Fantasy Premier League

FPL prices: Vinagre standout option from budget defenders

By The Scout 18 Aug 2020

The Scout assesses a selection of cheap players at the back and highlights the value on offer from Wolves' wing-back

The Scout takes a look at the 2020/21 Fantasy Premier League player list, assessing the best options according to position and price.

Ruben Vinagre (WOL) £4.5m

The Portuguese looks set for an extended run in Wolverhampton Wanderers’ starting XI following an injury to first-choice left wing-back Jonny (£5.5m).

Jonny is expected to be sidelined for a number of months after recently sustaining knee ligament damage against Sevilla in the UEFA Europa League.

Costing just £4.5m, Vinagre can offer a cut-price route into a Wolves defence who excelled in the latter part of last season.

They claimed nine of their 13 clean sheets for the season from Gameweek 25 onwards, joint-top with Manchester City and Manchester United in that period.

Charlie Taylor (BUR) £4.5m

The Burnley left-back provides a budget-friendly route into one of the strongest defences in FPL.

Sean Dyche’s side claimed 15 clean sheets in 2019/20, level with Liverpool and second only to the 17 of Man City.

Taylor started every match from Gameweek 18 to 36 last season after recovering from injury.

Despite making only 24 appearances, his total of 20 successful crosses ranked third for the Clarets.

Stuart Dallas (LEE) £4.5m

The left-back was a big success at both ends of the pitch for Championship winners Leeds United last term.

Dallas helped his side claim 22 clean sheets, while also scoring five goals and providing three assists.

The underlying statistics suggest he has the edge on right-back Luke Ayling (£4.5m) as their go-to pick at the back.

Dallas' total of 26 shots on target ranked second overall for Leeds in 2019/20.

Kyle Walker-Peters (SOU) £4.5m

The right-back could offer great value after his permanent move from Tottenham Hotspur to Southampton.

Walker-Peters made just nine appearances for Spurs across 2017/18 and 2018/19 yet still showed his attacking ability by supplying five assists in that period.

If Saints are handed a favourable opening schedule, he can reward owners with attacking and defensive returns.

William Saliba (ARS) £4.5m

The 19-year-old could become a key player at the back in Mikel Arteta’s first full season in charge of Arsenal.

Saliba was signed from Saint-Etienne last summer but loaned back to the French side for the 2019/20 campaign.

He could now secure a regular role at the heart of the Gunners’ defence ahead of players such as David Luiz (£5.5m) and Shkodran Mustafi (£5.0m).

Arsenal’s summer friendlies and their match against Liverpool in the Community Shield should provide insight into Saliba's potential for starts.

Nathan Ferguson (CRY) £4.0m

Managers on the lookout for this season’s John Lundstram (£5.5m) or Aaron Wan-Bissaka (£5.5m) should keep an eye on the Crystal Palace teamsheets over their upcoming friendlies.

The versatile Ferguson arrives at Selhurst Park from West Bromwich Albion and offers the Eagles options at full-back for the new campaign.

With Roy Hodgson missing a number of his regulars at the back due to injury, Ferguson could quickly establish himself as the go-to defender in the £4.0m bracket.