In the dynamic world of Fantasy Premier League (FPL), managers are constantly on the lookout for the next big transfer to boost their teams. For Double Gameweek 34, the spotlight turns to two intriguing forwards: Matheus Santos Carneiro Da Cunha of Wolves and Jean-Philippe Mateta of Crystal Palace. Both players have shown promise, but who will be the best transfer in for FPL managers?

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Player Analysis

Matheus Santos Carneiro Da Cunha, priced at £5.6m, has played 27 games (2,098 minutes) this season, amassing 121 FPL points. With an ownership of 3.4% among the top 100k managers, he has outperformed his expected goals (xG) of 8.38 by scoring 11 goals, indicating a sharp finishing ability above expectations. Furthermore, his 6 assists surpass his expected assists (xA) of 4.14, showcasing his dual threat. Cunha has been transferred in by 101,316 managers so far this Gameweek.

Jean-Philippe Mateta, is slightly cheaper at £5.0m, has featured in 29 games (1,843 minutes), collecting 99 FPL points. His ownership in the top 100k stands at 9.1%. Mateta has netted 7 goals against an xG of 6.64, slightly outperforming his expected tally, and has provided 5 assists, significantly above his xA of 2.85. He has seen 31,694 transfers in this Gameweek.

The above image from the Opta Player Heatmaps tool shows that Cunha outperforms Mateta on most statistics per 90 minutes.

Cunha has a higher point return per game and a slightly greater percentage of games started, indicating a more consistent performance level. Mateta offers a more budget-friendly option with competitive returns, making the choice between them compelling for FPL managers.

Upcoming Fixtures & Projected Points

Both Crystal Palace and Wolves have two fixtures in Double Gameweek 34.

The image above from the Fixture Planner tool shows that Crystal Palace are top for attacking difficulty and Wolves' two fixture are ranked fifth.

The Predicted Points & Stats feature shows us that Mateta (7.9) is the second highest forward for projected points in the Double Gameweek, whereas Cunha (5.1) is forth.

What do Elite Managers think?

Lari Ahti, who has 4x top 10k finishes and 2x top 5k finishes to his name, currently has opted for Mateta in his latest Free Hit draft.

The legendary FPL manager seems to be attacking Palace's favourable fixtures. He mentioned in his Manager Mindset notes he will have three of their players in his team. However, he has gone for the Wolves' forward as first on his bench. You can see his latest Free Hit draft in the Elite XI: Team Reveal feature.

Conclusion

Choosing between Matheus Santos Carneiro Da Cunha and Jean-Philippe Mateta is a nuanced decision for FPL managers. Cunha's higher cost is justified by his superior point return and consistency, while Mateta offers a budget-friendly option with higher projected points in Double Gameweek 34.

Based on stats, predicted points, and upcoming fixtures, both players present viable options. Ultimately, the decision may come down to individual FPL strategies and preferences, leaving room for interpretation and personal choice.