Fantasy Premier League

Who to pick from promoted clubs for 5-a-side Fantasy Challenge

26 May 2024
FPLC2425-PROMOTEDPUNT-GW3

Sam Bonfield explains her selections from Ipswich, Leicester and Southampton, staying within the £24.0m budget

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In Gameweek 3 of Fantasy Challenge, managers can only select players from this season's promoted teams - Ipswich Town, Leicester City and Southampton - within a tight £24.0m budget.

You can enter a squad up until 15:00 BST on Saturday, when Ipswich, Leicester and Southampton all simultaneously kick off their respective matches against Fulham, Aston Villa and Brentford.

Here, FPL expert Sam Bonfield reveals her approach for Gameweek 3.

Pick your Fantasy Challenge team NOW!

To Vardy or not to Vardy?

My first thoughts were that £24.0m seems enough to buy all the players that I want. However, the £0.1m price rise for Jamie Vardy (£5.6m) made a big difference to the team I created as I kept finding myself £0.1m over budget, so I can't have him. 

The one player I really want is Sam Szmodics (£6.0m). Before arriving at Ipswich, Szmodics registered a goal and an assist on the opening weekend of the Championship.

He then scored the opening goal against Manchester City in Gameweek 2. However, £6.0m was just unaffordable for the team I wanted to create - so disappointingly I am going without him too.

In goal I have gone for Southampton's Alex McCarthy (£4.5m). I'm not convinced any of the goalkeepers will keep a clean sheet this weekend, therefore I have gone for a 'keeper that has the best potential for save points. I decided against Leicester's Mads Hermansen (£4.5m) on the basis that he might concede more than two goals against Aston Villa this weekend. 

Fantasy Challenge team

I have backed Southampton's defence again with Taylor Harwood-Bellis (£4.0m). The centre-back scored in pre-season, so has some opportunity for an attacking return. If I had the extra £0.1m, I would have opted for Wout Faes (£4.1m) after his goal in Gameweek 2, but my budget won't stretch that far. 

I have decided to go with two midfielders. As mentioned at the beginning, Szmodics would have been my first choice, but in order to have players who are more likely to return in the other slots, I have opted to spend no more than £5.5m on any player. Abdul Fatawu (£5.5m) has played the full 90 minutes in the opening two matches and registered eight points in Gameweek 1 for his assist and three bonus points against Spurs. Fatawu will be my captain, with the armband pick extra important this week given that all three promoted teams play at the same time.

Alongside him I have opted for Massimo Luongo (£4.5m). The Ipswich midfielder is yet to return more than two points in a game this season, however the midfielders who have returned more than four points this season all cost at least £5.0m and were therefore out of budget. 

Finally, Liam Delap (£5.5m) is my forward. He is yet to produce an attacking return this season, however he has played against Man City and Liverpool. If managers have the extra £0.1m, then go for Vardy instead. 

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