Bored of weighing up whether to have Leander Dendonker or Douglas Luiz on your bench next year?

Come on down to my bargain basement for a look at some cheap signings who could* do a job next season…

{Thread}

*Disclaimer – if you want stats, facts and heatmaps this isn’t the thread for you.

If you want wild speculation, poor judgment, and limited research keep reading!

Rules:

Prices & ownership taken at the end of GW 38+

Where possible I have avoided players who I assume will have a big price jump (e.g. Greenwood, Saka)

GK<£4.6m
DF<£4.3m
MD<5.0m
FW<5.1m

Categories: Safe, Risky or Maverick Selection

GK:

Alex McCarthy
Price: £4.5m
TSB 3.9%

Big Mac, The Mac Attack, Mac Daddy...Alex.

Soft spot for this man as he inexplicably found his way into my squad and didn't budge for the season. First choice for Saints who looked assured defensively after the restart.

Safe Choice

GK:

Tom Heaton
Price: £4.3m
TSB: 2.1%

Remember him?! Injured in GW21 he will surely take over from Reina once back to fitness. He will be playing behind an improving Villa defence...although that defence contains Tyrone Mings and Ezril Konsa so take your chances!

Risky Choice

GK:

Emiliano Martinez

Price: £4.4m
TSB: 3.8%

You know the guy; cried after the Final, ten years at Arsenal, six loan spells, redemption story, etc. Looked steady & reliable when called upon; will Arteta keep faith with him ahead of a fit Leno? Probably not.

Maverick Choice

DF:

Mason Holgate

Price: £4.2m
TSB: 1.6%

Rated by Ancelotti he should play for an Everton side who surely will improve defensively!? An uninspiring selection.

Will he start? Maybe.

Will he keep clean sheets? Who cares.

I’m bored. Let’s move on...

Safe Choice

DF:

Tariq Lamptey

Price: £4.1m
TSB: 1.5%

Established himself as first-choice right-back after lockdown even chipping in with an assist in GW34+ against Liverpool. Brighton aren’t watertight but he looks solid defensively and enjoys a raid forward – one to watch.

Risky Choice

DF:

Ben Johnson

Price: £4.0m
TSB: 2.2%

Now we're talking!

Played every minute of West Ham’s last three fixtures and looked good – reason enough to select him? No.

What if I told you he was Paul Parker’s nephew? Get in my squad immediately…if not sooner!

Maverick Choice

MD:

Jorginho

Price: £4.9m
TSB: 2.8%

If selected (and it's a big if) he will be feeding passes into one of the most exciting forward lines in the Premier League. Should also take up penalty duties on the departure of Willian.

Safe Choice

MD:

Daniel Podence

Price: £4.9m
TSB: 0.1%

Just look at that ownership! 20 points in the final four game weeks put him firmly on the ones to watch radar. By no means a first-choice pick for Wolves but the potential to bang!

Risky Choice

MD:

Tomas Soucek

Price: £4.8m
TSB: 0.4%

Massive bloke; tiny ownership! We all wanted a new Marouane Fellaini, didn’t we!?

7, 9, and 8 point returns after lockdown for the 6ft 4in Czech monster. If Moyes plays him off Antonio he could return BIG (get it?).

Maverick Choice

FW:

Aaron Connolly

Price: £4.2m
TSB: 2.7%

Whether playing alongside Maupay or as understudy he will get minutes in a Brighton side who have tidy midfielders capable of creating chances. A boring selection (I never promised this would be a fun thread).

Safe choice.

FW:

Gabriel Martinelli

Price: £4.2m
TSB: 1.8%

An exciting prospect who was just starting to make his mark before injury ended his season. He will get minutes to flourish under Arteta and has the potential to ‘do a Greenwood’.

Risky Choice.

FW:

Dwight Gayle

Price: £5.0m
TSB: 0.5%

Look at his numbers from GW31+! Ashley isn’t buying a new centre forward so it’s him, Carroll, or Joelinton up top (stop laughing!). Almiron & ASM provide the chances and I reckon Brucey trusts him to put them away.

Maverick Choice

There you have it; the bargain basement.

If you follow the advice and Johnson whips one in for Soucek to head home during GW1 you owe me a beer!

Pjanić