We're deep into pre-season and that means the new Fantasy Premier League campaign is just weeks away.
If you haven't started thinking about your team yet, don't worry - 90min has all the tips you need to leave your friends in the dirt this year.
We have already revealed the goalkeepers you should be targeting. Now, it's time to cast our expert eye over the defenders.
Bargains - £4.0m - £4.5m
1. Ben White (£4.5m)
Arsenal did not get a great deal right last season. However, they did defend pretty well, conceding the third least goals in the Premier League.
Getting in on this rock solid back three/four is easier than ever this season, with both Rob Holding and Ben White available for just £4.5m. If you are choosing between the two we'd recommend opting for White, who is more likely to start every game.
2. Luke Ayling (£4.5m)
Luke Ayling hardly missed a second of Leeds' 2020/21 Premier League campaign, making him an FPL manager's dream.
He might not have managed a single goal or assist but his 12 clean sheets saw him end the campaign with a century of points. Ayling has scored and created goals in previous seasons as well, meaning he is likely to return an even bigger points tally this time around.
3. Kiko Femenia (£4.5m)
This is a bit of a leftfield choice, we'll admit that. The logic is sound, though.
Watford registered the best defensive record of the three teams promoted from the Championship last season, but that is not the only reason to draft in Kiko Femenia. The right-back also has a couple of assists in his locker, meaning he could be one of the best FPL bargain buys of the year.
Mid-tier - £5.0m to £5.5m
4. Aaron Cresswell (£5.5m)
Aaron Cresswell enjoyed his most prolific FPL season ever last time out, registering an incredible 11 assists and 11 clean sheets.
Priced at just £5.0m at the start of the campaign, his exploits were enough to make him the third highest scoring defender in the entire game. He will have his work cut out repeating the trick this season but he is still likely to get 100+ points.
5. Ibrahima Konate (£5.5m)
Until Joe Gomez (£5m) makes a full return from injury, Ibrahima Konate looks like the cheapest route into the Liverpool defence.
It is not just clean sheets that Konate will be bringing to your team either. He is also a real threat from set pieces, meaning he has great goal and assist potential.
6. Luke Shaw (£5.5m)
Both Harry Maguire and Luke Shaw are priced at a very reasonable £5.5m in FPL this season.
Each player would make a good addition to your side, but Shaw just about pips his teammate to our list. The left-back enjoyed the best season of his career last time out and showed little sign of slowing down at Euro 2020.
7. Junior Firpo (£5m)
A hipster's choice, for sure.
Provided he can force his way into the side, Junior Firpo could be a potent source of FPL points next season. The ultra-attacking left-back should thrive in Marcelo Bielsa's fluid system, which will give him plenty of chances to shine in the final third.
Expensive tier - £6.0m plus
8. Andrew Robertson (£7m)
£7m might seem like a lot for a defender but Andrew Robertson is a left-back in name only.
Over the past three Premier League seasons he has contributed a combined 32 assists and scored three goals - not to mention the bucket load of clean sheets he has racked up too.
With no obvious contender for his spot in the Liverpool squad, Robertson looks like a guaranteed FPL point getter this season.
9. Ruben Dias (£6m)
The 2020/21 Football Writers' Player of the Year will only set you back £6m this season.
Ruben Dias is one of the only Manchester City players immune to Pep Guardiola's infamously random rotation policy. This makes him a terrific source of clean sheets and he also chipped in with a goal and assist last season.
10. Trent Alexander-Arnold (£7.5m)
Here he is, the most expensive defender in FPL history. His partner in crime, Robertson, may have bested his points tally by one last season but Trent Alexander-Arnold remains your best hope of scoring consistently from defence.
Racking up 26 assists and seven goals in the past three seasons he has a point to prove this term, after some questioned his brilliance last time out. We expect to see him threaten to break the 200 point mark again.
Source : 90min