The launch of 2020/21 Fantasy Premier League gives managers the chance to start building their opening squads.
While the release of the season’s fixture list will play a major part in determining the best options, FPL bosses can still begin shaping their Gameweek 1 team.
The Scout reveals an initial squad costing £100.0m, balancing the budget with at least one premium option in each outfield position.
Mat Ryan (BHA) £4.5m
Brighton & Hove Albion’s No 1 was the eighth-highest scoring goalkeeper in FPL last season, totalling 135 points.
Owned by over 27.0 per cent of managers, Ryan has quickly emerged as the most popular budget option between the posts.
Trent Alexander-Arnold (LIV) £7.5m
Having finished joint-fourth alongside Jamie Vardy (£10.0m) last season in the overall standings, a cost of just £7.5m for the Liverpool right-back looks a steal.
If Alisson (£6.0m) remains injury-free in goal, Alexander-Arnold could break the record of 213 FPL points for a defender.
Aaron Wan-Bissaka (MUN) £5.5m
His potential for points at both ends of the pitch as well as in the Bonus Points System gives Wan-Bissaka the edge over Harry Maguire (£5.5m) for Manchester United.
The right-back enjoyed a strong end to the previous campaign, with three of his four assists and nine of his 12 clean sheets coming in his final 13 starts.
Ruben Vinagre (WOL) £4.5m
The Portuguese is set to occupy the left wing-back role at Wolverhampton Wanderers for the next few months due to an injury to Jonny (£5.5m).
At such a low cost, Vinagre offers excellent value for opening squads.
Mohamed Salah (LIV) £12.0m
Liverpool's Egyptian has scored 73 goals and provided 34 assists in FPL over his three seasons at Anfield.
At home, in particular, Salah remains among the very best captain options for 2020/21.
Kevin De Bruyne (MCI) £11.5m
Last season’s top-scoring player, De Bruyne is the most popular pick for the new campaign, owned by a massive 62.5 per cent of managers.
Now the first-choice penalty taker for Manchester City, he could exceed his 251 points from 2019/20.
Marcus Rashford (MUN) £9.5m
Reclassified from a forward to a midfielder this term, he is already shaping up as an early-season differential.
Just 9.6 per cent of managers currently hold Rashford, whereas Bruno Fernandes (£10.5m) and Anthony Martial (£9.0m) are owned by 42.8 per cent and 29.4 per cent respectively.
Allan Saint-Maximin (NEW) £5.5m
The end-of-season displays of the Newcastle United winger suggest he could be a top target in the budget bracket.
Saint-Maximin delivered three double-figure hauls in his final nine matches of the previous campaign.
Timo Werner (CHE) £9.5m
Chelsea’s new striker scored 28 goals and supplied a further eight assists in the Bundesliga last term.
That form has already made him the most popular forward in the game, with over 36.3 per cent ownership.
Michail Antonio (WHU) £6.5m
The West Ham United attacker is reclassified as a forward this season after a prolific end to 2019/20 playing as a central striker.
Antonio scored eight goals in the final seven Gameweeks and could provide great value at a cost of £6.5m.
Aleksandar Mitrovic (FUL) £6.0m
The Fulham forward enjoyed a prolific season in the 2019/20 Championship, finishing as top scorer with 26 goals.
In his previous FPL campaign in 2018/19, Mitrovic’s 96 shots inside the penalty box was a league-leading total.
Substitutes
David Button (BHA) £4.0m
The Seagulls’ back-up goalkeeper offers a ready-made replacement if Ryan is unavailable.
Charlie Taylor (BUR) £4.5m
The left-back provides a cheap and secure route into a Burnley defence who earned 15 clean sheets last term.
Taylor started every match from Gameweeks 18-36 after recovering from injury.
Tomas Soucek (WHU) £5.0m
The West Ham midfielder found the net against Chelsea, Newcastle and Watford in their final nine matches last season.
Soucek’s total of 14 shots inside the penalty area ranked 10th among FPL midfielders during that period, underlining his value potential.
Nathan Ferguson (CRY) £4.0m
The versatile new arrival offers Crystal Palace an option at full-back for the new campaign.
And with a number of key players injured at the back for the Eagles, Ferguson could be among the first defenders to emerge from the £4.0m bracket.
Go to fantasy.premierleague.com to select your team for the new season.