Welcome to the pre-season series “FPL Bargain options”, the four-piece series where we tip the bargains for all fantasy premier league positions.
We had this FPL Bargain options series last season and it was a success to say the least with players such as; Schmeichel and Alderweireld suggested and it’s worth bragging that in the strikers article the four players suggested were; Wilson, Defoe, Deeney and JAMIE VARDY! Nailed it.
The midfield position is arguably where majority of the points are scored in fantasy Premier League and usually where the bargain gems are found. Throughout the years we’ve had the likes of Michu and Mahrez come from this position, costing us a lemonade price but giving us a champagne points return, our aim is to find the next one, let’s go…
Sofiane Feghouli (West Ham, 5.5m)
Have FPL messed up a little bit with the price of Feghouli? It feels so, this man was playing and scoring in the Champions League last season! Feghouli is a tricky winger who has a very mean cross, whether it be drilled, lofted or whipped, a successful Feghouli/Carroll partnership is on the cards. The Algerian has 6 years worth of La Liga experience with him scoring 31 times and assisting 40 goals in that period. For a 26 year old he’s got a very respectable level of experience and this is a good sign for us managers, as the chances of the Premier League phasing him seems unlikely.
Last season West Ham had a great season with the motivation to say goodbye to Upton Park in style and this season they have the motivation to say hello to the Olympic Stadium in style. Feghouli at 5.5m looks to be an absolute bargain.
Jordan Ibe (Bournemouth, 5.5m)
I don’t feel there’s too much between Jordan Ibe and Raheem Sterling, only the price they were bought for and the difference in experience. Sterling got his break under Rodgers earning him his big money move to Manchester City and for some reason cementing his place in that England XI (Let’s not mention England). After signing for Bournemouth, it’s now Ibe’s big chance to put himself well and truly on that same radar. Eddie Howe is a fantastic young manager who really does believe in the young players he brings to Bournemouth and Ibe is no exception.
Fixtures aren’t too important with a club like Bournemouth, whether they’re home or away they will give it a go. The proof is there from last season with Bournemouth scoring goals at The Etihad, Stamford Bridge, Old Trafford and hitting in FOUR at Upton Park. Ibe is a very direct winger who loves to beat his man and drill a ball into the box. He also has a fantastic right foot, which he enjoys using outside the area, can he put all these pieces together and have a fantastic season? For 5.5m It is certainly worth the risk.
Nathan Redmond (Southampton, 6.0m)
Southampton are a solid Premier League club now, with a manager and transfer policy that hasn’t let them down since their promotion to the top flight. Nathan Redmond has bags of potential and needs a solid platform, with solid teammates around him to fulfil that. New manager Puel seems to have Redmond right in the thick of his plans, as he’s featured him in every pre-season friendly so far, which is a positive for us fantasy football managers picking him. The main positive is that Redmond is quite simply very good at what he does, when he gets the ball, his head is up and he’s either trying to find a teammate who can score or trying to score himself, he’s a very positive player.
Last season he scored 6 goals and assisted 4 for Norwich which is good considering he played for a team who were under the cosh most of the season. Southampton have a great reputation of getting the best out of their young players, with them scoring plenty of points for us on fantasy football and then selling them to Liverpool, but never mind! Southampton’s first three home games are; Watford (H), Sunderland (H) and Swansea (H) and Nathan Redmond will certainly be trying to impress his new fans against some beatable sides. Worth a shot at 6.0m? There’s your reasons why.
Robert Snodgrass (Hull, 5.5m)
Here’s a nice solid differential bargain. Currently Robert Snodgrass has 0.8% of fantasy football managers selecting him and that’s nothing to do with himself, but more to do with Hull looking like the favourites to be relegated this season. Yes, he plays for Hull but Snodgrass is a free-kick maestro, whether it be in a shooting or crossing position and what do teams that won’t have much of the ball rely on? Set pieces.
He’s gone off the radar slightly since his awful injury in the 39th minute of the 2014/15 Premier League which took a year away from him, but in Norwich’s 2012/13 Premier League campaign he scored 6 and assisted 9 showing when he’s fit and firing, he can perform at the top flight. As said before it’s a differential and a risk, but this is what the series is about. Snodgrass has been starting in all of Hulls pre-season friendlies (apart from the one when his child was being born) and looks to be set and ready for another crack at the Premier League. 5.5m differential bargain? That’s one for you to think about!
There you go, four solid bargains all under 6.0m, let’s hope these four players deliver and bring us some green arrows, good luck picking!
Written by Tom Mellor (@MellorFootball)
