FPL

FPL Budget Picks for 2025/26: Forwards, Midfielders, and Defenders

Top FPL budget picks for 2025/26: best value forwards, midfielders, and £4.0m defenders revealed.

Published

9 months ago

July 31, 2025

As FPL managers, we all know the thrill (and pain) of hunting for those budget gems. Nailing the cheap options is the difference between a great start and weeks of painful, sideways transfers. The 2025/26 season throws up some interesting names, and it’s more important than ever to spot the value early, especially with new scoring tweaks and promoted clubs in the mix.

Here’s your comprehensive breakdown of the best budget picks across forwards, midfielders, and defenders for the 2025/26 FPL campaign.

Budget Forwards

Finding a reliable budget forward is tough. The pool is small, game time is never guaranteed, and many options are streaky at best. But a well-chosen cheap striker lets you load up on premiums elsewhere, so let’s dive into the standouts between £5.0m and £6.0m.

Igor Thiago (Brentford) – £5.5m

Thiago arrived at Brentford with a strong scoring record from Club Brugge, and with Bryan Mbeumo now at Manchester United and Yoane Wissa possibly leaving, the path is clear for him to start. He’s fit, looks set for plenty of minutes, and might even be on penalties. At £5.5m, he’s not just a budget pick, he’s a potential enabler for your whole squad. Brentford’s opening fixtures are decent, making Thiago a solid early punt.

Beto (Everton) – £5.5m

Beto became Everton’s first-choice striker towards the end of last season, finishing with eight goals. His physicality fits David Moyes’ style perfectly, and while new arrival Thierno Barry is lurking, Beto should get the nod to start the season. With a good fixture run and reliable minutes, Beto is the type of set-and-forget pick you want from your bench forward.

Rodrigo Muniz (Fulham/Leeds) – £5.5m

Muniz showed his goal threat last season even in limited minutes. He’s one to watch in the transfer market, if he moves to Leeds, he’ll be the main man and likely on penalties. At Fulham, there’s still competition with Raul Jimenez. Either way, Muniz is an ideal third striker for rotation or emergencies, and could end up being a steal if his minutes are secure.

Eliezer Mayenda (Sunderland) – £5.0m

Sunderland are blessed with a generous fixture run, and Mayenda is set to start as their striker with Isidor still regaining fitness. His numbers don’t jump off the page, but with injuries elsewhere, he’s great value for now. Mayenda is perfect if you’re looking for a cheap enabler who actually plays.

Joel Piroe (Leeds) – £5.5m

Piroe bagged 19 goals and seven assists in the Championship last season, scooping the Golden Boot. With Leeds strengthening up front, his position is a bit less nailed, but he’s featured as a number 10 in pre-season. Keep an eye on him, if he holds his spot, Piroe could be one of the surprise packages.

£4.0m Defenders: Enablers With Real Minutes

The £4.0m defender slot is the ultimate budget hack in FPL. You want someone who’ll play, won’t tank your team value, and might, just might, get you a clean sheet or an attacking return. Here are the best options this year:

Joe Rodon (Leeds) – £4.0m

Rodon is about as safe as they come. He started every single Championship game for Leeds last year and should anchor their Premier League backline. While attacking threat is low, he’ll hoover up clearances, blocks, and tackles, perfect for bonus points.

Gabriel Gudmundsson (Leeds) – £4.0m

If you like a defender who gets forward, Gudmundsson is your man. He’s versatile, takes set-pieces, and has even chipped in with goals. He’s likely to start at left-back, replacing Junior Firpo, and offers more attacking upside than most at this price.

Maxime Esteve (Burnley) – £4.0m

Esteve played every match for Burnley in the Championship and was key to their amazing defensive record. Burnley will be up against it this year, but that means more chances for clearances and blocks, and thus bonus points. If you want nailed minutes, Esteve is your guy.

Reinildo (Sunderland) – £4.0m

Signed from Atletico Madrid, Reinildo offers flexibility (LB and CB) and attacking promise with goals and assists last season. Sunderland’s defence is thin, so he’s almost certain to start. He’s a short-term enabler, especially while Sunderland’s injury crisis continues.

Ayden Heaven (Manchester United) – £4.0m

Heaven is one for the watchlist. He impressed in his brief appearances and pre-season, even winning a penalty and scoring. If injuries continue to trouble United’s backline, Heaven could force his way in. If he nails a spot, he’ll be the £4.0m defender everyone scrambles to get.

Aaron Hickey (Brentford) – £4.0m

Fresh off a long injury layoff, Hickey is versatile and has attacking pedigree. If he wins a starting spot, his attacking threat could make him a season-defining bargain. One to monitor as pre-season develops.

Budget Midfielders (£5.0m–£6.0m): Safe Points and Bonus Potential

A strong fifth midfielder gives you flexibility and sometimes a surprise haul. These are the standouts:

Youri Tielemans (Aston Villa) – £6.0m

Tielemans is a proven performer, with three goals and seven assists last season. He racks up bonus points for his all-action style and could be Villa’s penalty taker. He’s nailed for minutes and is a safe, steady pick.

Moises Caicedo (Chelsea) – £5.5m

Caicedo’s attacking returns are rare, but under the new rules, his defensive work is a goldmine for bonus points. He played every league game last year and is locked into Chelsea’s midfield. With great opening fixtures, Caicedo could offer a solid four-point floor most weeks.

Elliot Anderson (Nottingham Forest) – £5.5m

Anderson offers a blend of attacking and defensive returns. With Elanga gone, Anderson should have more set-piece duties and a clearer run at starts. Forest’s fixtures are friendly early on, so Anderson is a great cheap option.

Ryan Christie (Bournemouth) – £5.0m

Christie’s injury record is a concern, but when fit, he racks up defensive contributions and can chip in with goals and assists. Fixtures after Gameweek 1 are promising, so if he’s healthy, don’t sleep on him.

Enzo Le Fée (Sunderland) – £5.0m

Le Fée is Sunderland’s set-piece maestro. His minutes look assured, and he’s got the attacking threat to go with it. If Sunderland hit the ground running, Le Fée will be involved.

Ready to give your squad the ultimate edge? Download the We Play FPL app today for free transfer planning, instant player comparisons, and the most up-to-date points predictions. Don’t leave your team to chance, use our tools for the best possible start.

May your arrows be green. Happy managing!

Bournemouth

FPL Gameweek 33: Double-Gameweek Targets and Budget Options

Key FPL options for Gameweek 33: double-duty players, cheap defenders and forwards to target picks..

Published

16 hours ago

April 17, 2026

We Play FPL

Gameweek 33 brings both headaches and opportunities for FPL managers as several teams play twice. The double fixtures make prioritising players from the right squads crucial, with Bournemouth, Brighton & Hove Albion, Burnley, Chelsea, Leeds United and Manchester City all on double duty.

Goalkeepers
Karl Darlow (£3.9m) stands out because of his low price and fixtures against Wolverhampton Wanderers (H) and Bournemouth (A). He has scored 16 points across his last three fixtures and looks nailed on for the remainder of the season. Gianluigi Donnarumma (£5.6m) also offers two fixtures, Arsenal (H) and Burnley (A), but his inclusion uses one of three Man City slots managers may prefer to spend on midfield and forward assets. Đorđe Petrović (£4.6m) is a Bournemouth alternative after three clean sheets in his last six outings versus Newcastle United (A) and Leeds (H).

Defenders
Bournemouth defenders Marcos Senesi (£5.2m) and James Hill (£4.2m) present clean sheet potential and solid defensive contribution totals, while Adrien Truffert (£4.7m) provides more attacking upside via assists. Leeds options Pascal Struijk (£4.3m), Jayden Bogle (£4.4m) and Gabriel Gudmundsson (£3.8m) offer differing mixes of defensive reliability and attacking threat. Marc Cucurella (£6.0m) is the main Chelsea defender to consider despite matches with Manchester United (H) and Brighton (A) being tough for clean sheets. Nico O’Reilly (£5.0m) would be an obvious pick after a 14-point weekend and 52 points in six gameweeks, but he is an injury concern; Marc Guéhi (£5.1m) is a viable alternative if O’Reilly is ruled out.

Midfield and attack
Antoine Semenyo (£8.2m) remains an attractive midfield option despite high ownership. Rayan Cherki (£6.3m) offers a differential and Jérémy Doku (£6.4m) provides explosive potential. Cole Palmer (£10.5m) will start both Chelsea games and is on spot kicks. Bournemouth’s Marcus Tavernier (£5.4m) is notable for set-piece and penalty responsibility versus Rayan (£5.5m) and Alex Scott (£5.0m). Pascal Groß (£5.5m) and Yankuba Minteh (£5.5m) could be short-term Brighton values.

Forwards
Erling Haaland (£14.4m) is the obvious captaincy candidate across two fixtures, with particular promise in the Burnley match. João Pedro (£7.7m) is a reliable pick given Chelsea’s double and his 82 points since Liam Rosenior took charge; he faces little competition for his starting role.

FPL

FPL Gameweek 28: Essential transfers, budget enablers and attacking picks

Gameweek 28 FPL guide: top transfers, budget enablers and midfield options for the coming fixtures .

Published

2 months ago

February 27, 2026

We Play FPL

Gameweek 28 carries weight for managers chasing mini-league positions and avoiding forfeits. With the season entering its final third, every transfer can matter.

Goalkeepers present clear options. Caoimhín Kelleher (£4.7m) is the suggested move for those switching stoppers: “Despite disappointing last weekend, the Brentford man faces Burnley (A) this time around” and then has Bournemouth (A), Wolverhampton Wanderers (H), Leeds United (A) and Everton (H). Alisson (£5.4m) offers a set-and-forget route given Liverpool’s fixture swing, beginning with West Ham United (H) and followed by Wolves (A), Tottenham Hotspur (H) and Brighton & Hove Albion (A). Đorđe Petrović (£4.5m) is a budget alternative after Bournemouth have kept two clean sheets in their last four and face Sunderland (H), Brentford (A) and Burnley (H).

At the back, Virgil van Dijk (£6.0m) stands out after 28 points across his last two and the combination of clean sheet potential, defensive contribution and goalscoring threat. Gabriel (£7.1m) remains an essential asset despite Arsenal’s recent defensive blunders; Chelsea (H), Brighton (A) and Everton (H) precede a blank in Gameweek 31. Budget enablers include Fulham’s Joachim Andersen and Bournemouth’s James Hill (£4.1m), with Andersen facing Tottenham (H), West Ham (H), Nottingham Forest (A) and Burnley (H), while Hill has supplied six points or more in his last five matches.

Midfield decisions will hinge on fitness and form. Bruno Fernandes (£9.9m) and Bryan Mbeumo (£8.7m) are both primed for Crystal Palace (H) and are described as largely fixture-proof; choosing between them is highlighted as difficult. Depending on his fitness after missing last weekend’s clash with Nottingham Forest, Florian Wirtz (£8.4m) appears the best Liverpool midfield option. Dominik Szoboszlai (£6.8m) is a strong alternative but is noted for less consistent attacking returns if used at right back.

Up front, Erling Haaland (£14.8m) has produced just one double-digit haul since Gameweek 17 but remains capable of quick returns, with Leeds (A) next. Hugo Ekitiké (£8.9m) has encouraging fixtures and should be involved against West Ham. Igor Thiago (£7.1m) is on penalties and is recommended for GW28 starting with Burnley at Turf Moor.

FPL

FPL Gameweek 27: Best Transfers and Picks for the Weekend

GW27 FPL guide: goalkeeper and outfield transfer targets to consider ahead of weekend fixtures this.

Published

2 months ago

February 20, 2026

We Play FPL

With the season’s first double gameweek behind us, Gameweek 27 returns managers to a single-match rhythm. This weekend offers several appealing Fantasy Premier League options across positions, with the title race providing high-stakes fixtures over three days.

Goalkeepers are limited by tricky Arsenal and Manchester City schedules. Chelsea’s Robert Sánchez (£4.9m) presents a sensible short-term option against goal-shy Burnley (H). Sunderland’s Robin Roefs (£4.9m) regains appeal after facing Arsenal and Liverpool, with Fulham (H) next and subsequent matches at Bournemouth (A), Leeds United (A) and Brighton & Hove Albion (H). At a lower price, Brentford’s Caoimhín Kelleher (£4.6m) stands out; a noted penalty saver and shot stopper, he meets Brighton (H) and enjoys a run without any fixture rated higher than three until Gameweek 34.

Defensive transfers are similarly situation-dependent. Trevoh Chalobah (£5.8m) looks capable of a substantial haul in GW27 despite Chelsea’s difficult upcoming swing. Wesley Fofana (£4.4m) is an economical route into the Burnley match while Reece James (£5.6m) is a riskier option given uncertain minutes. Virgil van Dijk (£5.9m) is attractive after a 17-point return against Sunderland last week; Liverpool face Nottingham Forest (A), West Ham United (H) and Wolverhampton Wanderers (A) next. For Sunderland, Nordi Mukiele (£4.6m) and Omar Alderete (£4.1m) serve as cheap enablers.

Midfield and attack decisions centre on form and fixture fits. Nico O’Reilly (£4.9m) returns to midfield for Man City and scored against Fulham last week while securing a clean sheet for 13 points. Bruno Fernandes (£9.8m) and Bryan Mbeumo (£8.6m) remain strong picks despite Manchester United’s trip to Everton (A). Florian Wirtz (£8.4m) has produced four double-digit hauls since Christmas and is worth attention. Morgan Rogers (£7.6m) is a consistent Aston Villa starter against Leeds (H). Cole Palmer (£10.6m) has 32 points across two matches, noting three of his four goals have been penalties.

João Pedro (£7.7m) has 48 points in five matches and faces Burnley. Hugo Ekitiké (£8.9m) showed his explosive ceiling with 13 points in Gameweek 24. Erling Haaland (£14.9m) remains an essential long-term asset after two goals and an assist in his last two outings, despite an injury doubt. Igor Thiago (£7.0m) could help in Brentford’s meeting with Brighton. Newcastle’s Wednesday trip to Azerbaijan may create opportunity for Antoine Semenyo (£8.0m).