There will be compromise, so which players free up the most budget while still offering value?

Here are the midfielders and forwards that we think make the most sense to pad out your squad for the season.

Some might even rise in value over the season so you’ll do well to get in early on.

Phil Foden – Manchester City (6.5m) – midfielder

OK, so he might lose his place to Lionel Messi if the Argentine does indeed reunite with Pep Guardiola at Manchester City, but the highly rated Foden, who has long been heralded as the future heartbeat of club and country still offers value. He proved himself in the FPL after lockdown and no matter who arrives he will feature more this season.

Jarrod Bowen – West Ham United (£6.5m) – midfielder

The West Ham winger is another player who kicked on post-lockdown, which was all the more impressive given he only arrived in East London in the winter window. The former Hull City flyer started 11 games for David Moyes and returned a goal and four assists.

Nicolas Pepe – Arsenal (8m) – midfielder

The French winger arrived at Arsenal as the club’s record signing last summer and there were times when that fact looked to weigh him down. He picked up, though, and by the end of the season, as the Gunners went on to win the FA Cup, he was a key part of Mikel Arteta’s side on the opposite flank to top scorer Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (12m) with Alex Lacazette (8.5m) in the middle. He is the best value of the trio.

Mason Greenwood – Manchester United (£7.5m) – midfielder

The bargain buy of last season was the rarest of FPL finds, a 4.5 million player who picks up points. While there remains debate over his stronger foot, there is no debate that he made himself undroppable in his debut season, especially after football returned. Could suffer from “second season syndrome” but still offers value now his goals count for more having dropped to midfield in the game.

Allan Saint-Maximin – Newcastle United (5.5m) – midfielder

The winger was a constant threat in Steve Bruce’s blunt Newcastle side last season and comes in cheaper than his misfiring teammate Joelinton. Even better, ASM is registered as a midfielder in the game so his goals – three last season – are worth more and he offers up assists (if anyone can take them).

Thomas Soucek – West Ham United (5.0m) – midfielder

No one ever recommends defensive midfielders in the game because not everything that is important to a team’s success in the real life sport translates to Fantasy. Soucek might be worth a punt as he is not shy when it comes to shooting. The Czech played every minute of the run-in and shot more than anyone for the Hammers outside of newly relocated centre forward Michail Antonio.

Christian Pulisic – Chelsea (8.5m) – midfielder

The US international only played around half of the games last season for Chelsea but he still piled up 127 points and was close to double figures for both goals and assists in the Premier League. Yes, he is injured again but assuming he plays more this season the former Borussia Dortmund player looks set to be a game-changer for Frank Lampard.

Stuart Armstrong – Southampton (£5.5m) – midfielder

The Scotland midfielder burst into Ralph Hassenhuttl’s starting line-up in the second half of the season and kicked on further after the game returned from its coronavirus hiatus. He started 19 games in all with all but three of them in the last 21 games. Five goals came in that stint and he kept hitting the target, matching Kevin De Bruyne (£11.5m) and Sadio Mane (£12.0m) for shots on target. Room to improve based on that.