Tarik Muharemovi\u0107 is our preference among these budget defenders if you need a GW8 starter. Jan Paul van Hecke makes more sense if you can cover this week and want a defender for the home games in GW9 and GW11. Before spending around \u00a35.0m, mark the weeks in which your new signing must play.<\/p>\n
That distinction matters on a Wildcard, too. You can afford a tougher opening fixture for a fourth defender if your other three have suitable matches. A defender who has to start this weekend needs a different assessment.<\/p>\n
Muharemovi\u0107 costs \u00a35.0m and faces Sunderland away in GW8. We prefer that entry fixture to Van Hecke’s trip to Chelsea or Silva’s visit to Manchester United. The case depends on needing him this week: Leeds then visit Bournemouth, host Spurs and travel to Chelsea.<\/p>\n
He has averaged 90.0 min\/match. His defensive contributions offer another scoring route alongside a possible clean sheet, with a season-to-date DefCon\/90 of 10.43. Treat that as a rate across matches, not a promise that he will reach the scoring threshold in the next one.<\/p>\n
His expected goals conceded rate is 1.39 xGC\/90, while his attacking involvement stands at 0.11 xGI\/90. Those figures support a measured purchase for a specific starting gap. They give little reason to expect regular attacking returns or to buy him without checking the rest of the Leeds run.<\/p>\n
Van Hecke costs \u00a34.9m. Spurs face Chelsea away in GW8, Crystal Palace at home in GW9, Leeds away in GW10 and Ipswich Town at home in GW11.<\/p>\n
The two home fixtures make him worth considering if your defence needs help in those weeks. Buy him before GW8 only if you can accept the Chelsea fixture or leave him on the bench without weakening your starting defence. You can wait until GW9 if you have no need to make the move before then.<\/p>\n
He has averaged 90.0 min\/match, with 1.34 xGC\/90 and 0.17 xGI\/90. His DefCon\/90 is 9.29, below Muharemovi\u0107’s 10.43. The small gap between their expected goals conceded rates does not establish a clear winner for the next match; their opponents and your planned starts deserve more weight in this choice.<\/p>\n
Silva costs \u00a35.0m and starts with Manchester United away. Bournemouth then host Leeds, visit Ipswich Town and host Nottingham Forest in GW9\u201311. Consider him if you want a defender you can use across that stretch, rather than someone you need for GW8 alone.<\/p>\n
He has averaged 90.0 min\/match. His rates are 1.16 xGC\/90, 0.24 xGI\/90 and 10.43 DefCon\/90. He has the lowest expected goals conceded rate and the highest attacking involvement rate of this trio, but those season-to-date measures do not forecast his next three scores. Check the fixtures against your other defenders before paying the extra \u00a30.1m over Van Hecke.<\/p>\n