Tzolis Has Already Made His Case
Christos Tzolis entered FPL at £6.5 million after joining Arsenal from Club Brugge, where he produced 43 goals and 45 assists in 108 appearances. His FPL pre-season began with an assist in Arsenal’s 3-0 win over MK Dons and continued with a goal in the 4-1 victory at Girona. The appeal is obvious: Tzolis attacks the box from the left and arrives with 17 league goals and 23 assists from last season. The problem is just as clear, because Arsenal’s title-winning side rotated heavily behind Bukayo Saka and can still choose from Gabriel Martinelli, Eberechi Eze, Noni Madueke, and Martin Odegaard.
Maeda Brings Goals, but the Role Is Unsettled
Daizen Maeda arrives in FPL off the back of 79 goals in 212 games for Celtic, priced at £5.5m and still something of a tactical question mark. Ipswich have reshaped their attack with new signings, but Gary O’Neil hasn’t settled whether he starts wide on the left, tucks in closer to the striker, or is used more as an early impact option from the bench.
From an FPL angle, the midfielder classification matters: five points for a goal makes him more appealing if he’s pushed high enough up the pitch. His relentless pressing should keep him involved in games, but at this stage, pre-season lineups will tell managers far more than any transfer fee or stat line.
Sangaré Could Score Without an Assist
Mamadou Sangaré is another £5.5 million midfielder, though his route to points runs through ball recovery rather than penalty-area volume. Brentford’s new signing recorded three goals and four assists in Ligue 1 last season, while also ranking second in the division for tackles won and third for ground duels won. The Premier League’s FPL model estimated that his Lens numbers would have produced 38 defensive-contribution points. That gives Sangaré a steady route to five- or six-point returns, provided Keith Andrews gives him a regular place in Brentford’s midfield.
Coventry’s Right Flank Carries the Budget Appeal
At £4.0m, Milan van Ewijk feels like more than just a bench filler. He racked up eight assists in Coventry’s promotion season and has already popped up with a goal from right-back in a pre-season friendly, which at least hints that his attacking role hasn’t been taken away with the step up. Charlie Hughes, also £4.0m, actually posted the best defensive numbers of the promoted sides last year with 11.8 clearances, blocks, interceptions and tackles per 90. The catch is he’s suspended for the opening game against Manchester United, which makes Van Ewijk the easier, more straightforward pick for Gameweek 1.
Betting Markets Reward the Same Team-Sheet Discipline
The transfer fee becomes irrelevant the moment the line-ups are announced. Anyone checking download MelBet (Arabic: تحميل ميل بيت) is better off paying attention to the real roles first. After that, it’s all about player props, match odds, and live markets rather than the price tag a club paid in the summer.
And it’s worth keeping things small. One rotation decision, a slight tactical shift, or even an early red card can completely change how the game plays out within minutes.
August Minutes Will Settle the Argument
FPL pre-season numbers only really matter if they hint at how a player is actually going to be used once the season starts. Tzolis has chipped in during a couple of Arsenal friendlies, Van Ewijk is still pushing forward from right-back as he usually does, and Sangaré at least comes with a proper full-season sample of defensive stats rather than a few weeks of summer noise.
But none of that guarantees much. What really matters is whether they’re going to play regularly. Until that’s clear, they’re all just options on paper for FPL. The last few friendlies, who’s on set pieces, any injury news, and whatever late transfers happen will tell us far more than a single goal in July ever will.