Chelsea’s Alvaro Morata adds to a selection headache facing Fantasy Premier League managers.
The Spanish striker signed a five-year deal at Stamford Bridge following his move from Real Madrid and is available for £10.0m in FPL.
That is a tantalising valuation that ranks below the popular big-name forwards.
Manchester United’s Romelu Lukaku (£11.5m) and Tottenham Hotspur’s Harry Kane (£12.5m) currently dominate the forward position, claiming 47.1% and 34.8% ownerships respectively.
But Morata’s price and goalscoring record will likely prompt a rethink.
Hello there, @AlvaroMorata… 👋#FPL pic.twitter.com/eOQlqyutH0
— FPL (@OfficialFPL) July 22, 2017
He joins Antonio Conte’s side on the back of a season in LaLiga that brought 15 goals and 3 assists. They came in only 14 starts and 12 appearances from the bench.
Morata’s underlying statistics are even more impressive.
The 24-year-old fired a shot every 24.3 minutes in 2016/17, converting 27.2% of his 55 efforts.
That compares favourably with Diego Costa (£10.0m) – Chelsea’s first choice striker last season – who recorded a shot every 27.8 minutes, converting 18% into goals.
But investment in Morata comes with some caveats.
While Eden Hazard (£10.5m) is set to miss the start of the new season, the Belgian could claim spot-kicks on his return to fitness.
Chelsea’s start to the season will provide Morata with early tests.
They face Spurs (away), Everton (home) and Arsenal (home) over the first five Gameweeks.
Hart option
Elsewhere in today’s additions, West Ham United’s Joe Hart is now available as a £4.5m option in goal.
Joining the Hammers on loan from Manchester City, he will compete with Adrian and Darren Randolph (both £4.5m) for starts.
Hart will also face three successive away trips with just a single home match over the first five Gameweeks.
Liverpool’s new left-back Andrew Robertson also arrives in the game and is valued at £5.0m.
He will challenge James Milner (£6.5m) for starts in Jurgen Klopp’s defence.
Newly classified as a defender, Milner would have ranked third in that position last season and remains on penalties for the Reds.
He boasts a 10.3% ownership, though that could now diminish with competition from Robertson.
Fantasy Premier League additions
| Player | Team | Pos | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nick Pope | BUR | GK | £4.5m |
| Eldin Jakupovic | LEI | GK | £4.5m |
| Joe Hart | WHU | GK | £4.5m |
| Javier Manquillo | NEW | DEF | £4.5m |
| Andrew Robertson | LIV | DEF | £5.0m |
| Andreas Christensen | CHE | DEF | £5.5m |
| Matt James | LEI | MID | £4.5m |
| Charles Musonda | CHE | MID | £5.0m |
| Andreas Pereira | MUN | MID | £5.0m |
| Jacob Murphy | NEW | MID | £5.5m |
| Alvaro Morata | CHE | FWD | £10.0m |
