The Fantasy Premier League transfer market is busy right now as managers continue to utilise their five free transfers.
And there’s been a definite shift in the midfield, with four of the game’s five most transferred-in players being at this position. So who makes up the new FPL template, and who are the priority transfers in?
Midfield must-haves
Phil Foden (£8.8m) has been the most-transferred-in player in each of the past two gameweeks, rewarding his new owners with double-digit hauls on both occasions.
He’s delivered six goals and an assist for Manchester City in the four most recent gameweeks, making him the highest-scoring asset in the game in this period. His underlying numbers are equally compelling: he leads the way for big chances on goal (five from 14 shots).
City have scored a league-leading 14 goals in this time, and with upcoming fixtures against West Ham, Nottingham Forest and Sunderland, Foden is now a must-have. His ownership has risen sharply from five per cent to 35 per cent in this time, but it’s not too late to jump on board. Crucially, he’s started 13 consecutive league games after shaking off an early-season ankle problem.
Across town, Manchester United’s Bruno Fernandes (£9.3m) has produced double-digit hauls in three of his past four appearances. This rich vein of form has seen him rise to be the top-scoring midfielder in the game. No Premier League player has more assists this season than his seven.
Over these four gameweeks, Fernandes is top for both key passes (19) and big chances created (four), highlighting his creativity, with set pieces at play here. That’s not his only route to points, though, as he also ranks second for shots (15). He’s on direct free kicks and penalties for United, and also ranks third among midfielders for defensive contributions.
When recommending an FPL midfielder, we do talk about Bruno (Carl Recine/Getty Images)
But the next two fixtures look tricky, as United face Aston Villa and Newcastle before a far kinder-looking run against Wolves, Leeds and Burnley.
All that being said, Fernandes is a must-own given his form, and the obvious replacement for team-mate Bryan Mbeumo (£8.2m), who has now departed to play for Cameroon in the Africa Cup of Nations starting this weekend.
Popular picks
Sticking with United, Matheus Cunha (£7.9m) is an interesting option either as a midfield replacement for Mbeumo or as an addition next to Fernandes. With United scoring 11 goals in the past four gameweeks, there’s an argument for doubling up on their attacking players.
Cunha has started three straight games since returning from a two-match absence after suffering a knock in training, picking up a goal and an assist, and United have gone unbeaten in those matches. The Brazilian is first for shots (19) and shots in the box (13) among all players in the past four gameweeks, despite playing only 257 minutes of a possible 360 in that period. His minutes going forward look secure, with Mbeumo and fellow AFCON selection Amad (£6.3m) unavailable to Ruben Amorim’s side for several weeks. He’s a huge differential, too — in just 4.1 per cent of FPL squads at time of writing.
Arsenal duo Bukayo Saka (£10.3m) and Declan Rice (£7.1m) are the fourth- and fifth-most-owned midfielders in the game. Saka makes the top 10 highest-scoring players across the past four gameweeks with a goal and four assists in those matches, during which he’s had 10 shots and created 10 chances for team-mates.
They remain top of the league but we have seen a dip in Arsenal’s form, with just six goals scored in those four games (two of which were own goals), and they have some tough fixtures — including Aston Villa, Bournemouth, Liverpool and Manchester United — following Everton and Brighton in the next two. It’s a situation to monitor in the coming gameweeks, but these two are justifying their status as part of the template midfield right now.
Those who are finding form
Antoine Semenyo (£7.5m) has long been the most-owned midfielder in the game following his electric start to the season with Bournemouth. He ended a run of six consecutive blanks with a goal against Manchester United last time out.
While Semenyo’s returns have been disappointing recently — following 10 goal involvements in the opening eight gameweeks — his underlying numbers remain positive. He’s had 11 shots and made nine key passes in the past four gameweeks, including two big chances created. He’s a hold at this point.
Fulham’s Harry Wilson (£5.6m) is the most transferred-in player going into Gameweek 17, having chalked up three goals and four assists in the four previous gameweeks.
The Welshman contributed to 70 per cent of Fulham’s 10 total goals in this period, during which they faced Tottenham, City and Crystal Palace. Wilson is overperforming his underlying numbers by some margin, as he’s on just six shots and six chances created in that time, and with Forest and West Ham up next, the potential is there for him to continue to prosper.
Despite costing £5.6m, Harry Wilson is the sixth-highest-scoring midfielder in the game (Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)
Another midfielder generating plenty of transfer traffic is Aston Villa’s Morgan Rogers (£7.1m). He has two goals and one assist in the past four gameweeks, during which he’s played the maximum amount of minutes.
Villa have scored 10 goals in those four matches, although Rogers’ data has been inconsistent, with nine shots and five key passes suggesting that these returns are not sustainable.
It’s a daunting run of United, Chelsea and Arsenal in the next three gameweeks for Unai Emery’s lads. But with six league wins on the bounce and 10 in 11, including against leaders Arsenal at Villa Park, their prospects cannot be written off.
If I were playing a Wildcard this week, Foden and Fernandes would be my key picks, with Saka and Cunha the additional targets for the upcoming gameweeks.