have until 6:30pm tonight to get their teams in ahead of the Premier League season opener between Manchester United and Fulham at Old Trafford.

As the countdown begins, here’s a look at ten of the best budget options throughout the pitch who could bring some much-needed value to your squad…

Goalkeepers

Dean Henderson (Crystal Palace, £4.5m)

Ahead of the opening gameweek, there appears to be no £4.0m goalkeepers with a realistic chance of starting, although that could change as the season progresses.

At the £4.5m price point, Crystal Palace’s Dean Henderson looks a safe bet having wrestled the number-one jersey off Sam Johnstone at the end of last season.

Palace looked rejuvenated under new manager Oliver Glasner at the end of last season and could pick up early clean sheets with a favourable run of fixtures to start this campaign.

Defenders

Taylor Harwood-Bellis (Southampton, £4.0m)

The former Manchester City academy prospect spent last season on loan at Southampton and has now moved there permanently following their promotion back up to the top flight.

Harwood-Bellis started 43 league games for the Saints last year and is expected to fulfil a similar roll in Russell Martin’s side this campaign.

With a few easier fixtures to start to the season, the Englishman could provide a great value option for your last defender slot and free up funds for elsewhere.

Valentin Barco (Brighton, £4.0m)

Another £4m defender is Brighton’s Valentin Barco who started two of Brighton’s last three pre-season friendlies.

Having signed from Boca Juniors in January last year, the Argentine left-back often has license to roam forward into midfield and is expected to start the opening games with Pervis Estupinan still recovering from ankle surgery at the end of last season.

Lisandro Martinez (Manchester United, £4.5m)

An injury-hit season last year for Lisandro Martinez saw him make just 11 Premier League appearances and, as such, the Argentine has seen his price reduced to a more appealing £4.5m.

While concerns still linger over his fitness – and United’s defensive capabilities – Martinez is likely to be a nailed-on starter for Erik ten Hag and could prove a fruitful pick if the Red Devils can find some defensive stability.

Midfielders

Morgan Rogers (Aston Villa, £5.0m)

Having broken into Unai Emery’s Aston Villa side at the end of last season, Morgan Rogers now looks set for a more prominent role having registered three goals in pre-season.

Rogers could start on the left or behind Ollie Watkins, with Villa playing two of the three newly-promoted sides in their first six games.

Antoine Semenyo (Bournemouth £5.5m)

Following the big-money departure of Dominic Solanke to Tottenham, Bournemouth will be looking to the rest of their squad to pick up the goalscoring burden.

Semenyo, who scored eight goals in his first full league season last year, is one of those players, with the 24-year-old likely to start on the right wing or up front for Andoni Iraola’s side.

The Ghanaian international also comes with added appeal of being reclassified as a midfielder by FPL heading into this season, meaning he is eligible for clean-sheet bonuses as well as receiving a point more than forwards for a goal.

Christopher Nkunku (Chelsea, £6.5m)

After a frustrating and injury-blighted first season at Stamford Bridge, Christopher Nkunku finally appears to be flourishing in a Chelsea shirt after a promising pre-season under new Blues boss Enzo Maresca.

Playing as an advanced midfielder, Nkunku started in five of Maresca’s six pre-season outings and now looks one of the more nailed-on starters in what is an otherwise bloated squad.

Despite a tough opening fixture against Manchester City, at just £6.5m – and classified as a midfielder – the Frenchman could be excellent value for money if he fulfills on his pre-season promise.

Emile Smith-Rowe (Fulham, £5.5m)

Injuries and form prevented the Arsenal academy graduate from pinning down a regular starting berth in Mikel Arteta’s side in recent years but it’s easy to forget that the Englishman notched up ten goals and two assists for the Gunners just two seasons ago.

Now with a big fish in a smaller pond at Craven Cottage, Smith-Rowe will be backed by many to get back to his best and, at just £5.5m, could be an appealing budget option in midfield to free up funds for the more pricier options.

Fowards

Joao Pedro (Brighton, £5.5m)

Much fancied last year in what was his maiden season at Brighton, Joao Pedro made 31 appearances but saw 11 of those come as a substitute.

Now, after a year adjusting to life on the South coast, the Brazilian now looks ready to take the next step and become a regular starter in the top-flight and has the added bonus of being the team’s designated penalty taker.

Chris Wood (Nottingham Forest, £6.0m)

After an uninspiring spell at Newcastle, Chris Wood found his form again at Nottingham Forest last season, notching up 14 goals and averaging an impressive 5.7 fantasy points for each game he started.

And with Taiwo Awoniyi still absent in pre-season, Wood can will expect to lead the line for the opening games of Forest’s season, which includes kinder games against Bournemouth, Southampton and Wolves in their first three.

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