Gianni is back and providing his top three budget FPL defenders that can allow you to spend more money boosting your attacking options.
Sure, Arsenal and Liverpool defenders are good.
But in a game where clean sheets are far from guaranteed and money is tight, a “downgrade” in defence may drastically strengthen your attack and should, therefore, be considered when several sub-5 million defenders are putting up strong numbers.
Here are the top three budget differential defenders to cover the big guns.
FPL Gianni’s Top Three Budget Defenders Of Choice
1. Daniel Munoz (Crystal Palace)
The Crystal Palace defender is 3% owned and has seen a 0.3 price drop from his early season 5 million price tag – which looked good value.
He has two goals and two assists this season but ranks first for Expected Goals of all defenders.
Munoz is an open-play menace for the Eagles and benefits from playing as a wing-back, where he is always high and wide. In possession, he essentially operates as a winger.
Palace have been a mediocre source of clean sheets this season. But with an unbeatable fixture run on the horizon, expect clean sheets, attacking returns and, of course, bonus points aplenty for the Columbian.
2. Nikola Milenkovic (Nottingham Forest)
Milenkovic ranks second for Expected Goals from all defenders, and he’s up there with Gabriel as the most dangerous centre-back in the league from attacking set pieces.
Somehow, he’s in fewer than 5% of teams despite playing for a top-tier defence. Nottingham Forest have seven clean sheets this season and have managed to shut out teams like Liverpool and Tottenham – they’re arguably fixture-proof.
The Serb has played 90 minutes in every match since his first start in Gameweek 2 and, despite the mixed fixtures on the horizon, offers good points potential.
3. Timothy Castagne (Fulham)
The Belgian is now first choice at Fulham. Kenny Tete has been ruled out for a couple of months and the versatile defender has an opportunity to impress.
Bournemouth, Ipswich, West Ham and Leicester are his next four opponents. After an eye catching display against Chelsea – where he earned an assist – Castagne is surely the best budget defender in the game at only 4.2 million.
Owned by only 1%, Castagne played as a wing back against Chelsea as Fulham opted with a back five.
But, even if Marco Silva reverts to his favoured back four moving forward, Castagne will be given license to get forward and contribute to the attack.
Team mate Antonee Robinson is of course the better option. But he costs 0.7 million more, so the right back probably edges Robinson in the value stakes.
