Fantasy football has returned for another season, and though it is challenging to get the perfect balance of a team right with a transfer market budget in mind, having an affordable yet dependable team can be achieved.
However tempting it is to name a squad of superstars, having an all-star XI is hard to do when you have a capped transfer kitty.
Wilfried Zaha | Crystal Palace | £7m
Nine goals and seven assists last season saw Zaha finish as the Eagles’ top-scorer, and earned him various links with a move to Chelsea. The forward scored in Crystal Palace’s 2-0 win against Fulham on the opening day and was unlucky not to get a goal against Liverpool, though posed as an offensive threat at all times.
Danny Ings | Southampton | £5.5m
Ings’ injury-blighted seasons at Liverpool as well as falling down the pecking order to Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane saw him move to boyhood side Southampton on a loan deal earlier this summer, with a view to make the move permanent at the end of the season. Despite only a flurry of first-team appearances for Liverpool last year, Ings scored on his full debut for the Saints in their loss to Everton and may be a surprise success at St Mary’s this season.
Daniel Sturridge | Liverpool | £6.0m
The Liverpool striker has experienced somewhat of a resurgence for the Reds in pre-season following a disappointing loan spell at West Brom, emerging as top-scorer and putting pressure on the club’s front-three. The main issues regarding Sturridge are his fitness and ability to usurp the likes of Salah, Roberto Firmino and Mane to the starting XI, but would be a great option as an impact player or star sub.
Callum Wilson | Bournemouth | £6.1
Wilson has had an impressive start to the new Premier League season, scoring and assisting during their season-opener against Cardiff and hitting the back of the net against West Ham.