FPL
11 August 2025 664 comments
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Shortly after the relaunch of Fantasy Premier League (FPL) for 2025/26, we attempted to pick out the best £4.0m defenders in the game.

Now that we’ve seen every pre-season friendly take place, we have an even better idea of which of these bargain buys will start in Gameweek 1.

£4.0M DEFENDERS – PRE-SEASON GAME-TIME

Before we go further, a quick look at the £4.0m defenders with the most pre-season minutes. This data comes courtesy of our trusty Pre-Season Minutes Tracker.

We should stress that some sides contested friendlies, especially earlier in the summer, that were played behind closed doors and were kept relatively hush-hush. Line-up information wasn’t available for those games, so the true number for some of the names below may be slightly different.

With that caveat ringing in your ears, here are the leading names for (known) pre-season game-time:

 

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  1. g40steve
    • 7 Years
    3 months, 25 days ago

    Pedro or Mateta can only have one 🙁

    1. Eric Banternaaa
      • 11 Years
      3 months, 25 days ago

      Pedro

    2. JerseyD
      • 14 Years
      3 months, 25 days ago

      Pedro

    3. FPL Blow-In
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      3 months, 25 days ago

      I’ve gone Mateta for more minutes

      1. g40steve
        • 7 Years
        3 months, 25 days ago

        This is my dilema, gets 90 & pens vs playing in a team with Palmer feeding a prolific striker?

        1. AAAFootball
            3 months, 25 days ago

            Pedro for fixtures, but i like both and will certainly consider JP (Mateta) when i wildcard

            Just realised that JP refers to both of them lol

          • Ron_Swanson
            • 15 Years
            3 months, 25 days ago

            Pedro scored 5 non penalty goals in each of the last two seasons

      2. benbrowning81
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 1 Year
        3 months, 25 days ago

        Pedro.

        I’ve swung completely around in this.

        I didn’t think he was amazing at Brighton. Too streaky.

        But he seems to be loving playing with Palmer. (to be fair, who wouldn’t?)

        May have minutes managed but Delap has still got a lot to prove if Lego maintains form and the first few fixtures give Pedro the edge.

        1. AAAFootball
            3 months, 25 days ago

            I think Pedro has a huge advantage in his versatility

            He could be played as 9, as LW, as RW, or as 10 with CP at RW

            Palmer has made him a good player

        2. AAAFootball
            3 months, 25 days ago

            Cry with me

            Let me guess
            Haaland and Watkins?

          • g40steve
            • 7 Years
            3 months, 25 days ago

            Sels,
            Munoz, Cucu, Diouf
            Palmer, Salah, Bruno, Reijnders, Ndoye
            Pedro, Watkins

            Dubs, Konsa, Gudmund, Guiu

            1. AAAFootball
                3 months, 25 days ago

                Oh interesting

                Sell cucu to tark
                sell munoz to lacroix
                sell bruno to rogers

                and get mateta in there!!!!!

            2. Boz
              • 13 Years
              3 months, 25 days ago

              I'm on JPM at the moment. The Delap factor puts me off Pedro

            3. Mother Farke
              • 1 Year
              3 months, 25 days ago

              Pedro scored v Milan, but he was also clean through - from a Sanchez pass - for Milan's red card. He will 100% be amongst the points when he starts.

              Perhaps it's wise to start with him, but entertain the thought of selling once Delap genuinely looks a threat? This will be around the Champions League starting imo.

              1. Ze_Austin
                • 7 Years
                3 months, 25 days ago

                Leaning that way. I've got so many possible exit routes that I feel comfortable starting with him

                1. Mother Farke
                  • 1 Year
                  3 months, 25 days ago

                  Yeah, loads of choice around 7.5.

                  If course, it's worth noting Pedro could fall in price early in a worst case scenario.

            4. mike8272
              • 2 Years
              3 months, 25 days ago

              Mateta is the safer pick because Pedro and Delap could get rotated.

              Which player has the most upside out of Mateta and Pedro? Flip a coin.

          • JerseyD
            • 14 Years
            3 months, 25 days ago

            Ok, my first and hopefully only RMT of the season:

            Sanchez
            N Williams, Van De Ven, Diouf
            Saka, Wirtz, Bruno, Reijnders
            Haaland, Watkins, Pedro

            Dubravka, Drewsbury-Hall, De-Cuyper, Gudmudsson

            Any feedback appreciated

            1. FPL Blow-In
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 13 Years
              3 months, 25 days ago

              I like it, very nice. Similar structure for me playing 343

              1. Boz
                • 13 Years
                3 months, 25 days ago

                Really like it!

            2. AAAFootball
                3 months, 25 days ago

                Pretty decent

                Watch:
                - dub injury
                - Reijnders rotation
                - Apparantely forest are considering a Neco replacement
                - KDH is a minor rotation doubt with all of the new signings. He should start but will likely be playing 8 instead of 10. Not a problem on the bench
                - Would not reccomend going without palmer, probably saka> palmer and drop one of bruno, wirtz, de cuyper for someone like 7.5s or 4.0

                1. AAAFootball
                    3 months, 25 days ago

                    Sorry that sounds like i hate your draft. Its a good draft, just telling you any concerns that may arise

                    1. JerseyD
                      • 14 Years
                      3 months, 25 days ago

                      Thanks, I agree with your comments KDH is a concern for me but I’m going to WC 3”early (I always end up doing it) so I’m happy he’ll start for the first few GW’s

                2. benbrowning81
                  • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                  • 1 Year
                  3 months, 25 days ago

                  It’s amazing how much easier the game feels with Haaland over Salah isn’t it?

                  De Cuyper doesn’t excite me in that bracket. I don’t see Brighton scoring many and I think Mitoma will get frustrated. That could mean he comes inside opening up space for DC but my feeling is he will probably stay wide and hog the ball blocking the channel.

                  Front three is beautiful.

                  I worry about a slow start at Spurs so VDV hasn’t made the cut for me.

                  1. JerseyD
                    • 14 Years
                    3 months, 25 days ago

                    VVD has been in and out, I’m going to see how they deal with PSG before making a final decision.

                    Decuyper is due to his good rotation with Diouf but I share your concern there

              • Mother Farke
                • 1 Year
                3 months, 25 days ago

                I think I'm at peace with this:

                Sels
                Cucurella Tarkowski De Cuyper
                Saka Palmer Wirtz Rutter* Reijnders
                Watkins (C) Joao Pedro

                Dubravka Evanilson Konsa Munoz

                * Still switching between him and Minteh.

                1.0m banked for tweaks.

                1. AAAFootball
                    3 months, 25 days ago

                    Rutter IMO has the 9 more likely and the 10 as well

                    By the looks of things you have a complicated rotation going

                    Best of luck!

                    1. Mother Farke
                      • 1 Year
                      3 months, 25 days ago

                      Thanks!

                      Yeah, Munoz and Tarkowski compliment each other:

                      lee NFO wol SUN whu WHU

                      Then I will WC most likely.

                      1. AAAFootball
                          3 months, 25 days ago

                          TBH if you want to save funds you can just set and forget Tark

                          He gets so much DC and random CS or goals

                          1. Mother Farke
                            • 1 Year
                            3 months, 25 days ago

                            That's true, but I really like Munoz haha. I like being entertained by my teams, usually. Never going to win the whole tthing, might aswell enjoy myself.

                            1. AAAFootball
                                3 months, 25 days ago

                                Yeah fair enough he is excellent

                                Could then drop Cucu and De cuyper for a lot of cash and a good set and forget 3

                                Although with no ultra premiums you aren't really strapped for money

                      2. benbrowning81
                        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                        • 1 Year
                        3 months, 25 days ago

                        I like the Rutter pick. Kind of.

                        Concerned about Brighton output.

                        They won’t get many cs either so De Cuyper is a pick I can’t get into.

                        Plus Fulham are exactly the kind of team Brighton have tended to struggle against.

                        He’s a wait and see for me.

                        1. Mother Farke
                          • 1 Year
                          3 months, 25 days ago

                          With De Cuyper being a set-piece specialist, I think he's worth the risk. His FPL potential is certainly there.

                          I'd rather risk him than get someone like Van de Ven, for example, who can't stay fit.

                          Which 4.5s are you eyeing up out of interest?

                          1. AAAFootball
                              3 months, 25 days ago

                              Konsa is reliable but boring

                              For now i have Diouf but will likely sell for konsa gw2

                              I also have Van de ven with gritted teeth

                              Was very interested in David moller Wolfe but the price is still waiting

                              Agbadou also

                              But my ideal would be Udogie if he recovers in time

                              1. Mother Farke
                                • 1 Year
                                3 months, 25 days ago

                                Yeah, agree on Konsa. That said, I watched the Villa highlights and he almost scored from a corner.

                                Both Van de Ven and Udogie rule themselves out of my thinking due to them being unreliable fitness wise. Imagine being letdown by an injury when you really need them to play?

                                Agbadou is a good player, but I can see Wolves really struggling this season. I'd rather stick with De Cuyper. At least Brighton are on the front-foot in most games?

                      3. FHRITP
                        • 2 Years
                        3 months, 25 days ago

                        Nouri or Gvardiol???

                        Well, I mean if Nouri starts every game, then Nouri. But will he???

                        1. AAAFootball
                            3 months, 25 days ago

                            Ask a magic bird

                          • Ze_Austin
                            • 7 Years
                            3 months, 25 days ago

                            Gvardiol is injured

                            1. AAAFootball
                                3 months, 25 days ago

                                Thank you magic bird

                              • FHRITP
                                • 2 Years
                                3 months, 25 days ago

                                Problem solved.

                          • Count of Monte Hristo
                            • 12 Years
                            3 months, 25 days ago

                            (c) Salah or Haaland in GW1?

                            1. AAAFootball
                                3 months, 25 days ago

                                Haaland all the way

                                Or bowen if you have him because isn't that the point of having him?

                                1. Count of Monte Hristo
                                  • 12 Years
                                  3 months, 25 days ago

                                  No Bowen for me.

                            2. Sheffield Wednesday
                              • 5 Years
                              3 months, 25 days ago

                              Hey FFScout, any news on the guess-the-fpl-prices-for-2025-26-and-win-ffscout-membership competition?
                              Can't see any announcement on HT or Community

                              https://www.fantasyfootballscout.co.uk/2025/06/30/guess-the-fpl-prices-for-2025-26-and-win-ffscout-membership

                              1. AAAFootball
                                  3 months, 25 days ago

                                  Yeah fact

                                  I could have won!!

                                  but the rest of you would have had to be so bad for that to happen lol

                                  1. Sheffield Wednesday
                                    • 5 Years
                                    3 months, 25 days ago

                                    Time is running out to take advantage of free membership before the deadline.

                                    1. Ze_Austin
                                      • 7 Years
                                      3 months, 25 days ago

                                      The flashbacks...

                              2. AAAFootball
                                  3 months, 25 days ago

                                  WTF are these ads?

                                  "Teacher in bikini leaves nothing to the imagination?"

                                  WTF?
                                  This is a family friendly website!

                                  1. MC Hammer
                                    • 13 Years
                                    3 months, 25 days ago

                                    Taking the name 'Fantasy' in a whole new direction

                                    1. AAAFootball
                                        3 months, 25 days ago

                                        {face palm}

                                        lol

                                  2. Count of Monte Hristo
                                    • 12 Years
                                    3 months, 25 days ago

                                    Will Bizot be the new number 1 at Villa or they are looking to buy a new keeper?

                                    1. 2008 Antony
                                        3 months, 25 days ago

                                        Martinez is still there, but suspended for GW1

                                      • mike8272
                                        • 2 Years
                                        3 months, 25 days ago

                                        All depends on if Martinez leaves, but since Gauci has gone out on loan, they would probably need to sign another goalkeeper if Martinez left. Whether that would be as backup or to start is debatable.

                                    2. Zenith UK
                                      • 9 Years
                                      3 months, 25 days ago

                                      The final drawing? BB1

                                      Sels, Dubravka
                                      RAN, VVD, VDV, Diouf, Gudmundsson
                                      Salah, Palmer, Kudus, Rice, Reijnders
                                      Watkins, Joao Pedro, Fullkrug

                                      1. AAAFootball
                                          3 months, 25 days ago

                                          Gudmunsson will not keep it clean

                                          at least esteve will get the dcs and whats the bet spurs bottle

                                          1. Zenith UK
                                            • 9 Years
                                            3 months, 25 days ago

                                            After GW1 he’s there for the bench at 4.0, I also don’t have EVE pegged as massive scorers so here hoping

                                            1. AAAFootball
                                                3 months, 25 days ago

                                                I hate playing fpl against my own team lol so could never start leeds gw1

                                                I also rate us a lot more than i probably should.
                                                ( although playing beto plus tark vs pool was a masterstroke last year)

                                          2. benbrowning81
                                            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                                            • 1 Year
                                            3 months, 25 days ago

                                            Some really nice picks there.

                                            I think Rice + Reijnders could be incredible.

                                            Little bit risky for me though.

                                            Something I’m toying with is, can I get better returns off 2x 5.5 and 2x 5’s in defence?

                                            Not figured it out yet but maybe something to look into if you haven’t already.

                                            1. AAAFootball
                                                3 months, 25 days ago

                                                Interesting thought i am thinking right now to go with two 5.5s and then a rotating pair of 4.5s

                                                A huge question is if 4 at the back with 2 bench attackers outscores a traditional lineup

                                              • Zenith UK
                                                • 9 Years
                                                3 months, 25 days ago

                                                Reijnders is already 5.5 so only risking Rice/Kudus, I think Rice is a banker with Zubamendi signing. Kudus will probably switch out eventually

                                                Happy with Diouf plus VDV can become someone like Guehi if TOT don’t kick on is my though process

                                                1. DavvaMC
                                                  • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                                                  • 4 Years
                                                  3 months, 25 days ago

                                                  Do you think Rice will be more advanced now?

                                                  1. Ze_Austin
                                                    • 7 Years
                                                    3 months, 25 days ago

                                                    I'm not sure he's looked that way in preseason. The last one even got me interested in Zubimendi himself:

                                                    https://www.fantasyfootballscout.co.uk/2025/08/10/fpl-pre-season-gyokeres-goal-4-0m-hill-kluivert-injury

                                                    1. DavvaMC
                                                      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                                                      • 4 Years
                                                      3 months, 25 days ago

                                                      You prefer Zub then? Not see any preseason yet.

                                                      1. Ze_Austin
                                                        • 7 Years
                                                        3 months, 25 days ago

                                                        No preference yet. Just what happened when I read about their roles on the pitch

                                                        I thought Zubimendi would stay withdrawn and allow Rice to be more forward. Now they're interchanging instead

                                                        Rice still has some set pieces, and does get forward himself too. My expectations have been tempered a bit though

                                                2. benbrowning81
                                                  • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                                                  • 1 Year
                                                  3 months, 25 days ago

                                                  I like it. Just posted my 5.5 defenders draft for your delectation / desecration.

                                          3. FPL Sanky
                                            • 2 Years
                                            3 months, 25 days ago

                                            How is this looking?

                                            Kelleher Dubravka
                                            Diouf Guehi N.Williams DeCuyper Gudmundson
                                            Palmer Wirtz Saka KDH Sarr
                                            Haaland Watkins Piroe

                                            1. FPL Sanky
                                              • 2 Years
                                              3 months, 25 days ago

                                              Piroe at 5.5 is a regular starter for LEE....right?

                                          4. AAAFootball
                                              3 months, 25 days ago

                                              Here is my draft.

                                              It is called "Where did all the money go?"
                                              Sels
                                              Milenkovic Tarky Diouf Van de ven
                                              Palmer Kudus Grealish
                                              Haaland Watkins J Pedro

                                              Hegyi I.Sarr Malen Esteve

                                              1.0 ITB but i wanted to have 0.5 to start.

                                              I wanted VDV to porro but then not quite good
                                              I wanted malen to rogers but also not quite good

                                              Has excellent rotation but a lot of ifs

                                              1. el polako
                                                • 8 Years
                                                3 months, 25 days ago

                                                Kudus and Grealish in midfield is one punt too many for my liking.

                                              2. Mother Farke
                                                • 1 Year
                                                3 months, 25 days ago

                                                I like the general build, but regarding the midfield:

                                                - I can't see Grealish being fit to start v Leeds
                                                - Kudus reminds me of Saint-Maximin. Lots of industry, but little delivery. Can be very frustrating in FPL terms.
                                                - Malen won't start

                                                I love the Sarr pick. In fact, I'd start him every week.

                                            • Coaly
                                              • 13 Years
                                              3 months, 25 days ago

                                              a) Bowen, Rogers, Potts
                                              b) Thiago, Wirtz, KDH

                                              1. el polako
                                                • 8 Years
                                                3 months, 25 days ago

                                                A

                                            • pmletch
                                              • 10 Years
                                              3 months, 25 days ago

                                              No premium looks aggressive, a high ceiling to. Considering it as Salah could share points this year.

                                              0.5ITB:
                                              Verbruggen (Dub)
                                              Saliba, Cucurella, Diouf (Richards, Esteve)
                                              Wirtz, Palmer, Bruno, Gakpo (Dewsbury-Hall)
                                              Gyokeres, Watkins, Pedro

                                            • benbrowning81
                                              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                                              • 1 Year
                                              3 months, 25 days ago

                                              I really like the 5.5 defenders which gives options.

                                              Sanchez, (Dubravka)

                                              Murillo, Tarkowski, AWB, *, (Esteve)

                                              Palmer, Salah, Wirtz, **, Rice

                                              Bowen, Pedro (Guiu)

                                              So, QUESTION:

                                              * Lewis-Skelly / Mikilenkovic
                                              ** Rutter / Reijnders +.5 / Anderson +.5

                                              QUESTION 2:

                                              With +.5
                                              Esteve => VVD
                                              Or
                                              Tarkowski => VDV

                                              1. Dutchy FPL
                                                • 2 Years
                                                3 months, 25 days ago

                                                Maybe consider Munoz, can hide him on your bench for GW1 with this team, for the ** I'm on Anderson at the moment, others a wait and see for me.

                                                1. benbrowning81
                                                  • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                                                  • 1 Year
                                                  3 months, 25 days ago

                                                  Yea, I like that Munoz move thanks Duchy

                                            • Dutchy FPL
                                              • 2 Years
                                              3 months, 25 days ago

                                              Solanke has been in my draft since day one, but moving him to Mateta and accept the three 'difficult' fixtures seems more logical now. J. Pedro is another option at my 7.5 price point but I just can't look past the minutes risk. I will only add one of these and Wildcard late (probably GW13). Who would you choose?

                                              1. el polako
                                                • 8 Years
                                                3 months, 25 days ago

                                                I’m on Mateta at the moment - 90 minutes plus pens.

                                                Thinking Joao Pedro may be this seasons main flop pick.

                                                1. Dutchy FPL
                                                  • 2 Years
                                                  3 months, 25 days ago

                                                  Leaning that way to. Are you planning on starting him in GW1?

                                                  1. el polako
                                                    • 8 Years
                                                    3 months, 25 days ago

                                                    Yes, with my team set up will start him every week.

                                              2. benbrowning81
                                                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                                                • 1 Year
                                                3 months, 25 days ago

                                                I have fully swung round to Pedro.

                                                Seems to be loving link up with Palmer.

                                                A better player than last season. His issue was being so streaky. He was also playing in a severely hampered Brighton team without a settled attack around him.

                                                Fully expect him to be worth the minutes risk especially in those first few fixtures. Hard for Delap to get game time if JP keeps up preseason form.

                                            • Silecro
                                              • 8 Years
                                              3 months, 25 days ago

                                              Hello,
                                              Which one would you start?

                                              A) Evanilson vs liverpool
                                              B) Sarr vs chelsea

                                              1. Dutchy FPL
                                                • 2 Years
                                                3 months, 25 days ago

                                                B

                                            • potatoace
                                              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                                              • 14 Years
                                              3 months, 25 days ago

                                              Are people BB gw1 with Dubravka?
                                              He's a risk right?
                                              If not, interested to hear your BBgw1 gk pairing

                                              1. benbrowning81
                                                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                                                • 1 Year
                                                3 months, 25 days ago

                                                I see BB1 as a risk anyway.

                                                Too many new signings I want that could miss minutes this week, and too few nailed enablers (eg Dub, Guiu).

                                                That said I’m looking to run Laterisers WC13 Stratrgy so may have a little while to use the BB.

                                              2. Dutchy FPL
                                                • 2 Years
                                                3 months, 25 days ago

                                                If you go for a BB1 I think a 4.5 GK pairing and an early Wildcard is the way to go now (Verbruggen and Areola / Kelleher, if fit).

                                              3. Ze_Austin
                                                • 7 Years
                                                3 months, 25 days ago

                                                As strong an indication as any other to delay the chip, imo. Along with Kelleher & Perri knocks, Bijol's suspension, West Ham GK uncertainty, Guiu's slow integration, not sure which 4.5 mid will start

                                                *If* you're going Dúbravka/Guiu cheap on BB1, you could just "throw it away" in a random later GW when we're sure of which cheap guys are starting, so you'll already have them for your bench anyway... And won't need a WC to sell after

                                                Imo, the non-risky GKs who seem likely to keep a GW1 CS are 5.0+: Vicario and Pickford. Maybe Bizot at 4.5, if you're set on WC2

                                            • ☈☾
                                              • 8 Years
                                              3 months, 25 days ago

                                              Cant wait for Sesko v Gyokeres GW1!

                                              1. Holmes
                                                • 12 Years
                                                3 months, 25 days ago

                                                Gyroscope will bury him

                                            • Wirtz Nightmare
                                              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                                              3 months, 25 days ago

                                              eam after lots of chopping and changing , maybe a little template.
                                              Like to hear your thoughts

                                              Sanchez
                                              VVD VDV williams
                                              Salah Palmer Bruno Reindeer i.Sarr
                                              Watkins Pedro

                                              Dubz Guiu Richards esteve

                                              1. Boz
                                                • 13 Years
                                                3 months, 25 days ago

                                                Solid and that's what you need for GW1

                                            • Downtown
                                              • 15 Years
                                              3 months, 25 days ago

                                              Haaland or Palmer?

                                              1. Ze_Austin
                                                • 7 Years
                                                3 months, 25 days ago

                                                Cold Palms

                                            • amsemp
                                              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                                              • 9 Years
                                              3 months, 25 days ago

                                              G2G? Monitoring Rogers and Baleba at the moment. I can’t bring myself to tinker anymore.

                                              Sanchez, Dubravka
                                              Murillo, Tarkowski, Lacroix, Diouf, Esteve
                                              Salah, Palmer, Semenyo, Rogers, Baleba
                                              Watkins, Evanilson, Strand Larsen

                                            • Stockport Hatter
                                              • 9 Years
                                              3 months, 25 days ago

                                              Is Estevao likely to be starting for Chelsea?

                                            • Rabb05
                                              • 4 Years
                                              3 months, 25 days ago

                                              2 of these 3 please (don't have salah but have wirz)

                                              1. Ekitike
                                              2.Gyokores
                                              3. Watkins

                                            • b91jh
                                              • 8 Years
                                              3 months, 25 days ago

                                              A) Sels, Cucu, Gakpo, Rogers
                                              or
                                              B) Sanchez, Neco, Bruno, Reijnders
                                              ?
                                              (Have Wirtz, Salah-less)

                                              1. b91jh
                                                • 8 Years
                                                3 months, 25 days ago

                                                Gakpo should be I.Sarr for option A, typo

                                            • pundit of punts
                                              • 12 Years
                                              3 months, 25 days ago

                                              GW 1 BB team

                                              Viacrio
                                              Takowski - Spence - VdV
                                              Salah - Palmer - Ndiaye - Reijnders
                                              Watkins - Pedro - Wood

                                              Sels - KDH - Williams - Diouf

                                              WC GW 4 and FH GW 6 is the plan. So, very short term picks. Thoughts? 🙂