In Fantasy Premier League, you need goals and assists from your forwards to earn points. That’s what forwards are supposed to do. And because of that, looking for more than one budget forward might not be a good idea.
In other positions except for the goalkeeper, it is compulsory to transfer in 5 players which makes it absolutely necessary to sign budget defenders and budget midfielders for your team to maintain a balanced squad of 15 players within a £100m budget.
But in the forward line, there are only 3 players to be signed, so we must transfer in at least 2 proven goalscorers (I suggest Watkins and Haaland).
As for the third player, there is room for making a budget signing, but to fulfill the role expected of a forward player, I have increased the minimum value of the budget forward from £5m to £7.5m. This ensures that the third player you choose is well capable of scoring goals.
Below is a list of FPL Budget Forwards that I would like you to consider for your teams:
1. Julián Álvarez (Manchester City)
- FPL Price: £7.0m
FPL managers who are not transferring Álvarez into their teams have one big concern: Guardiola might shuffle the starting 11, and Álvarez could come off the bench.
That should not be a worry at the moment!
Álvarez is going to start every game and is a player capable of contributing much more than just scoring goals and providing assists.
When a player is as impactful as Álvarez, no manager would bench him.
Additionally, City aren’t facing multiple games a week at the season’s start, reducing the need for player rotation.
Álvarez is an ideal budget forward for FPL right now because he plays for Manchester City, the league’s top attacking side, gets full game minutes, and consistently performs well.
Even last season, when he came off the bench around the 60th minute, his 30 minutes on the pitch were often more valuable than 90 minutes for most other forwards in the league.
This makes Álvarez a top priority for budget-conscious FPL managers.
2. Ivan Toney (Brentford)
- FPL Price: £7.5m
Ivan Toney’s potential as a budget forward in FPL is a topic of debate. Last season, injuries limited him to 1,449 minutes, during which he scored only 4 goals and provided 3 assists. These numbers are modest compared to his previous season, where he delivered an impressive 20 goals and 4 assists.
If Toney can regain his form and fitness, he presents excellent value at £7.5m. His proven track record of high goal-scoring and assist contributions makes him a strong candidate for a budget forward, provided he stays healthy.
Monitoring his pre-season performance and fitness levels will be crucial for FPL managers considering him for their squads.
3. Dominic Solanke (Bournemouth)
- FPL Price: £7.5m
Dominic Solanke is a compelling budget forward option in FPL, especially at a price of £7.5m.
He had an outstanding last season, scoring 19 goals and providing 3 assists, showcasing his ability to deliver consistent attacking returns.
The season before, he scored 6 goals and provided 10 assists, indicating his versatility in contributing both goals and assists.
Additionally, Solanke’s discipline on the field is notable, with only 3 yellow cards and no red cards last season.
His consistent performances and discipline make him a reliable choice for FPL managers looking for a forward who can deliver points while maintaining a reasonable price.
Playing for Bournemouth, he is a standout option for those seeking value and consistency in their forward line.
4. Taiwo Awoniyi (Nott’m Forest)
- FPL Price: £6.0m
Taiwo Awoniyi is an intriguing budget forward option in FPL, priced at £6.0m.
Despite missing more than half of last season due to injuries, he managed to score 6 goals and provide 3 assists in just 1,036 minutes of play.
This indicates a strong potential for goal-scoring and assisting when fit.
His discipline on the field is also commendable, with only 2 yellow cards and no red cards last season for Nottingham Forest.
If Awoniyi can stay healthy and play 3,000+ minutes this season, he has the potential to score around 20 goals, making him a valuable asset for FPL managers looking for a budget-friendly forward with significant upside.
5. Yoane Wissa (Brentford)
- FPL Price: £6.0m
Yoane Wissa, priced at £6.0m, had a solid last season, scoring 12 goals and providing 4 assists in 2,488 minutes.
While his 7 yellow cards are relatively high, he avoided any red cards.
His contributions were significant for Brentford, showcasing his ability to score and assist effectively.
However, with Ivan Toney potentially returning to full fitness, Wissa’s playing time might decrease, especially if Toney doesn’t transfer to another club this summer.
If Toney remains at Brentford, Wissa could find himself with fewer minutes and more appearances off the bench.
This uncertainty makes Wissa a more risky pick in FPL, as his role in the team could be diminished, affecting his potential to deliver consistent points.
6. João Pedro (Brighton)
- FPL Price: £5.5m
Joao Pedro, priced at just £5.5m, is a highly promising budget forward option in FPL. Last season, he scored 9 goals and provided 3 assists, demonstrating his ability to contribute significantly to his team’s attacking output.
His role as a penalty taker adds further value, as it increases his potential for additional goals.
With fellow striker Evan Ferguson injured and not expected to return before October, Pedro is likely to see increased playing time early in the season.
Brighton’s exciting attacking playing style means there will be plenty of opportunities for Pedro to score and assist.
Additionally, Pedro’s discipline is noteworthy, with only 2 yellow cards in 2,037 minutes of play, which is nearly 60% of the total available playing time.
This combination of affordability, goal potential, penalty duties, and increased playing time makes Joao Pedro an excellent budget forward pick for FPL managers.
Best 4.5 Striker in FPL
In the £4.5m striker bracket, there’s a lack of significant playing time and reliable options, with Nathan Fraser being the standout with just 183 minutes played last season.
If you’re willing to spend an additional £0.5m, there are better options available at £5.0m, such as Cameron Archer and Neal Maupay.
Cameron Archer played 1,829 minutes last season and showed promise, while Neal Maupay played 1,417 minutes. Maupay has transferred from Brentford to Everton, where he might get more minutes and potentially score more points, given Everton’s need for reliable attacking options.
If you can stretch your budget to £5.0m, Maupay represents a more reliable choice due to his experience and the potential for increased playing time at Everton.
That’s all in FPL Budget Forwards. We will keep updating the list throughout the season.
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