Approaching the halfway point of the Fantasy Premier League season, Gameweek 17 presents limited clean sheet prospects but several clear attacking targets. Goalkeepers to consider include Gianluigi Donnarumma (£5.7m), who was rested for Carabao Cup duty midweek and has recorded five or more points in four of his last six matches ahead of a home match with West Ham United. David Raya (£6.0m) remains a set-and-forget option despite a trip to Everton, with Arsenal’s defensive record and the return of key defenders from suspension and injury bolstering his appeal.

Sunderland’s Robin Roefs (£4.8m) leads goalkeeper scoring with 73 points and is in consideration for the visit to Brighton & Hove Albion, though Sunderland have lost six first-team players to AFCON. That situation is worth noting when weighing long-term choices.

At the back, William Saliba (£5.9m) returned from injury against Wolverhampton Wanderers and is expected to start again at Everton, offering both defensive and set-piece upside; Piero Hincapié (£5.5m) is a cheaper route into the same defence. Marcos Senesi (£4.9m) and Adrien Truffert (£4.5m) are options for Bournemouth, who will seek a shutout at home to Burnley after conceding four on Monday.

Marc Guéhi (£5.3m) is the top-scoring defender with 92 points and faces Leeds United, while Maxence Lacroix (£5.2m) trails him by just 11 points. In midfield, Man City’s Nico O’Reilly (£5.3m) and Matheus Nunes (£5.3m) are recommended for a fixture with West Ham United; Matheus recorded 11 points against Crystal Palace and Nico produced consecutive six-point returns.

On the attacking front, Antoine Semenyo (£7.5m) returned to the scoresheet with a six-point outing against Manchester United and has a favourable home match with Burnley. Phil Foden (£8.8m) has amassed 55 points across his last four matches and carries a strong record versus West Ham. Rayan Cherki (£6.5m) is a cheaper in-form alternative who scored in the cup midweek.

Other considerations: Bruno Fernandes (£9.3m) and Bukayo Saka (£10.3m) for their current form; Kevin Schade (£7.0m) returns from suspension to face Wolverhampton Wanderers; Harry Wilson (£5.6m) has 42 points across four games and hosts Nottingham Forest. Erling Haaland (£15.0m) was rested midweek after a brace last weekend and has nine goals in his last six matches against West Ham.

Striker picks include Hugo Ekitiké (£8.6m), who has scored back-to-back braces and travels to Tottenham Hotspur, plus Igor Thiago (£7.2m) if fit, Raúl Jiménez (£6.3m) and Evanilson (£7.0m) as short-term options. The GW17 deadline is 11 a.m. GMT on Saturday, Dec. 20.

Roy Keane criticised Kobbie Mainoo’s older half-brother after the fan wore a T-shirt reading ‘Free Kobbie’ during Manchester United’s 4–4 draw with Bournemouth.

Mainoo has been used sparingly by Ruben Amorim this season and asked for a loan in the summer to aid his development. The academy graduate has started just one match, that appearance coming in the shock defeat to League Two Grimsby Town in the Carabao Cup second round. Reports suggest Mainoo’s frustrations prompted a further loan request ahead of the January transfer window, although the Red Devils are prepared to permit a departure only if an “exceptional offer” arrives, according to a new report.

Speaking on the Stick to Football podcast, Keane was blunt about the actions of Mainoo’s sibling and about the midfielder’s immediate future. “When he’s got his idiot brother doing all that stuff—we shouldn’t even be giving his brother the time of day,” said the former United captain. “Because sometimes you’re just surrounded by idiots, especially in families.

“You come in after the match, and your brother did that … if my brother [had] done that, you would be looking at him going, ‘what are you doing?’ You would, and do you know what—do you think his brother’s done that without asking him?”

Keane also urged Mainoo to remain at Old Trafford and work for a first-team place rather than seeking an immediate exit. “He’s 20 years of age, what’s wrong with sitting and learning your trade? And even if he’s not getting a chance, we’ve all had to do it,” added the Irishman. “Sometimes a manager is on your case and what you have to do is prove them wrong. Every day is your chance to prove yourself to the manager. He’s got to get that in his mindset.

“The life of a footballer is about trying to prove people wrong. I have no problem players going out on loan, it can work for everybody, but sometimes as a player, your biggest challenge is here at Man Utd and getting into that first team.”

Bruno Fernandes has revised the narrative around his future at Manchester United, saying the club twice asked him to remain despite previous public criticism. The captain, who had accused the club of prioritising money and suggested he might leave, offered a different recollection in an interview on Rio Ferdinand Presents.

“When I came to the club, apart from loving being here and loving the club, I think my loyalty was in the toughest periods and I could have left two times,” Fernandes said. “The club said ‘no, we need you’ and I said ‘OK, you gave me something, I will give you something.’”

The Portugal international acknowledged outside interest, including approaches from the Saudi Pro League, and hinted at potential moves to La Liga and Serie A, while leaving open the possibility of a return to Lisbon. The draft mentioned Ruben Amorim as a figure Fernandes had previously credited with wanting him to stay, a point now framed alongside United saying they wanted him to remain in a red shirt.

Fernandes stressed that loyalty and belief in the club’s ambitions influenced his decision to stay. “I’m very aware that I could have gone a different path and probably won more trophies and people talking about me in a different way because I’ve had trophies into my cabinet,” Fernandes told Ferdinand.

He underlined that his choice was linked to United’s stated objectives and his own desire to help the club return to its former standing. “When I speak about going and winning trophies, I stayed here because I think I still can win trophies here. I wouldn’t have stayed here if the club hasn’t told me our aim is still to be the highest we can be, get back to winning trophies, get back to be the club we were before.

If that was not the aim then yes, I wouldn’t have stayed here, but because I know the aim of the club is still to get back to where they want to be and where I want the club to be, that’s why I came to the club in the first place. If I can help to get back there, that’s all I want to do.”

Since arriving in 2020, Fernandes has scored 103 goals in 307 appearances, helping United win the Carabao Cup in 2023 and the FA Cup the following season. The interview closed with the reminder that reaching the top of the Premier League table will require more than one player before the captain’s contract expires at the end of next season.