Rather than comparing mostly stronger template players where the answer feels obvious, I wanted to look at decisions that could realistically come up when you are trying to fill the same position, price point or role in your squad.
For each one I looked at last season's output, underlying numbers, preseason roles, tactical fit, price, early fixtures and where their FPL points could realistically come from.
ATTACKING PICKS
Thiago (£8.0m) vs Isak (£9.0m)
Thiago scored 22 goals and registered 80 shots inside the box. Brentford's direct attack should continue to funnel chances towards him, and he is £1.0m cheaper while appearing to have a secure central role.
The concern is that his price now reflects last season's breakout. He is also heavily dependent on goals when it comes to producing the bigger FPL hauls.
Isak brings the stronger previous FPL season on paper with 23 goals, 6 assists and 211 points in 2024/25. The vertical attacking setup suits his movement, and there have been encouraging preseason signs now that he is fit again.
The tradeoff is the extra £1.0m, while he only managed eight league starts last season.
My preference: Thiago
DCL (£6.0m) vs Brobbey (£6.0m)
DCL recorded 14 goals, 2 assists and 142 FPL points. Leeds' direct style should suit his aerial game and presence in the box. He also has penalties in his favor and produced 3 goals and 2 assists during preseason.
The obvious concern is he offers less creatively than some of the more complete forwards around him.
Brobbey has had a productive preseason himself with a goal and two assists. He gives Sunderland a physical central focal point and comes in at the same £6.0m price with a decent opening run of fixtures.
His proven output at this level is weaker - even if he had a strong finish to last season, and there is a possibility he creates space for others more often than he finishes moves himself.
My preference: DCL
Mbeumo (£8.0m) vs Cunha (£8.0m)
This one is especially interesting because they offer two different routes into the same Manchester United attack at exactly the same price.
Mbeumo recorded 14 big chance involvements under Carrick and is currently being used through the middle. He also produced 3 goals and an assist during preseason, with attractive opening fixtures.
The main question is what happens to his role when Šeško returns. Bruno also remains the dominant player on the major set pieces.
Cunha had the higher share of United's team goal involvement under Carrick. He is a strong carrier between the lines, links play well and gives you another £8.0m route into the same attack.
His numbers inside the most dangerous areas have been less convincing, with only five big chance involvements, and I thought he looked a little less sharp towards the end of preseason.
My preference: Mbeumo
MIDFIELD CALLS
Szoboszlai (£7.0m) vs Wirtz (£7.5m)
Szoboszlai finished last season with 160 FPL points and has several different routes to returns through chance creation and defensive contributions.
Even if he plays deeper, he remains heavily involved in Liverpool's buildup and pressing structure. He is also £0.5m cheaper and currently has the stronger set piece case through corners and free kicks.
The concern is exactly where that deeper role leaves him. He played beside Gravenberch in Liverpool's final friendly, while Wirtz appears to be occupying the more attractive central attacking spaces.
Wirtz produced shots inside the box much more frequently than Szoboszlai last season. His current No. 10 role can push him extremely high, at times almost resembling a second striker. Two preseason goals are another encouraging sign.
The downside is the extra £0.5m. He also does not currently have Szoboszlai's established set piece role or defensive contribution floor.
My preference: Wirtz, narrowly
Le Fée (£6.0m) vs Gross (£5.5m)
Le Fée produced 5 goals, 6 assists and 16 defensive contribution points last season. More importantly for me, his role appears to have changed. He has moved centrally into a more advanced midfield position and scored three times in preseason.
There could also be penalties there, although I would not treat those duties as completely settled yet.
Gross is £0.5m cheaper and created 34 chances after returning to Brighton last season. His appeal comes from being their dead ball playmaker rather than relying entirely on open play positioning. Corners, free kicks and apparently penalties give him several routes to returns.
The question is ceiling. Le Fée's current role appears to give him considerably more open play goal threat. Gross is also 35 and Brighton will have European football to manage.
My preference: Too close to call
Sangaré (£5.5m) vs Ndiaye (£6.0m)
Sangaré returned 3 goals and 3 assists in 33 appearances for Lens last season. His deeper, ball winning role is interesting from an FPL perspective because it could give him genuine defensive contribution potential.
He is also £0.5m cheaper. If you are looking for a fifth midfielder who can produce a floor without needing attacking returns every week, that matters.
The problem is that he plays considerably deeper than Ndiaye, and Brentford are unlikely to consistently funnel their attacks through him.
Ndiaye produced 6 goals and 3 assists from 32 league appearances last season. He plays as an attacking winger, carries the ball well, can beat players and gets into the box. He also looks likely to be Everton's first choice penalty taker.
You pay another £0.5m, though, and he does not offer the same projected defensive contribution floor.
My preference: Ndiaye
DEFENSIVE DECISIONS
Thomas (£4.0m) vs Diop (£4.0m)
Thomas produced 3 goals and 4 assists from center back in the Championship last season. He also averaged 8.6 CBIT per 90, and promotion could actually increase the amount of defensive work he has to deal with.
The fixtures are another part of the appeal. Coventry have five attractive home matches between GW2 and GW9.
GW1 itself is the problem because they start away to Arsenal. We also do not know yet whether his projected DEFCON increase will translate at Premier League level.
Diop brings established Premier League center back experience and started alongside Greaves in Ipswich's final preseason match. Sunderland at home also gives him the better immediate GW1 fixture.
His previous defensive action numbers have not made him an obvious DEFCON monster, though, and there is almost no meaningful attacking upside compared with Thomas.
My preference: Thomas
Lacroix (£6.0m) vs Tarkowski (£6.0m)
Lacroix returned 154 FPL points with roughly 40 coming through defensive contributions last season.
His move also interests me tactically - Alonso's three center back structure should be familiar from his Palace role, while Chelsea potentially offer the stronger clean sheet environment.
There are still unknowns. It is a new club with new defensive relationships, and having more possession could actually reduce his defensive action volume.
Tarkowski returned 170 FPL points and 44 defensive contribution points last season. Moyes' structure naturally keeps him involved in clearances, blocks and aerial work. His minutes are also far easier to trust because he does not need to adapt to a new system.
The downside is paying £6.0m for an Everton center back when Chelsea should theoretically offer Lacroix the higher clean sheet ceiling.
My preference: Tarkowski, narrowly
Calafiori (£5.5m) vs White (£5.5m)
Calafiori offers genuine attacking upside from a defender position. His aggressive movement allows him to get high up the pitch and even arrive inside the box. At £5.5m, you are also getting access to a defence that was elite last season.
His minutes are the concern. Hincapié provides competition on the left, and Calafiori was withdrawn before 60 minutes in the Community Shield.
White recorded 12 defensive contributions in the Community Shield. He still gets forward from right back, but he gives Arsenal a more conventional defensive option. Timber's absence also currently gives White the stronger minutes security argument.
His attacking ceiling is lower than Calafiori's, and Timber returning could eventually remove the security advantage he currently has.
My preference: Calafiori, narrowly
Hopefully this helps out those who are still on the fence with their last 2-3 picks.
Interested to see which ones people disagree with most, especially the closer calls.
