FPL tips: Three cheap defenders for Double Gameweek 37

As over 70 per cent of Fantasy Premier League (FPL) managers are yet to use their precious Bench Boost, expect Double Gameweek 37 to be dominated by this chip.

Once per season, activating it allows points to be accumulated from all 15 players, including the four substitutes.

Organised managers have long been preparing for this week by improving their squad depth but - almost inevitably - popular cheap defenders like Malo Gusto (£4.3m), Jamaal Lascelles (£3.7m), Jan Paul van Hecke (£4.1m) and now Harry Maguire (£4.3m) quickly got injured.

With this in mind, here are a few budget-friendly replacements costing no more than £4.5m, courtesy of Fantasy Football Scout.

Trevoh Chalobah (£4.3m)

Six teams will play twice in Double Gameweek 37 - Chelsea, Manchester City, Manchester United, Brighton, Newcastle and Tottenham.

Therefore, covering the Blues’ backline is recommended and those without goalkeeper Djordje Petrovic (£4.6m) may next look towards Chalobah.

Although Gusto replaced the 24-year-old in a late Sunday cameo, a goal and consecutive clean sheets means it’s the latter’s spot to lose.

Compared to usual Gameweeks, a Bench Boost’s depth requires managers to spread their budget out even thinner.

Here’s a centre-back who starts, is in form and visits Nottingham Forest and Brighton in their quest to secure European football.

Micky van de Ven (£4.4m)

Alongside the low-priced injuries above are additional problems for Fabian Schar (£5.6m) and Destiny Udogie (£5.0m).

The Tottenham left-back’s team-mate Van de Ven is a good alternative to expensive Pedro Porro (£5.8m) – one who has scored more goals this season.

However, Spurs have lost four games in a row, conceding 13 times.

Over the whole campaign, Ange Postecoglou’s leaky fifth-placed side has allowed the eighth-most big chances (92) and kept only one clean sheet in their last 18 outings.

Nevertheless, as so few FPL defences can be trusted, the north London outfit at least offers high fixture quantity, including matches against Burnley and Sheffield United.

Jarrad Branthwaite (£4.5m)

Facing the already-relegated Blades first is Everton who, unlike Spurs, are in great form at the back.

The Toffees possess four successive home clean sheets and rank fourth-best for goals conceded (49) throughout all 36 Gameweeks.

Although off-putting that this mathematically safe team features just once in Double Gameweek 37, it’s at Goodison Park versus the team with the fewest goals (35) and shots (346).

Furthermore, Branthwaite bagged an assist last week and a goal in Gameweek 34.

He has an FPL return from five of his latest six appearances.

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