Fantasy Premier League (FPL) managers looking for budget-friendly alternatives will be pleased with this week’s selection, which prioritizes value over big names. The latest team of the week excludes premium picks like Mohamed Salah, Erling Haaland, and Cole Palmer, instead focusing on in-form players from Bournemouth, Arsenal, and Brighton.
With FPL prices constrained to a £100m Free Hit budget, the squad is built around low-cost, high-impact players. Bournemouth’s attacking trio of Dango Ouattara (£5.1m), Antoine Semenyo (£5.7m), and Justin Kluivert (£6m) headline the selection, with Ouattara named captain. His recent hat-trick at home highlights his explosive potential.
Meanwhile, Arsenal’s Ethan Nwaneri (£4.6m) earns a place as he emerges as a promising attacking outlet amid the Gunners’ injury concerns. Brighton’s Kaoru Mitoma (£6.3m) also features after netting three double-digit returns in his last five outings.
Arsenal dominates the defensive selections, with Gabriel (£6.3m) and William Saliba (£6.2m) picked to capitalize on West Ham’s poor scoring form. Fulham’s Antonee Robinson (£5.1m) earns his spot due to his impressive assist record, second only to Salah and Bukayo Saka among Premier League players.
Aston Villa’s Ollie Watkins (£8.9m) takes the vice-captain role, looking to exploit Chelsea’s defensive vulnerabilities. Ipswich’s Liam Delap (£5.6m) is a wildcard pick against Tottenham, with Spurs conceding a high number of shots despite recent clean sheets.
The bench features Brighton goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen (£4.5m), Manchester City’s Josko Gvardiol (£5.9m), Fulham’s Raul Jimenez (£5.6m), and Brentford’s Nathan Collins (£4.5m). Everton’s Beto (£4.9m), who has four goals in three gameweeks, is also recommended as a budget alternative.
Manchester City’s upcoming fixtures include a home clash against Liverpool, followed by away matches against Spurs and Nottingham Forest. With a blank gameweek approaching for Liverpool, FPL managers may consider reintegrating City assets such as Omar Marmoush (£7.1m) or Haaland (£14.7m) into their squads.
With a budget-conscious approach proving successful in recent weeks, will this strategy outperform premium-heavy teams once again? FPL managers will be watching closely.
