Fantasy football tips: Top 5 gambles

Daniel Sturridge: Worth a punt?

Each week, Sport360 will bring you tips for the English Premier League’s official fantasy football game. Fancy pitting your wits against us? Join the “Sport360 Fans'” league using the code 118790-38575.

The new fantasy football season is nearly upon us and even though there’s still plenty of players switching clubs, it’s always a good idea to get your squad selected early on and tweak it before the first gameweek.

This week, we pick out five players who may be worth a punt this season.

5 GAMBLES WORTH TAKING

AHMED MUSA (LEICESTER CITY) – 7.5m – Selected by 5.9%

He may only be valued at 7.5 million but considering he’ll probably play on the wing having been listed as a striker, buying him at the start of the season is certainly a gamble.

However, if Leicester City play anything like they did last season, Ahmed Musa could take the Premier League by storm. He’s got the pace and attacking threat that seems tailor made for The Foxes’ counter-attacking style and with 13 goals and 5 assists in the Russian league last season, he’s one to keep an eye on.

WAYNE ROONEY (MANCHESTER UNITED) – 9m – Selected by 5.8%

Selected by only 5.8% of FPL managers so far, this is the least popular Wayne Rooney has been ahead of the new season. Most loyal Manchester United fans as well have ditched their captain in favour of the enigmatic Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

But at just nine million, Rooney is at his lowest value, and given that Jose Mourinho is determined to use him in behind the strike this season, United’s number 10 is a gamble that could pay off.

EDEN HAZARD (CHELSEA) – 10m – Selected by 11.5%

Form is temporary, class is permanent. Eden Hazard had a poor campaign last time around and was rightly dropped by most FPL managers early on. However, he did have something of a resurgence in the final few games and was one of Belgian’s better players at Euro 2016 as well.

Under Antonio Conte, Hazard may well regain his mojo in the Premier League, especially if his late brace in a friendly against Real Madrid is any indication.

SEAMUS COLEMAN (EVERTON) – 5.5m – Selected by 6.1%

The Everton full-back enjoyed a prolific campaign in the season before last but suffered a drop in form last season along with several of his teammates.

With Ronald Koeman taking over though, expect the Irishman to flourish again, much like Ryan Bertrand and Nathaniel Clyne have in the past under the Dutchman’s guidance.

DANIEL STURRIDGE (LIVERPOOL) – 10m – Selected by 5.8%

In Fantasy Premier League terms, Daniel Sturridge is a lot like Sergio Aguero, only three million cheaper. The Liverpool striker always represents a gamble because of his struggles with injuries but whenever he takes to the field – like the Manchester City man – he invariably finds the net.

He’s not one to take time to get back into the groove so his lack of pre-season action shouldn’t be a worry. You’d do well to buy him now while he’s still fit.

Fancy pitting your wits against us? Join the ‘Sport360 Fans’ league using the code 118790-38575.

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