Brighton FPL 2023-24: Albion assets for your Fantasy Squad
It has been over five weeks since the 2023-24 FPL game launched and with the new season now upon us, it is time to look at which Brighton players are assets you definitely want in your squad for the coming campaign.
The Seagulls kick off against newly promoted Luton Town in the first fixture of the season. Looking beyond that, Brighton will play Europa League football for the first ever time with games commencing in late September.
Squad rotation will clearly be more of an issue for FPL managers considering picking Brighton players in 2023-24 than it has in previous years, with Roberto De Zerbi having said he is “ready to change many players every three days.”
It may not be an immediate problem, however, with Thursday nights in Europe not starting until FPL gameweek five. Who then are the best Seagulls to invest in? Let us take a look.
Defensive options
Attacking left back Pervis Estupinan (£5.0 million) is currently one of just three players with over 50 pecent ownership throughout the whole game. His huge popularity combines promising early fixtures and some brilliant stats from last season.
A sequence of six successive returns began in Gameweek 20 and, from here until the end, no defender had more penalty area touches (56) or clean sheets (nine).
Furthermore, only Trent Alexander-Arnold bettered Estupinan at the back for returns (15) and FPL points (100) in 2022-23.
Elsewhere, Sunday’s friendly with Rayo Vallecano brought Lewis Dunk’s (£5.0 million) first pre-season minutes, whilst new signing Bart Verbruggen (£4.5 million) adds some competition for Jason Steele (£4.5 million) in goal.
Steele seems likely to keep the Brighton number one shirt for now, but it would not be a surprise to see him usurped by Verbruggen before the campaign ends – a situation FPL managers should keep an eye on in 2023-24.
Attacking options
Further upfield, the options are exciting. No team had more goal attempts (613) or shots on target (225) than the Seagulls last season – not even champions Manchester City.
Kaoru Mitoma (£6.5 milion) is the most-selected Brighton midfielder at around 37.6 percent. He burst onto the scene following last winter’s World Cup break, finishing on seven goals and nine assists. In this period, no player attempted more take-ons (112) or had more success (48).
On the other wing, Solly March (£6.5 million) ranked fifth for post-Qatar big chances created (14) whilst WAB Player of the Season Pascal Gross (£6.5 million) quietly outscored all teammates to become the Albion’s top-scoring FPL player in 2022-23.
Coming in cheaper than this trio is promising talent Julio Enciso (£5.5 million). He has switched from being an FPL forward to a midfielder, good news as his late season form brought four goals and three assists from just seven starts.
Included in that haul was the Premier League Goal of the Season when Brighton drew 1-1 with Manchester City at the Amex.
At the same price, new £30 million club record signing from Watford Joao Pedro (£5.5 million) adds further squad depth. The Brazilian has already set the ball rolling by netting twice during pre-season.
Both were penalties, suggesting he has the added appeal of spot-kick duties following the £35 million sale of Alexis Mac Allister to Liverpool.
9.9 percent of teams own forward Evan Ferguson (£6.0 million), who achieved a points per start rate (4.7) that only Mitoma beat amongst teammates that started more than one match.
Still only 18-years-old, this could be Ferguson’s breakthrough season, although Danny Welbeck (£6.0 million) is also around delivering goals and De Zerbi rotated his centre forwards frequently in 2022-23.
Captain fantastic
Despite being handed the joint-biggest FPL starting price of all time, managers have not been deterred from owning Erling Haaland (£14.0 million).
In a whopping 86 percent of squads, he will be backed by the majority to be captain when Manchester City travel to newly promoted Burnley on Friday night.
The Norwegian shattered the record for individual goals (36) and led the way for FPL points (272) in his debut Premier League season.
Other strong captaincy choices include Marcus Rashford (£9.0 million) and Bukayo Saka (£8.5 million) when Manchester United and Arsenal host Wolves and Nottingham Forest respectively.
These matches pair the second and third best home records of last season against two of the worst three travellers.
You can pick up expert advice throughout the 2023-24 Fantasy Premier League season with Fantasy Football Scout
