El Hadji Malick Diouf and other cheap defenders to balance the books before Gameweek 1

IF you want to select Dream Team’s biggest names then you’ll also have to pick some cheaper players elsewhere to balance the books.

With the Gameweek 1 deadline looming large, we’ve identified five value-for-money defenders who will help you stay within budget while chipping in with useful points… at least that’s the idea.

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Dream TeamA popular choice[/caption]

El Hadji Malick Diouf (£3m)

West Ham’s new wing-back has emerged as a tempting option.

A popular man among engaged Dream Team managers, Diouf bombs forward down the left flank and frequently takes up threatening positions in the final third.

The Senegal international scored seven goals in 24 league games for Slavia Prague last season.

Graham Potter’s side are due to face Sunderland at the Stadium of Light in Gameweek 1 and while the Mackems will be highly motivated to mark their return to the top flight in positive fashion, it’s simply a fact that newly-promoted clubs have given up a lot of points in recent years.

Maxim De Cuyper (£3m)

Another hipster’s choiceGetty

If Diouf isn’t to your liking then consider Brighton’s attack-minded left-back instead.

Signed from Club Brugge to replace Pervis Estupinan, De Cuyper seems to be the type of smart recruit fans have come to expect from the Seagulls.

The Belgian defender contributed 11 goal involvements in 2024/25 and the prospect of him linking up with Kaoru Mitoma (£4m) down the left flank is an appealing one.

Brighton will face Manchester City at the end of the month but they’re due to play Fulham, Everton and Oxford across the first two Gameweeks — De Cuyper might be an early price riser.

Jake O’Brien (£3m)

ReutersEverton defended well last season[/caption]

Only Arsenal, Liverpool and Chelsea conceded fewer league goals than Everton last season.

James Tarkowski (£3.5m) is the most popular defender in the squad but O’Brien is cheaper and finished with the same points-per-game average (4.4) as the grizzled centre-back in 2024/25.

The Republic of Ireland international is also a centre-back by trade but David Moyes is equally happy to deploy him at right-back.

With Jarrad Branthwaite (£3.5m) sidelined for the first two months of the campaign, O’Brien is almost a guaranteed starter in some capacity for the foreseeable future.

The Toffees will be hopeful of early clean sheets with Leeds, Brighton, Mansfield and Wolves to play before the end of August.

Reinildo (£2.5m)

Many pundits think Sunderland have spent well this summerGetty

Dream Team bosses will be reluctant to select a defender from a newly-promoted club but Sunderland’s left-back is a low-investment punt at just £2.5m.

The Wearside outfit couldn’t have asked for a more gentle start to 2025/26 with West Ham, Burnley, Huddersfield and Brentford in the diary this month.

Reinildo arrives in the North East having played under Diego Simeone at Atletico Madrid for the last four years.

An experienced campaigner, he might have what it takes to help Dream Team bosses build their budget over the first few Gameweeks.

Ayden Heaven (£2m)

GettyA wildcard option[/caption]

Perhaps an overly bold suggestion but more than a few Manchester United fans expect the talented teenager to play a significant role this season.

Backing Heaven from the get-go is fraught with risk, especially with Arsenal due to visit Old Trafford in Gameweek 1, but he will soon be considered a mega bargain if he’s revealed as a regular starter.

Keep a close eye on Ruben Amorim’s team selections.

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