Moving Target

Walker-Peters has fixtures but as yet unproven pedigree as a budget FPL defender

Southampton’s only significant capture of the January transfer window saw Kyle Walker-Peters (£4.4m) move to St Mary’s on loan until the end of 2019/20.

The much-underused Tottenham Hotspur right-back, who has made only 12 Premier League appearances for the Lilywhites over the last three seasons, is effectively a replacement for Cedric Soares (£4.8m), who moved to the red half of north London last month.

Walker-Peters was not considered for the Gameweek 25 clash with Liverpool because of a lack of pre-match preparation but the winter break came at a good time for the Spurs loanee, who finally made his Southampton debut against Burnley on Saturday.

Is the budget Fantasy Premier League asset worthy of consideration, then, with other Southampton defenders available for a similar amount of money?

The Saints certainly have the fixtures, as they sit top of our Season Ticker over the next four Gameweeks and have a decent-looking match against West Ham United in Blank Gameweek 28.

As part of our ongoing transfer window coverage, we take a look at Walker-Peters’ prospects in the Moving Target article below.

You can read our reports on some other new arrivals via the following links:

The History and Statistics

Progressing through Spurs’ academy and into the reserve side, Walker-Peters was first involved with the senior team as an unused substitute in the Premier League match against Bournemouth in March 2016.

Not called upon the following season, the young full-back’s full debut finally came in the opening game of 2017/18, with Mauricio Pochettino’s side running out 2-0 winners at St James’ Park.

His only other start in that campaign came in Gameweek 38, when he set up two of Spurs’ goals in a nine-goal thriller against Leicester, although there were other run-outs in the FA Cup, EFL Cup and (as a substitute) in the UEFA Champions League.

There were a further six Premier League appearances (four from the start) in 2018/19, with Walker-Peters’ season perhaps best remembered for his hat-trick of assists in the 5-0 win over Bournemouth on Boxing Day.

The 22-year-old defender started this season as first choice in his position, making the starting XI in Gameweeks 1 to 3, although the return to fitness of Serge Aurier (£5.0m) shunted him down the pecking order at right-back and Pochettino even turned to Moussa Sissoko (£4.8m) in that position in Gameweek 8 when Aurier was sidelined through suspension.

Walker-Peters wasn’t called upon by Pochettino or Jose Mourinho since, save for one run-out in the dead rubber of a Champions League tie against Bayern Munich in December.

With less than 1,000 minutes of top-flight football to his name in total, there is very little meaningful that we can analyse from an underlying stats perspective.

His minutes-per-chance created averages last season (53) and in 2017/18 (68) were among the best in the division among FPL defenders but we’re talking about such a small pool of data (374 minutes and 188 minutes respectively) that we have to treat those figures with understandable caution.

First Match – Scout Report

594 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Rinseboy
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Thoughts on Son and Firmino to Mane and DCL?
    or Son and Mooy to Traore and Richarlison? (and consider a bench boost!)

    Pope
    Stephens Stevens TAA Boly Fernandez
    KDB Salah Barnes Son Mooy
    Jimi Ings Firmino

    1. Konstaapeli
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Mane + DCL much better

      1. Rinseboy
        • 12 Years
        4 years, 1 month ago

        yeah tempting for sure. DCl fixtures are off putting tho but are they really that bad?

        1. Konstaapeli
          • 7 Years
          4 years, 1 month ago

          Next two aren't really red.

          1. Rinseboy
            • 12 Years
            4 years, 1 month ago

            can actually afford Tammy over DCL also? (if hes fit)

    2. Hotdogs for Tea
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      So to Moura ?

  2. The Train Driver
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Would you cap Haaland or Mbappe in tonights game?

    1. Greek Freak
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Mbappe.

      What about Haaland vs. Mane? Leaning towards Haaland probably.

      1. The Train Driver
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 1 month ago

        Haaland IMO, was thinking he edges Mbappe because of home game. PSG obviously stronger side but Haaland better form and both have pretty bad defences..

        1. Greek Freak
          • 8 Years
          4 years, 1 month ago

          That's fair enough, can't argue against it really. Both PSG and Dortmund have been pretty bad defensively as you say. I really wanted Mbappe myself but for some reason I can't part with Messi. (and Lewandowski is going nowhere)

      2. The Train Driver
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 1 month ago

        Away to Atletico is a pretty hard game...

        1. Greek Freak
          • 8 Years
          4 years, 1 month ago

          Yep I'm convinced - Haaland it is for me. Would probably go Mbappe if I had him but you have to go with your gut if you narrowly prefer Haaland.

    2. Epic Fail
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Yes

      1. The Train Driver
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 1 month ago

        I don't have a double cap chip 🙁

  3. fc_skrald
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Use the money or save it?

    a. Digne -> PvA
    b. Digne -> Williams/other cheap player to save 1.5 million

    McCarthy
    TAA, Lundstram, Robertson, Aurier
    Salah, KDB, Grealish
    Aubameyang, Ings, Jiménez

    Martin, Digne, Hayden, Cantwell
    2 FT, 1,4 million in the bank

    1. Jullepuu
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Digne to someone cheap

  4. Slitherene
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Moves for GW 28.

    A) Fodder, Auba -> Evans, Vardy
    B) Fodder, KdB -> Pereira, Maddison

    Should I be keeping Auba or KdB?

  5. Ajax Hamsterdam
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Ryan (button)
    Vvd taa Stephens ( soy Hanley)
    Salah kdb grealish traore (cantwell)
    Vardy auba DCL

    1.5 itb
    1 ft
    A save
    B DCL to ings

    Thanks a lot

  6. FC Hakkebøf
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Last post.. Sorry for spamming, but been working all day and had no time to think..

    Which combo for CL?

    A) Messi, Bergwijn, Atalanta defender
    B) Mbappe, Di Maria, Atalanta defender
    C) Mbappe, Alli, Meunier
    D) Mane, Di Maria, Meunier

  7. Monkey Hanger
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Jurgen with a nice wig on.