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Defenders
Budget options
Scott Dann - Crystal Palace (£4.7m)
Crystal Palace are yet to keep a clean sheet this season. There is, however, a good potential for clean sheets now as they face Stoke, Brighton, West Brom, Bournemouth and Watford in their next five. Scott Dann has been a regular threat via set pieces this season and has been really unlucky to not have had his name on the scoresheet so far. He's had 14 shots so far, which is second to only Alonso amongst defenders.
With 3 goals in 23 appearances last season and 5 in 35 the season before that, he’s surely due a few this season as well. With an attractive run of fixtures coming up, it could be the right time to invest a reasonable £4.7 on him.
Players to watch: Alberto Moreno - Liverpool (£4.6m), Charlie Daniels - Bournemouth (£4.9m)
We mentioned the both of them last week and they didn't disappoint. It's the right time to get them both, as they have excellent fixtures coming up, and are also defenders with an attacking mindset.
Premium options
Sead Kolasinac - Arsenal (£6.0m)
Arsenal have adopted Chelsea's title-winning three-at-the-back formation from last year. This gives their wingbacks, Bellerin and Kolasinac a lot of freedom on the wings. Kolasinac has been a constant goal threat this season and has already mustered a goal and three assists.
Arsenal play only three tough games until game week 26 (which is all the way in February), and all of these tough games are at home where they haven't conceded too many. Kolasinac could be a great long-term investment if you have a steep £6.0 to burn.
Player to watch: Andreas Christensen - Chelsea (£5.4m)
Though listed as a 'premium' owing to his price tag of £5.4m, he really is a bargain in a well organised Chelsea defence. Christensen seems to have cemented his starting berth for now, with Luiz reportedly having a fallout with Chelsea boss Antonio Conte. Chelsea have an excellent run of fixtures after Liverpool, and at £5.4m, he could provide a high return on points per million.
Watch his consistency in the starting eleven over the next few weeks before shipping him into your teams though, as he faces stiff competition for his place in the team from David Luiz.
