The Scout assesses the opening player prices in 2021/22 Fantasy Premier League and their implications.
Dear De Bruyne
Kevin De Bruyne will be among the most expensive players in Fantasy this season after being handed an opening value of £12.0m.
That is the priciest the Manchester City playmaker has ever been at the start of a campaign, with only Mohamed Salah and Harry Kane (both £12.5m) valued higher.
Although De Bruyne only managed 141 points last term, his season was hampered by injury.
No Man City midfielder or forward bettered his average of 5.6 points per match (ppm).
Watch the best of De Bruyne
Raheem Sterling (£11.0m) and Riyad Mahrez (£9.0m) offer cheaper routes into Pep Guardiola’s midfield.
But the prices of Ilkay Gundogan and Phil Foden, which are yet to be revealed, could ultimately dictate how managers approach the Man City attack early on.
Gundogan started at a mere £5.5m last term but went on to match De Bruyne’s 5.6ppm, combining 13 goals with four assists.
Foden, who began at £6.5m in 2020/21, finished the campaign strongly, with five goals and five assists in his final nine starts.
Ward-Prowse promise
Elsewhere, Southampton playmaker James Ward-Prowse (£6.5m) can remain a big source of value in 2021/22.
He ended last season as the eighth top-scoring midfielder in Fantasy, producing his career-high haul of 157 points thanks to eight goals and seven assists.
Watch Ward-Prowse’s 2020/21 goals
Nonetheless, a tough opening schedule may deter early investors. Saints face six of last season’s top 10 sides in their first eight Gameweeks.
See: All of Southampton’s FPL player prices
Jimenez interest
Finally, Wolverhampton Wanderers striker Raul Jimenez will cost £7.5m after missing most of last season through injury.
The Mexican started 2020/21 at £8.5m on the back of 17 goals and seven assists in the previous campaign.
Jimenez scored four goals and supplied an assist in his 10 outings last term before being sidelined.
Providing he returns to full fitness, he could be a major target from Gameweek 4 onwards, when Wolves start a very favourable run of fixtures with back-to-back matches against promoted pair Watford and Brentford.
See: All of Wolves’ FPL player prices
Also in this series
Part 1: 2021/22 FPL player price reveal
Part 2: Aubameyang now cheaper as a forward
Part 3: Dallas value affected by midfielder status
Part 4: Sanchez can emerge as No 1 pick in goal
Part 5: Salah and Kane given equal billing
Part 6: West Ham offer value at both ends
Part 7: Top scorer Fernandes jumps in value
Part 9: Everton stars look tempting for early fixtures
Part 10: Back cheaper Iheanacho over Vardy?
Part 11: Wilson holds early appeal
