The depth of cheap attacking options in the 2024/25 Fantasy Premier League has become a major headache for the majority of managers. With most notable names handed inflated prices, it’s now upon the FPL users to be smarter when it comes to picking beyond the usual suspects.
Despite their high pricing, it’s rather obvious that players like Erling Haaland, Mo Salah, Cole Palmer and Alexander Isak are locked on for the majority of teams. But picking expensive players like this rapidly shreds the transfer kitty, requiring managers to be clever in picking the other starting players in their teams.
But it appears that thanks to his heroics in pre-season, Manchester United winger Amad Diallo has emerged as an attractive cheap midfield option in FPL. The Ivorian winger has been at Old Trafford for the last four years, but it appears that the 2024/25 season is finally going to be one where he ascends to regular status in Erik ten Hag’s side.
Why Amad Diallo can be a smart FPL grab at 5M.
Ten Hag has personally insisted that ‘this has to be Amad’s year’, the biggest hint possible that the 22-year-old will be regularly used in the starting XI. Diallo is among the cheaper options from Manchester United at 5m. Lower than other wingers like Marcus Rashford (7m), Alejandro Garnacho (6.5m) and Jadon Sancho (6.5m). He’s definitely way cheaper than the 8.5m Bruno Fernandes.
He’s actually among the cheaper midfield options for players from top-6 Premier League sides. His low pricing is mostly because Amad only started three Premier League games last season and contributed two goals (one goal, one assist). But his heroics in the final few months of the 2023/24 season, which included a splendid winner against Liverpool in the FA Cup quarter-final, has helped him clmb up the pecking order at Old Trafford.
A lot of fans are now hyping up the possibility of picking Amad as a cheap midfield option in your FPL team. At 5m, he’s someone who can even be used as a bench option or in a rotational aspect in FPL. Amad is highly likely to get regular playing minutes at Old Trafford this season due to the way he’s excelled in pre-season.
In the Red Devils four pre-season games so far, he has scored two scorching goals. On top of that, Amad has also been one of their biggest creative threats. He created three goal-scoring chances in the recent 3-2 win over Real Betis and also should’ve had multiple assists in the win over Rangers, had not been for questionable finishing.
Diallo looks super sharp after having a summer without any football. He’s gained confidence of his heroics from last season and bulked up, making him capable of thriving against Premier League teams. The 22-year-old’s clever dribbling ability, tendency to get into the goal-scoring areas and also make the clinical final touch makes him a major goal contributing threat for United.
Amad’s overall performances in pre-season have seen him get highly involved in the Red Devils’ attacking moves and creating many chances from the wide areas. Moreover, he’s also started taking set-pieces and poses a threat from that aspect too.
That is why many supporters are sold on the prospect of signing him as a midfield option, knowing how the wily winger can fetch a decent points return for his low price. Diallo is also fortunate that United have a relatively decent first 10 fixtures for the 2024/25 Premier League season.
Apart from games against Liverpool (home), Tottenham (home) and Aston Villa (away), most of their matches in the first few months are against mid-table or lower opponents. This gives Ten Hag more incentive to regularly play Amad and for the winger to torment the vulnerable defenders with his unique skillset.
Moreover, when compared to the other midfielders available for the 5m price, Amad seems a great shout. Most of the options in that range are centre-midfielders who pose little creative threat.
West Ham United midfielder Tomas Soucek is one, but he’s too reliant on set-piece goals. Scott McTominay isn’t a guaranteed starter and neither is Sean Longstaff. The newly-promoted teams’ midfielders are a risk, not knowing how they’ll adapt to the jump.
Potential risks to owning Amad Diallo
Of course, it’s not all sunshine and rainbow for Amad either. There are certain risks to picking him too. For one, he only started three league games and made nine appearances last season. Despite his prominent form, there is still a lot of competition for places in the wide areas at Old Trafford.
Alejandro Garnacho was Ten Hag’s go-to man in the right-wing role last season. Marcus Rashford still has a strong claim to that left-wing position. His overall goal numbers in the Premier League aren’t that promising either. In 12 appearance, he has three goal contributions (one goal, two assists). Of course, he hasn’t gotten that much exposure to shine, but hasn’t exactly been exceptional in every games he has featured in so far.
Moreover, there is also an injury bug issue with the Ivorian. Last season, he missed over 25 matches due to injuries. In the 2021/22 season, he also missed over 10 games due to injury problems. At 5’8’, Amad isn’t the most physical forward and his clever dribbling style often attracts nasty, aggressive fouls. One bad impact can lead him to being injured for a prominent bit, causing headaches for FPL managers having to replace him if that happens.
With that being said, considering that a 5m midfielder is mostly picked by FPL managers to use in a rotational role (when the expensive starting players have tough fixtures) or to use as the first substitute (when some starter doesn’t play), Amad seems a relatively safe pick. He could prove to be a nice differential pick too, considering not too many will want to invest in the winger.
Considering his heroics in pre-season and relatively high goal contribution chances due to his unpredictable style, the 5m Amad can be a successful gamble that can fetch managers a few extra points in the first phase of the 2024/25 season.
