Diop (IPS, Defender, £4.0m)

Verdict: HOLD

Diop is a nailed £4.0m defender, perfect for your bench, but don't expect any hauls with tough fixtures ahead.

The Reasoning

Fitness & Availability: Diop is fully available and started Gameweek 1, playing the full 90 minutes. No fitness concerns here, which is crucial for a budget enabler.
Recent Performance: He picked up 2 points in GW1, which is standard for a £4.0m defender in a newly promoted side who didn't keep a clean sheet. He's not an attacking threat, as his ICT index of 1.0 confirms.
Upcoming Fixtures: Ipswich face a brutal run with Manchester United (A) and Liverpool (H) in the next two gameweeks, followed by Crystal Palace (A). Clean sheets are highly improbable, meaning his points potential is severely capped.
Underlying Stats: Historically, Diop offers very little attacking threat. His value is purely as a cheap, starting defender who enables funds elsewhere. His low ICT index reflects this.

Risks

The primary risk is the extremely tough fixture run for Ipswich. Clean sheets will be hard to come by, meaning Diop is unlikely to return more than 1-2 points per game for the foreseeable future. He offers virtually no attacking upside, so don't expect any surprise hauls.

Alternative Options

If you're looking for another £4.0m bench defender, the strategy remains the same: find a nailed starter from a newly promoted or struggling side. Consider players like Bell (LUT) or any other £4.0m defender who is guaranteed minutes, as their primary role is to sit on your bench and free up funds.

The Strategic Play

Diop is the quintessential £4.0m bench fodder. If you own him, you've likely brought him in to enable premium assets elsewhere. He's doing his job by being available and starting, so there's no reason to sell. Keep him on your bench, don't play him, and let him free up your budget. He's a long-term HOLD for that specific role.

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