Pervis Estupinan (£5.3m) is the most-owned defender in Fantasy Premier League ahead of Saturday’s 11:00 BST deadline, found in 55 per cent of squads.
But that ownership is dropping quickly, with a massive 331,000 managers selling the Brighton & Hove Albion left-back in the last 24 hours after he was ruled out for a month by head coach Roberto De Zerbi on Wednesday.
See: De Zerbi: Estupinan out for around a month
Here, The Scout picks out the best replacements.
Kieran Trippier (Newcastle) £6.8m
Newcastle United’s right-back is finally justifying his premium price tag in Fantasy, with back-to-back hauls of 18 and 12 points in the last two Gameweeks.
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Trippier is the league’s top creator, making 22 key passes, partly thanks to his role as the Magpies’ chief set-piece taker.
If money is no object, Trippier’s ability to deliver returns at both ends of the end, in addition to bonus points, makes him the standout Estupinan replacement.
Newcastle's schedule indicates he can continue to reward his rapidly-growing 43 per cent ownership.
According to the Fixture Difficulty Ratings (FDR), three of their next five matches score only two.
See: Is Trippier essential to own in Fantasy?
Fabian Schar (Newcastle) £5.1m
Trippier’s team-mate offers a more budget-friendly option at a time when Sven Botman (£4.7m) is a big doubt for Gameweek 8.
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Schar has been overshadowed by Trippier's recent exploits yet has still amassed 20 points in the last three Gameweeks, combining three clean sheets with two bonus points.
Although he has yet to score in Fantasy this season, the Swiss reminded managers of his attacking threat with a goal against Paris Saint-Germain in the UEFA Champions League on Wednesday.
Pedro Porro (Spurs) £5.0m
The Spaniard has offered a far superior attacking threat to his fellow Tottenham Hotspur full-back Destiny Udogie (£4.8m) under Ange Postecoglou.
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Handed his first start in Gameweek 2, Porro has bettered Udogie by nine shots to one and by 10 chances created to six.
The right-back has proven a consistent source of returns, blanking in just two of his six starts thanks to two assists and two clean sheets.
According to the FDR, four of Spurs’ next five matches score a mere two.
Matty Cash (Aston Villa) £4.9m
Aston Villa’s right-back has boasted the main goal threat among defenders in the first seven Gameweeks of 2023/24.
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Cash’s 14 shots, 11 shots in the box and seven shots on target all place top in his position in Fantasy,
Two goals, an assist, two clean sheets and four bonus points underline his multiple routes to returns ahead of a very kind run of opponents.
Each of Villa’s next five matches score only two in the FDR.
Joachim Andersen (Crystal Palace) £4.8m
The Dane’s impact at both ends of the pitch for Crystal Palace has taken him to the top of the defender standings on 45 points.
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Andersen has scored twice and also kept three clean sheets, while his total of nine bonus points is more than any other player in Fantasy.
His six shots in the box place joint-third among defenders, while his eight key passes are just one fewer than Manchester City's Kyle Walker (£5.3m).
Andersen's goal v Man Utd
Our Dane showing us how to score a Premier League goal at Old Trafford 😃🇩🇰#CPFC | #MUNCRY pic.twitter.com/3snhCQEL4i
— Crystal Palace F.C. (@CPFC) September 30, 2023
Four of Palace’s next six matches score just two in the FDR, including their home encounter with Nottingham Forest this weekend.
View all the latest FPL tips ahead of Gameweek 8 in Fantasy Premier League
