Which new summer signings could be good FPL assets?

We’re still fairly early into the summer window but, from an FPL perspective, a few good signings have already emerged.

And that’s before the expected Bryan Mbeumo, Anthony Elanga and Viktor Gyokeres transfers get completed.

• READ MORE: Which recent transfers and gossip will interest FPL managers?
• READ MORE: Teams to target early due to strong fixtures
• READ MORE: Some predicted FPL player prices for 2025/26

With fixtures already known but initial prices not, let’s pick out six confirmed purchases that could quickly establish themselves.

Floran Wirtz (Liverpool)

It seems out of character for this Liverpool set-up to sign someone who’ll likely smash the British transfer record. By committing £116m towards Wirtz, they must think he’s pretty special.

After all, the 22-year-old was crucial to Leverkusen’s unbeaten 2023/24 Bundesliga title win. Both then and last time, he accumulated double-digit figures for goals and assists despite starting no more than 26 matches. Unsurprisingly, Wirtz bagged a couple of Players’ Player of the Season awards from this.

For FPL managers, the expected Mohamed Salah price increase could bring Wirtz to the fore as a cheaper alternative. Although it should be noted that the German won’t have penalties and isn’t a frequent set-piece taker.

Used as the left-sided number 10 in Xabi Alonso’s 3-4-2-1, it remains to be seen if Arne Slot will deploy him as a third central midfielder, a false nine, or a narrow left-winger.

Milos Kerkez (Liverpool)

The latter would therefore bring great potential for the surging Kerkez, someone brilliant at both overlaps and underlaps.

Sporting Director Richard Hughes knows exactly what he’s bought, having taken the left-back to Bournemouth in 2023. While the Hungarian’s first season saw minutes shared with Lloyd Kelly, he ended 2024/25 as the sixth-best defender for points, thanks to two goals and six assists.

Also sixth for crosses (142), Kerkez’s FPL ownership peaked at over two million for a bit. Alongside the crosses, his 845 sprints showcase great stamina and adding this combination to a defence that kept the most clean sheets could produce a superstar.

You see, it looked like Slot was evolving away from Jurgen Klopp’s style. The era of Trent Alexander-Arnold and Andrew Robertson had Liverpool amongst the top two most frequent crossers in five consecutive campaigns, but the Reds were down in fifth last time.

But the additions of Kerkez and Jeremie Frimpong – armed with 63 attacking returns in three seasons – hint that Slot with stick with flying full-backs and a trio of pragmatic midfielders.

What initially places Kerkez ahead of Frimpong in FPL minds is that the latter has a slightly bigger rotation threat from Conor Bradley. Though managers will still need to see either Robertson or Kostas Tsimikas depart.

Adrien Truffert (Bournemouth)

In fact, Gameweek 1 pits Kerkez against his former club, Bournemouth, who were proactive in replacing him with Frenchman Truffert.

Another successful graduate from the famed Rennes academy, his attacking returns don’t stand out but Andoni Iraola’s staff see a player with similar traits. He loves crossing, for example, and was one of Ligue 1’s top 10 for receiving progressive passes (243).

Possible rotation with January arrival Julio Soler could cause some nerves, but this backline conceded the joint-fewest home goals (16). The Cherries entered Gameweek 26 up in fifth place, before gravity interfered.

Mixed initial fixtures and a picked-apart defence might require a wait-and-see policy. But, if priced at £4.5m, Truffert could become great value.

Rayan Ait-Nouri (Man City)

Sticking with left-backs, Man City made a flurry of signings before the Club World Cup.

Last season’s best defender for attacking returns (four goals, seven assists) initially costs a surprisingly low £31m. While fellow newbie Rayan Cherki has a bigger rotation threat, Ait-Nouri offers a few versatile options that could be a vital part of taking Pep Guardiola’s side to another title.

The Algerian ranked third amongst defenders for penalty area shots (31) and fourth for creating chances (46). Repeatedly linked with forward-thinking right-backs, maybe Pep is having a similar tactical thought to Slot now that Rodri is back to offer protection.

Matheus Cunha (Man United)

Also leaving Wolves is their top scorer with 15 goals – none of which were penalties.

In his prime years, Cunha has opted to put faith in Ruben Amorim’s overhaul of the Man United attack, albeit one that seems to have recently stalled.

The Brazilian had last season’s fourth-most shots (110), but a mere seven were Opta-defined big chances, as he came joint-first for long-range goals – alongside new teammate Bruno Fernandes.

Should Mbeumo and a big-name centre-forward move to Old Trafford, some poor early fixtures will give FPL managers time to identify who’d be their leading attacking pick.

Cunha’s possible – but not confirmed – reclassification as a midfielder would boost his case, especially with Man United having a season without European distractions.

Caoimhin Kelleher (Brentford)

A nice-looking diary between Gameweeks 1 and 6 places Brentford second on Fantasy Football Scout’s Fixture Ticker. That could help them adapt to losing a manager, captain and star man in the same summer.

Goalkeeper Mark Flekken is gone too, because the usually smart Brentford buyers believe Kelleher deserves an upgrade from deputy Liverpool stopper to being a first-choice Premier League player. He showed potential when stepping in for Alisson last season, keeping four clean sheets in 10 matches.

Under Thomas Frank, the Bees didn’t mind conceding shots, on the condition that they were harmless, long-distance ones. They allowed the second-most attempts (647) but seventh-fewest big chances (80), letting Flekken pick up the most overall save points.

If Kelleher is priced at £4.5m, the combination of frequent saves and appealing opponents could ensure he starts with a high ownership.