A palpable buzz around Fantasy Premier League continues to grow with the game having officially released its updated version for the 2022/23 season earlier this week. With fans looking forward to their respective teams’ pre-season fixtures whilst anticipating the arrivals of several talents alongside catching a glimpse of newer additions before the start of the campaign, FPL managers have already begun creating their first drafts as they look forward to locking a formidable team on road to the first game-week of the new season.
Amongst the notably improved clubs last season, a promising campaign saw Graham Potter’s Brighton & Hove Albion secure a top-half finish for the first time since their promotion to the Premier League in 2017. Comprising a handful of exciting players across the board, the Seagulls offer a notable roster of assets capable of delivering valuable FPL throughout the upcoming season.
Leandro Trossard (£6.5m) alongside Danny Welbeck (£6.5mn) and Neil Maupay (£6.5) emerge as the most expensive of Brighton’s assets, with a raft of mid-priced defenders and midfielders following suit. Club captain Lewis Dunk (£4.5mn) and left-back Marc Cucurella (£5.0m) are likely to garner substantial interest from FPL managers, with goal-keeper Robert Sanchez (£4.5) and right-back Tariq Lamptey (£4.5), too, establishing themselves as notable options moving forward.
With prices of every registered player having been revealed following the official release, the upcoming campaign is expected to continue delivering intriguing competitions for places across the board. However, while most managers are likely to contemplate drafting in the most noticeable names, the focus for seasoned managers, as ever, remains on drafting in understated assets capable of delivering sustainable points over the course of the upcoming season.
LEWIS DUNK (DEF, £4.5M)
A consistent feature in Brighton’s starting lineups throughout the season, Dunk emerges as the most reliable of the club’s defensive options ahead of the upcoming campaign. Having registered 10 clean sheets alongside a goal at the end of the 21/22 season, the 29-year-old centre-back remains pivotal to the team’s prospects this season.
Registering a combined 350 FPL points across the last three Premier League seasons, Dunk cements himself as a notable budget option amongst defensive assets. Besides the centre-back’s consistency, the Englishman also possesses a goal-threat during set-pieces alongside being a keen passer; registering the fifth-highest number of passes completed into the final third (85) amongst teammates last season.
With the team unlikely to lose their defensive solidity next season, Dunk emerges as a notable asset amongst defenders this season. Having been amongst the underrated options in recent campaigns, the centre-back is likely to continue delivering suitable returns throughout the upcoming campaign.
MARC CUCURELLA (DEF, £5.0M)
Amongst Brighton’s most coveted assets, Cucurella emerges amongst those expected to significantly improve their tally of points in the upcoming season. Having shown immense promise – registering 11 clean sheets alongside a goal and an assist – last season, the Spanish full-back is likely to establish himself as a defensive asset capable of delivering substantial returns over the coming campaign.
Although not boasting a commendable number of expected goal contributions, Cucurella ranked first for passes completed into the final third (133) and second for passes completed into the 18-year-box (52) amongst teammates last season. Additionally, the Spanish full-back registered the third-highest number of shot-creating actions (78) alongside completing the highest number of carries into the final third of the pitch (64) at the club at the end of the 21/22 campaign.
While having been strongly linked with a move to Manchester City this summer, Cucurella is likely to gain substantial minutes in the league this season. Amongst the most exciting full-backs across clubs in the English top-tier, the Spaniard is projected to deliver favourable returns over the coming season.
DENIZ UNDAV (FWD, £5.5M)
An exciting FPL prospect, Brighton’s newly acquired striker cements himself as a tempting option in the forward position. Having registered a remarkable 27 goals and 13 assists across all competitions, the former Union Saint-Gilloise striker arrives on the back of being the Belgian top-tier’s top-scorer alongside boasting a commendable reputation ahead of the 22/23 season.
With Brighton having lacked a killer instinct in front of goal in recent seasons, Undav’s stellar goal-scoring ability could see the Seagulls improve their tally of points at the end of the upcoming campaign. Although unproven in the Premier League, the German striker establishes himself as the bargain of the season, having registered a notable number of expected goals (0.78xG) per 90 minutes in the Belgian League last campaign.
Likely to be eased into the starting line-up, Undav remains a feasible option for FPL managers looking to bolster their attacking prowess next season. With Brighton desperate for a clinical presence in front of goal, the German striker is expected to find himself amongst the goals in the upcoming campaign.
