Football INDEX: Why you should invest in this key Chelsea man

Football INDEX is the world’s first football stock market, where you can buy and sell shares in footballers with real money. Football INDEX offers fans a chance to bet on the future success of football players compared to the short-lived outcome of betting on football results.  

Intrigued by what Football INDEX has to offer but unsure whether to gamble your money? Football INDEX offer new customers a 7-day risk free period where they will refund any deposits made within the first seven days of the first deposit up to a total of £500. Think of it as a trial period where you will effectively have up to £500 to play with during your first week of trading.  

Still undecided which footballers to invest your money in? Football INDEX even provides users with a handy tool to help you make informed decisions. Share prices tend to fluctuate, but they aren’t just determined by player performance. Share prices can also increase based on the media attention a player receives on any given day of trading.

After outlining the biggest risers in share price earlier this week, here we note five players to invest in ahead of the weekend's action...

BUY – MARCOS ALONSO (CHELSEA) 

Considering Marcos Alonso has had a direct hand in seven league goals this season, you’d expect his share price to be higher than £1.18. In fact a little under a month ago, he was trading at just £1.01 per share, a bargain buy on Football INDEX. There is room for his current buy price to increase further and while we may have missed the bulk of his rise, that isn’t to say he should be avoided entirely. 

Alonso has had a direct hand in four goals (3 goals, 1 assists) in his last four Premier League outings, while goals in recent home meetings against Brighton and Southampton has helped push his price up. The Blues have a solid home record against Leicester and have a forgivable run of fixtures in the pipeline as they face Brighton, Bournemouth, Watford and West Brom over the coming weeks. Strike while the iron is hot and invest in Alonso sooner rather than later. 

BUY – CENK TOSUN (EVERTON) 

Cenk Tosun’s share price has gradually risen over recent weeks as reports of his move to Everton picked up pace before the Turkey international’s signing was announced. The former Besiktas man will hope to make his Toffees debut this weekend in the trip to Wembley in Saturday’s late kick off. 

Spurs have kept just one clean sheet in their last five home Premier League matches, with their defence nowhere near as resolute as in recent seasons. Tosun may have to bide his time before making his full debut, but at £1.16 per share on Football INDEX, the 26-year-old is an investment in the long run. It won’t be long before he is first choice for Sam Allardyce’s side so be sure to capitalise on his low price now. 

BUY – SAMUEL UMTITI (BARCELONA) 

Samuel Umtiti has been routinely linked with a move to Manchester City and it’s helped push his share price up to £1.57 on Football INDEX. That reached as high as £1.70 earlier this month and with his buy price dropping off marginally, now could be the ideal time to purchase shares in the Frenchman. 

Umtiti may be a rumoured target for City, but crucially is that the centre-back is now back in training for Barcelona after injury. The 24-year-old may have increased competition in a starting at Camp Nou on the back of Yerry Mina’s arrival, yet when available, Umtiti is first choice under Ernesto Valverde. Before he’s back to full fitness, snap up shares in the centre-back before another rise in his price. 

BUY – HOUSSEM AOUAR (LYON) 

Ligue 1 returns this weekend after its winter hiatus and there is a bargain or two to be had before the league action in France kicks off. Lyon have been one of the teams to watch this season, with their free flowing attacking football a joy to behold at times. Bruno Genesio has a host of young, talented stars to choose from, with Houssem Aouar one of our picks to invest in. 

The 19-year-old secured a spot in the WhoScored team of the month in Ligue 1 having bagged twice in December and is one of the hottest midfield prospects on the continent. At £1.22 per share on Football INDEX, you’d be wise not to pass up the opportunity to invest in the teenage sensation, with Lyon up against relegation threatened Angers this weekend. 

BUY – CHRISTIAN PULISIC (BORUSSIA DORTMUND) 

Like Ligue 1, the Bundesliga too makes its comeback this weekend after the winter break and Borussia Dortmund will be looking to pick up where they left off having landed back-to-back league wins under Peter Stöger before the domestic hiatus. Christian Pulisic has been a key man for Dortmund this season and he’ll look to make his mark against Wolfsburg on Sunday. 

Dortmund have an excellent record against Wolfsburg, winning the last five league meetings between the two, with Pulisic netting the opener when these two met earlier in the campaign. ‘Captain America’ has a share price of £1.81 at present on Football INDEX, in part due to links with a move to Liverpool and Manchester United, but that has dropped off marginally recently. It may be worth your while snapping up some shares in Pulisic ahead of the weekend before that increases.