Sam Greenwood Is The Ninth Most Popular Player On Fantasy Premier League

Fantasy Premier League managers are rushing to pick a surprise name, with Leeds United striker Sam Greenwood amongst some much more illustrious names.

England's top tier kicks off in just 15 days, with Crystal Palace and Arsenal kicking things off at Selhurst Park on Friday 5th of August.

Teams are currently eyeing what transfer business they can do ahead of their first games, so players can have some time with their new teammates, with Manchester United's pursuit of Frenkie de Jong the most high profile transfer yet to be completed.

However, it's not just the likes of Erik ten Hag and Pep Guardiola who need to work out their starting line ups for the first Matchday of the campaign, it's also the Ryan Sidle's of this world who need to decide.

That's because up and down the football world, fans will be deciding which rival player's goals they'll be cheering, all in the name of Fantasy Football.

Whilst it's no surprise to find that Erling Haaland, who costs £11.5 million, find himself in more FPL teams than any other player, following his move to Manchester City, it's more of a shock that Greenwood is in the top 10.

The 20-year-old currently find himself more popular than Tottenham Hotspur's Son Heung-min, who won the league's Golden Boot, with Mohamed Salah, back in May.

1. Erling Haaland, Manchester City - Picked by 60.7% of FPL managers

Everyone wants Haaland. Image: Alamy

2. Gabriel Jesus, Arsenal - 60.6%

3. Mohamed Salah, Liverpool - 57.8%

4. Trent Alexander-Arnold, Liverpool - 54.7%

5. Joao Cancelo, Manchester City - 45%

6. Reece James, Chelsea - 44.1%

7. Ivan Perisic, Tottenham Hotspur - 36.4%

Perisic is a defender on the game. Image: Alamy

8. Luis Diaz, Liverpool - 30.6%

9. Sam Greenwood, Leeds United - 27.5%

10. Son Heung-min, Tottenham Hotspur - 26.7%

Greenwood with Jesse Marsch last season. Image: Alamy

Greenwood's popularity is likely to have come from the fact he will only cost managers £4.5 million of their £100 million budget to be in the team.

He will probably be on the bench all season for most of their managers, as they use the budget saved to pick Haaland and another expensive striker.

However, Greenwood started just one game in the Premier League in the previous campaign, making six more appearances off the bench, and provided two assists, but no goals, meaning managers won't be getting much out of their £4.5 million.

It's less surprising to see Perisic included on the top 10 list, the Croatian moved from Inter Milan to Spurs in the summer and is expected to be a good signing.

The 33-year-old is a £5.5 million defender on the game but is expected to be a 'cheat code,' for his ability to get forward and provide assists and score goals, as well as keep clean sheets, from wing back.