FPL bargains: The best cheap forwards, midfielders, defenders and goalkeepers in FPL 2024-25

Cameron Smith

• Updated: 17 Jul 2024 18:37 BST
• 6 min read

The 2024-25 edition of Fantasy Premier League season is officially here and we have you totally covered for the new campaign.

FPL is now live and prices have been revealed for all current Premier League players.

As always, FPL bosses have a £100 million budget to build a 15-man squad, which includes a starting XI and four subs.

READ MORE: The 10 most expensive FPL players in 2024-25

Several players have been handed price increases and this means that bargain buys will be more essential than ever this season.

For example, Erling Haaland is now £15m - the most expensive player in FPL history - while Cole Palmer is £10.5m and Arsenal trio Benjamin White (£6.5m), William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhes (both £6m) are also extremely expensive.

As a result, the strict budget means cheap options are necessary to stay within the £100m allowance.

These bargain buys are often key to an FPL manager’s success and must be picked correctly at the start of the game.

FootballTransfers lists three of the best FPL bargains per position for the 2023-24 season.

Goalkeepers

Robert Sanchez (Chelsea)

Chelsea were a leaky defensive team under Mauricio Pochettino, but that is unlikely to continue under new boss Enzo Maresca.

The Italian has hinted that Robert Sanchez will begin the season as his number one, as per reports, due to his ball-playing ability.

If Chelsea can return to their 2022-23 defensive solidity, then Sanchez will be a great pick at just £4.5m.

Bart Verbruggen (Brighton)

After rotating with Jason Steele during his debut campaign at Brighton & Hove Albion, Bart Verbruggen is likely to become the Seagulls’ outright number one this season.

He enjoyed an impressive Euro 2024 campaign with the Netherlands and could prove to be a bargain at £4.5m.

Fabian Hurzeler’s St Pauli conceded the fewest number of goals of any side in the 2.Bundesliga last season and his Brighton team could also be compact in 2024-25.

Mark Flekken (Brentford)

Only four goalkeepers scored more than Mark Flekken’s 119 FPL points last season, yet he remains a £4.5m option.

The Brentford goalkeeper appeared on this list last season and he proved us right with a fantastic debut Fantasy Premier League campaign.

He could be a great pick yet again this time around.

Defenders

Joachim Andersen (Crystal Palace)

Only nine defenders scored more than Joachim Andersen’s 121 FPL points last season, yet the Crystal Palace star is available at a bargain price of £4.5m.

The Denmark international is a threat from set pieces, while Palace were much improved under Oliver Glasner last season.

Andersen is a superb option at just £4.5m and should be in the majority of squads.

Vitalii Mykolenko (Everton)

Everton weren’t amazing under Sean Dyche last season, but they sure had a solid defensive unit.

Although he doesn’t possess the attacking threat of Jarrad Branthwaite, Vitalii Mykolenko is £0.5m cheaper than his Toffees team-mate and could be a smart pick-up at £4.5m.

He notched 101 FPL points last season and could be an interesting differential.

Reece James (Chelsea)

Reece James will miss the opening three matches of the new season through suspension, but he could be a great option at £5m if he can stay fit.

The risk of rotation is huge amid competition from Malo Gusto, but James was £5.5m last year and he is one of the best full-backs in world football when fully fit.

Compared to the price of Benjamin White for example (£6.5m), James could be an astute player if he can put together a consistent run of starts under Enzo Maresca.

Midfielders

Callum Hudson-Odoi (Nottingham Forest)

After a torrid few years of persistent injury troubles, Callum Hudson-Odoi appears to be back to his best and he enjoyed a productive first season at Nottingham Forest last year.

He tallied 109 FPL points, largely helped by eight league goals, and he established himself as a regular under Nuno Espirito Santo.

If he can continue the form he displayed during the final few months of the 2023-24 campaign, Hudson-Odoi could be a steal at just £5.5m.

Christopher Nkunku (Chelsea)

Christopher Nkunku endured an injury-disrupted debut season at Chelsea and he was unable to string together a consistent run of games.

However, the Frenchman is back to full fitness and he could thrive under new boss Maresca.

Although Nkunku faces significant competition from the overwhelming number of players in Chelsea’s squad, he is expected to play a key role this season and as a £6.5m midfielder in FPL, he could be the biggest bargain in the entire game.

Marcus Rashford (Man Utd)

The last time Marcus Rashford had a poor year was in 2020-21, and he bounced back with his best ever campaign at Man Utd the following season.

Red Devils fans will be hoping the same thing can happen this time around, and although his form last campaign doesn’t even justify his £7m price tag, Rashford could be a bargain if he rediscovers his best form.

This is a risky one, but Rashford could be a differential option and he has huge potential upside for £7m, especially as he was £9m last year.

Forwards

Joao Pedro (Brighton)

Joao Pedro rivals the aforementioned Nkunku for the title of the biggest bargain in FPL this year.

The Brazilian only started 19 league games last season, but he scored nine goals and provided three assists during that time. With no European football to contend with, Pedro is likely to be a guaranteed starter at Brighton, while he is crucially on penalties.

As a result, he is the perfect third striker at just £5.5m.

Iliman Ndiaye (Everton)

Iliman Ndiaye is a slightly rogue shout at only £5.5m.

His time at Marseille was extremely disappointing, but Ndiaye notched 25 goal contributions for Sheffield United during their promotion-winning campaign in 2022-23 and could be a key member of Everton’s attack.

Pedro is a more guaranteed option, but Ndiaye will have far lower ownership.

Kai Havertz (Arsenal)

You may be surprised that a player with an £8m price tag has appeared on a list of bargain buys, but Kai Havertz could be exactly that.

After moving into a centre forward position midway through last season, the German was a beast in FPL and he ended the campaign with 180 points - more than the likes of Dominic Solanke, Alexander Isak and Jean-Philippe Mateta.

Havertz isn’t cheap, but he could prove to be great value, especially considering Haaland is now £15m.