The Scout's panel of Fantasy Premier League experts predict how players will be priced this season and explain their reasoning.
Defenders
Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool)
Harry Daniels (@FPL_Harry): 2023/24 was not Alexander-Arnold's best season, but the potential for attacking returns is always there. I expect a price drop from his starting cost of £8.5m this season but that he will still remain one of the most expensive defenders in the game.
Prediction: Alexander-Arnold £7.0m
Josko Gvardiol (Man City)
Sam Bonfield (@FPLFamily): Gvardiol was a hero for many managers at the end of the season. He was a secure starter, keeping some clean sheets and regularly producing attacking returns. I suspect we'll see him at £5.5m, up from £5.0m this season and more in-line with the premium defenders, and I would not be hugely shocked if he came in at £6.0m.
Prediction: Gvardiol £5.5m
Malo Gusto (Chelsea)
Pras (@Pras_FPL): I'd want to price Gusto similarly to Reece James, otherwise the former becomes too cheap if James is injured again. For his attacking threat, I'd price Gusto at £5.0m, a hefty £1.0m more than he cost at the start of last season.
Prediction: Gusto £5.0m
Gabriel (Arsenal)
Lee Bonfield (@FPLFamily): Bettered only by team-mates William Saliba and Ben White, Gabriel finished 2023/24 Fantasy as the third highest-scoring defender with 149 points, which surely means he's in for a price rise, going up from the £5.0m where he started last season. I’d expect hikes across the board for Arsenal's defence, particularly as they’re so assured of minutes - and Gabriel registered three goals and one assist across his 34 starts.
Prediction: Gabriel £6.0m
Pedro Porro (Spurs)
Pranil Sheth (@lateriser12): Porro started last season at £5.0m and was very popular throughout. Largely due to his three goals and eight assists, he was the fourth highest-scoring defender. I'm expecting him to get a price hike.
Prediction: Porro £5.5m
Jarrad Branthwaite (Everton)
Utkarsh Dalmia (@ZopharFPL): Everton kept a whopping 13 clean sheets last season and Branthwaite started 12 of those matches. He also notched three goals and one assist, which should see him priced at £5.0m, up from his starting price of £4.0m this season, and his final price of £4.5m. It is worth mentioning that most of these clean sheets were in home matches, though, so he is one you probably want to consider only as a rotation option.
Prediction: Branthwaite £5.0m
Kieran Trippier (Newcastle)
Nick Harris (@WGTA_Nick): After an excellent campaign in 2022/23 Fantasy, Trippier started last season at £6.5m, at the more expensive end for defenders. This season, partly due to injury, he wasn't able to accrue as many points, but he was still effective offensively - his 10 assists were the joint-most among defenders, level with Alfie Doughty. I can see him having a slight price drop.
Prediction: Trippier £6.0m
Rayan Ait-Nouri (Wolves)
Gianni Buttice (@GianniButtice): Ait-Nouri has become a key cog in the Gary O'Neil machine for Wolves at wing-back and towards the end of last season we even saw him play in a front three when a few forwards were injured. He should rightly continue to be listed as a defender, and he would be a bargain if he comes in at £4.5m again. Across 29 starts this season, he underwhelmed in terms of output, with only five attacking returns, but his expected data was much better than that. For that reason, I think he will be £5.0m.
Prediction: Ait-Nouri £5.0m
Joachim Andersen (Crystal Palace)
Az Phillips (@FPLBlackBox_Az): Andersen was the highest-scoring defender in the game for a decent chunk of the season, with both of his goals coming over the first seven Gameweeks. But I expect him to remain at £4.5m. I don't think he's worth more than Tyrick Mitchell and Daniel Munoz at wing-back, but he might be a decent budget option at the price.
Prediction: Andersen £4.5m
