With Aston Villa’s Ezri Konsa (£4.5m) suspended for Gameweek 2 and Liverpool right-back Jeremie Frimpong (£6.0m) sidelined until after the international break, Fantasy Premier League managers are on the lookout for alternatives in defence.

Given Konsa is only out for one Gameweek, managers should bear in mind that it might be wise to roll their transfer and use their bench, especially if they have defenders from Burnley and Sunderland, who play each other on Saturday.

That said, those who still would like to make a transfer in defence should consider the following players. Frimpong and Konsa are currently the first and third most-sold players ahead of Friday’s 18:30 BST deadline.

Best Frimpong replacements

Rayan Ait-Nouri (Man City) £6.0m

FPL managers with concerns over whether Ait-Nouri would fall victim to “Pep Roulette” were relieved to see him named in the line-up for Gameweek 1, helped no doubt by an injury to Josko Gvardiol (£5.9m).

Ait-Nouri is prized for his attacking threat, and he did have two goal attempts on his City debut, but it was his defensive prowess that shone through against Wolves. The Algerian earned 15 clearances, blocks, interceptions and tackles (CBITs) to claim two defensive contribution points to accompany his clean sheet and bonus point. With nine points, he was the joint-fourth highest-scoring defender of the Gameweek.

Spurs are something of a bogey team for City, but thereafter the fixtures look smooth sailing for a player with the ability to return at both ends of the pitch and whose price will surely rise soon.

Marc Cucurella (Chelsea) £6.0m

Cucurella continued where he left off last season with an excellent opening-weekend display against Crystal Palace.

The Chelsea defender collected eight points thanks to a clean sheet, two bonus and showed signs of his attacking threat, with two attempts on goal. Palace are defensively resolute opponents, but against less robust sides, the Spaniard can produce attacking returns.

No defender scored more goals than Cucurella’s five last season, and with West Ham, Fulham and Brentford up next, he might not have too long to wait for his next one.

Gabriel (Arsenal) £6.0m

With uncertainty surrounding his fitness ahead of the start of the season and a tough opening schedule, Gabriel was widely ignored by most FPL managers, but the Brazilian returned to the heart of the Gunners defence for the trip to Man Utd and looked like he’d never been away.

The Brazilian returned a clean sheet and came three defensive contributions shy of an extra two FPL points. The visit of Leeds should bring another shutout for Mikel Arteta’s side, while Gabriel will provide a major threat from set-pieces.

Arsenal scored from another corner in Gameweek 1 and will seek to do so again on Saturday. The upcoming fixtures are tough, but the Gunners did boast the best defence in the league last season.

Most-popular Frimpong replacements

Player
Transfers in

Gabriel
112,269

Cucurella
110,115

Ait-Nouri
108,971

Saliba
94,011

Ballard
63,828

*Data correct as of 12:40 BST Fri 22 Aug

Best Konsa replacements
Micky van de Ven (Spurs) £4.5m

Last season under Ange Postecoglou, Tottenham Hotspur defenders were best given a wide berth, but Thomas Frank’s side is a more pragmatic one.

Although a trip to Man City this weekend is an undoubtedly tricky fixture, Van de Ven is a strong long-term option. He already has a clean sheet to his name, and has an excellent run of fixtures following Gameweek 2 and also offers attacking threat at set-pieces.

Only two £4.5m defenders had more attempts on goal in Gameweek 1, and with Pedro Porro (£5.5m) picking him out from corners and free-kicks, Van de Ven looks a great value pick.

Patrick Dorgu (Man Utd) £4.5m

Manchester United are evolving into a different team under Ruben Amorim and were unfortunate to lose 1-0 to Arsenal last weekend.

United were barely troubled by the Gunners’ attack and posed a far greater offensive threat than their opponents. Key to this was Dorgu, who was solid at the back, and a danger going forward. No £4.5m defender made more tackles (four) than the Dane in Gameweek 1, while only two had more attempts on goal.

The full-back was unlucky to see one of his two shots come back off the post. Man Utd face Fulham and Burnley over the next two Gameweeks.

Matty Cash (Aston Villa) £4.5m

One of the main reasons Konsa was such a popular signing was due to Aston Villa’s fixtures, so a sidewards move to Matty Cash allows Fantasy managers to maintain the same strategy.

Cash ranked third among £4.5m defenders for defensive contributions in Gameweek 1 with 11, earning an extra two points to complement his clean sheet against Newcastle.

He also offered a threat going forward; Kieran Trippier (£5.0m) was the only player to produce more than Cash’s four crosses, even though Villa played a third of the match with 10 men. 

Most-popular Konsa replacements

Player
Transfers in

Ballard
82,679

Cash
71,004

Guehi
29,974

Dorgu
27,970

Acheampong
22,119

*Data correct as of 12:40 BST Fri 22 Aug