As the Fantasy Premier League (FPL) deadline looms closer, it is time to decide what to do with our precious free transfer(s). Aside from playing chips or selecting a captain, our transfers are the single most important aspect of our FPL campaign.
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In this article we crunch the numbers, analyse the fixtures, take advice from the Algorithm, and decide which player to buy, which player to sell, and which player to keep for Gameweek 12.
Caveat: this article was written on Friday 10th November prior to the Premier League press conferences
In a season which seems to be brimming with great midfield options, most FPL managers wish they had more than the usual 5 slots to fill. But with injuries and knocks starting to build up, the range of available options is narrowing. Indeed, with many of the top clubs engaged in European football, the ever-present danger of rotation grows teeth.
If it is stability you are seeking, then look no further than West Ham’s Jarrod Bowen (£7.5m). While West Ham’s recent form has been poor, Bowen has remained a solid FPL asset. With 8 goal involvements so far this season, Bowen has mainly blanked against difficult opposition – Manchester City, Newcastle, Chelsea – while offering decent returns against lesser opponents.
With that in mind, managers would be wise to jump on Bowen as West Ham enter a golden run of fixtures. In fact, between now and Gameweek 17, an away fixture to Spurs is the only real fly in the ointment. Home games against Nottingham Forest, Crystal Palace, and Wolves – not to mention a fixture against Burnley – will be great opportunities for Bowen to return.
Top 5 replacements for Maddison
— Fantasy Football Fix (@FantasyFootyFix) November 10, 2023
(Projected points [GW12-17] midfielders under £8.5m)
1⃣ Mbeumo - 28.1
2⃣ Mitoma - 27.7
3⃣ Martinelli - 27.2
4⃣ Bowen - 25.7
5⃣ B. Fernandes - 25.0 https://t.co/AVn10ut2fG
Owned by over a third of all FPL managers – and 53.3% of managers in the Top 100k (Live Insight) – James Maddison (£8.1m) will almost certainly miss Gameweek 12, as the injury he picked up against Chelsea last weekend appears to be worse than initially feared.
Such is the extent of his injury, it has been confirmed by Tottenham that Maddison will be withdrawn from the upcoming Euro 2024 qualifiers in the upcoming international break between Gameweeks 12 and 13. Tottenham’s official Twitter/X account said:
"We can confirm that James Maddison has been withdrawn from the England squad due to an ankle injury. The midfielder will not feature in the Three Lions' UEFA EURO 2024 qualifiers against Malta and North Macedonia, and will remain at Hotspur Way for rehabilitation with the Club's medical staff."
As highlighted above, the midfield spots are far too precious – and budget far too valuable – to hold onto players who are unavailable and an instant switch to Bowen makes great sense.
The Aston Villa full back has already been sold by over 150,000 managers, making him the 7th most transferred out player ahead of Gameweek 12, and the 2nd most transferred out player who is not flagged for injury or suspension.
But with a home fixture against Fulham and a trip to leaky Bournemouth in Gameweek 14, now doesn’t feel the right time to lose a player who offers both clean sheet and attacking potential.
Come Gameweek 15, Matty Cash (£5.2m) and Aston Villa have an awful turn of fixtures facing both Manchester City and Arsenal in back-to-back games, but until then he seems a solid choice.
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