Paraguay will have three representatives in the English Premier League this season, with all of them making a strong case for inclusion in your Fantasy Premier League team, for very different reasons. This is The Asunción Times‘ analysis on Paraguay’s contingent of players this year.
Diego Gómez arrives as a potential budget midfield gem at Brighton. Omar Alderete is a proven Premier League defender coming off a surprisingly strong campaign with Sunderland. Julio Enciso, meanwhile, looks set to return to Ipswich after an outstanding year in France.
For Paraguayan FPL managers – and indeed anyone looking for overlooked differentials – here is a detailed assessment of the country’s Premier League contingent heading into the 2026/27 season. And join The Asunción Times League!
Diego Gómez (Brighton & Hove Albion)
Position: Midfielder
Price: £5.0m
2025/26 FPL Stats
- 97 FPL points
- 26 starts
- 2,117 minutes
- 5 goals
- 1 assist
- xG: 6.24
- 3.0 points per match
- Ranked 65th of 259 midfielders
At first glance, Gómez’s numbers do not leap off the page. Five goals and one assist is a respectable return, but not one that immediately attracts widespread attention.
However, the underlying data suggests there is room for growth. His xG of 6.24 exceeded his actual goal tally, indicating he was regularly getting into dangerous positions and could easily have finished with six or seven goals rather than five. His average of three points per match was solid for a budget midfielder, especially one still adapting to English football.
More importantly, circumstances heading into Gameweek 1 appear to favour him.
Brighton are dealing with injuries to both Kaoru Mitoma and Yankuba Minteh, two players who normally occupy the wide attacking roles. While Gómez is naturally more versatile than either winger, Brighton’s current injury situation significantly increases his chances of starting and playing substantial minutes in the opening weeks of the campaign. With European football also returning to the Amex, squad rotation is inevitable, but Gómez appears one of the players most likely to benefit from it.
The fixture list is mixed but not prohibitive:
Brighton’s first five league matches:
- Aston Villa (H)
- Chelsea (A)
- Leeds United (H)
- Coventry City (A)
- Arsenal (H)
The opening two fixtures are difficult, but Leeds and Coventry present opportunities for returns before Brighton host Arsenal in Gameweek 5. At £5.0m, Gómez is not being priced as a guaranteed starter. If the expected minutes materialise, he could become one of the best value midfielders in the game.
Verdict: One of the strongest £5.0m midfield options available and a genuine differential for managers looking beyond the obvious budget picks.
Omar Alderete (Sunderland)
Position: Defender
Price: £5.0m
2025/26 FPL Stats
- 125 FPL points
- 32 starts
- 2,797 minutes
- 1 goal
- 1 assist
- 10 clean sheets
- 3.8 points per match
- Ranked 26th of 193 defenders
Alderete enters the season as arguably the safest Paraguayan FPL pick across the full set of 38 games.
Many managers instinctively avoid defenders from newly promoted clubs, but Sunderland’s result last year was unusual. Rather than merely surviving, they exceeded expectations by finishing seventh and qualifying for European football.
Alderete was a major reason for that success.
His 125 FPL points ranked him among the better-performing defenders in the entire game last season. The Paraguayan centre-back started 32 matches, delivered 10 clean sheets and averaged 3.8 points per appearance. Those numbers placed him 26th among all Premier League defenders.
Importantly, his appeal is not solely dependent on clean sheets. Alderete is virtually guaranteed minutes when fit, offers aerial threat from set pieces and benefits from Sunderland’s well-organised defensive structure.
Additionally, Sunderland’s opening schedule gives some potential for clean sheets, starting with a trip to newly-promoted Ipswich.
Sunderland’s first five league matches:
- Ipswich Town (A)
- Fulham (H)
- Brentford (A)
- Liverpool (H)
- Newcastle United (A)
There are opportunities for clean sheets in the first three matches, but Liverpool and Newcastle present obvious challenges.
At £5.0m, Alderete sits in an awkward pricing bracket where managers will compare him against defenders from more established Premier League clubs. Yet his combination of guaranteed minutes, proven FPL output and Sunderland’s defensive organisation makes a compelling case.
Verdict: Not flashy, but one of the most reliable defenders outside the traditional top clubs.
Julio Enciso (Ipswich Town)
Position: Midfielder
Price: Not yet announced
2025/26 Stats (Strasbourg)
- 42 appearances
- 12 goals
- 9 assists
Enciso is not yet officially an FPL asset, but all indications suggest he will soon become one.
The Paraguayan international is expected to return to Ipswich following an outstanding season with Strasbourg, where he registered 21 goal involvements in 42 appearances.
For FPL managers, the more relevant comparison may be his previous spell at Portman Road.
During his loan stint with Ipswich in 2024/25, Enciso made 13 appearances, 12 of them starts, playing 876 minutes while recording two goals and three assists. Those numbers translate to a goal involvement every 175 minutes – an excellent rate for a player adapting to a new club and recovering from injury issues.
His ceiling is arguably higher than any other Paraguayan player in the league.
Brighton supporters will remember his spectacular strike against Manchester City that won the Premier League Goal of the Season award in 2022/23. Few players in the league possess his combination of creativity, dribbling ability and willingness to shoot from distance.
Ipswich’s opening fixtures are challenging:
Ipswich’s first five league matches:
- Sunderland (H)
- Manchester United (A)
- Liverpool (H)
- Crystal Palace (A)
- Everton (A)
That difficult run may discourage immediate investment, but if Enciso is priced attractively and quickly secures a central attacking role, he could become one of the season’s most transferred-in players.
Verdict: High risk, high reward. Potentially explosive, but probably one to monitor until his price and role are confirmed.
Overall Rankings
1. Diego Gómez (£5.0m, Brighton)
The combination of price, likely minutes, strong underlying numbers and Brighton’s current injury situation makes him the most attractive Paraguayan FPL asset heading into Gameweek 1.
2. Omar Alderete (£5.0m, Sunderland)
The safest option. Proven Premier League production, guaranteed starts and a team coming off a remarkable season.
3. Julio Enciso (Price TBC, Ipswich)
Possibly the highest ceiling of the three, but uncertainty surrounding his registration, price and role keeps him third for now.
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To play:
- Download the official Premier League app or sign up through Fantasy Premier League
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Whether you’re backing Haaland, taking a punt on Gómez or hoping Enciso lights up the league again, the new season promises plenty of opportunities to test your analytical and predictive skills against approximately ten million other players worldwide – good luck, and may the best fantasy manager win!
