FPL
FPL Gameweek 3 Transfer Tips: Forwards, Midfielders, and Who to Hold
FPL GW3 transfer tips: Best forwards, midfield gems, and who to hold or sell for the weeks ahead.
Gameweek 2 has given us plenty to think about. We’ve already seen early price rises, some surprise performances, and a number of popular picks who’ve started slowly. As we head into Gameweek 3, the big question is who to bring in, who to hold, and who to move on. Let’s break it down.
Forwards Around £7.5m: Pedro, Wood, or Mateta?
A lot of managers are hunting for a forward in the £7.5m bracket. The three names leading the conversation are João Pedro (7.6m), Chris Wood (7.7m), and Jean-Philippe Mateta (7.5m).
João Pedro
Pedro absolutely smashed it in Gameweek 2 with three attacking returns. But let’s not forget how Gameweek 1 looked: hooked on 72 minutes, no returns. His minutes are the main concern.
- If Cole Palmer is out for an extended period, Pedro becomes a much stronger pick. He could play in the number 10 role, remain first-choice striker, and maybe even get penalties.
- If Palmer is fine, Pedro is still decent, but expect the odd frustrating early sub.
Chelsea’s fixtures are fine, not great. United away in GW5 and Liverpool at home in GW7 could be tricky, but Liverpool’s defense currently looks open.
Chris Wood
Wood looks appealing, especially if you’re considering a Free Hit in GW4.
- GW3: West Ham (H) – excellent.
- GW4: Arsenal (A) – can be avoided with a Free Hit.
- GW5: Burnley (A).
- GW6: Sunderland (H).
Those four look brilliant. Minutes seem secure for now, but with Europe coming, his long-term game time might be tested.
Jean-Philippe Mateta
Mateta is quietly the cheapest of the three and arguably has the best run of fixtures if you’re looking beyond the next four.
- GW3: Villa (A).
- GW4: West Ham (A).
- GW5: Bournemouth (H).
- GW7: Everton (A).
- Both Mateta and Wood are on penalties. The question marks lie with Palace’s attack after losing Eze, but the fixtures are kind.
Verdict:
- Short-term: Chris Wood edges it.
- Longer-term: Mateta looks safer.
- João Pedro could become the standout if Palmer is sidelined, but otherwise he feels riskier than his ownership suggests.
Midfield Dilemmas: Bowen and Wirtz
Two popular names who haven’t delivered yet: Jarrod Bowen (7.9m) and Florian Wirtz (8.4m).
Jarrod Bowen
- Two blanks to start, price drop already.
- Fixtures: Forest (A), Spurs (H), Palace (H).
- Not sparkling form-wise, but he always plays 90 minutes and has been consistent in past seasons.
If you want to move him on, that’s fine. But he’s not a “must sell.” Only move him if you’ve got a second free transfer or a stronger priority like replacing an injured player.
Florian Wirtz
A lot of hype pre-season, but no goals or assists yet. He doesn’t look especially threatening around the penalty area either.
- Fixtures: Arsenal (H), Burnley (A), Everton (H).
- His minutes are safe, and a benching in GW3 seems unlikely despite speculation.
Like Bowen, he’s not an urgent sell, but patience is wearing thin. The Arsenal fixture is tough, but selling before Burnley (A) feels risky.
Verdict: Both Bowen and Wirtz are holds if you have fires elsewhere. If you’re restructuring or chasing form, moving them is reasonable.
Midfield Replacements: Who to Buy
If you are selling Wirtz, Palmer, or Saka, here are some strong options:
Around £8.0 – 7.0m
- Cunha (8.0m) Excellent one-week punt vs Burnley (H). Could even be a cheeky captain shout. But beware: Man City (A) and Chelsea (H) follow.
- Semenyo (7.2m) Always shoots, plays close to 90 minutes, and has a strong run of fixtures. Could be a “buy and hold” until your Wildcard.
- Morgan Rogers (7.0m) Fixtures are good, but he’s wide rather than central. Hold if you already own him, but buying now feels less appealing than cheaper options.
Around £6.5 – 6.6m
- Sarr (6.5m) Nailed, good fixtures, huge differential under 5% ownership.
- Kudus (6.6m) Very popular, safe for minutes right now, and Spurs have good fixtures. Only slight worry is whether Spurs sign another winger.
Budget Options
- Tielemans (6.0m) Always starts, steady but not explosive. Safer as a filler, but Sarr and Kudus look more exciting.
- Reijnders (5.7m) A Manchester City attacker for under £6m. Inconsistent but the price is too good to ignore.
Spurs Attackers: Which One?
Spurs are flying under Thomas Frank and many managers are eyeing up their attackers.
- Kudus (6.6m): The standout pick. Minutes look strong, and he’s central to their attack.
- Brennan Johnson (7.0m): Gets great chances but minutes are less secure. A new signing could reduce his starts.
- Richarlison (6.7m): Currently starting as number nine, but Solanke will threaten his spot long term.
Verdict: Kudus is the one.
Final Thoughts
- Forwards: Wood for the short term, Mateta for the longer run. Pedro if Palmer is out.
- Midfielders: Bowen and Wirtz aren’t urgent sells, but plenty of exciting options are emerging. Sarr and Kudus stand out.
This is one of those weeks where patience could pay off. But if you’re itching to make a move, the £6.5–7.5m midfield bracket is where the real value lies.
Download the We Play FPL app for transfer planning, player comparisons, and points predictions to give yourself the best chance of climbing the ranks.
May your arrows be green. Happy managing!
FPL
FPL Gameweek 28: Essential transfers, budget enablers and attacking picks
Gameweek 28 FPL guide: top transfers, budget enablers and midfield options for the coming fixtures .
Gameweek 28 carries weight for managers chasing mini-league positions and avoiding forfeits. With the season entering its final third, every transfer can matter.
Goalkeepers present clear options. Caoimhín Kelleher (£4.7m) is the suggested move for those switching stoppers: “Despite disappointing last weekend, the Brentford man faces Burnley (A) this time around” and then has Bournemouth (A), Wolverhampton Wanderers (H), Leeds United (A) and Everton (H). Alisson (£5.4m) offers a set-and-forget route given Liverpool’s fixture swing, beginning with West Ham United (H) and followed by Wolves (A), Tottenham Hotspur (H) and Brighton & Hove Albion (A). Đorđe Petrović (£4.5m) is a budget alternative after Bournemouth have kept two clean sheets in their last four and face Sunderland (H), Brentford (A) and Burnley (H).
At the back, Virgil van Dijk (£6.0m) stands out after 28 points across his last two and the combination of clean sheet potential, defensive contribution and goalscoring threat. Gabriel (£7.1m) remains an essential asset despite Arsenal’s recent defensive blunders; Chelsea (H), Brighton (A) and Everton (H) precede a blank in Gameweek 31. Budget enablers include Fulham’s Joachim Andersen and Bournemouth’s James Hill (£4.1m), with Andersen facing Tottenham (H), West Ham (H), Nottingham Forest (A) and Burnley (H), while Hill has supplied six points or more in his last five matches.
Midfield decisions will hinge on fitness and form. Bruno Fernandes (£9.9m) and Bryan Mbeumo (£8.7m) are both primed for Crystal Palace (H) and are described as largely fixture-proof; choosing between them is highlighted as difficult. Depending on his fitness after missing last weekend’s clash with Nottingham Forest, Florian Wirtz (£8.4m) appears the best Liverpool midfield option. Dominik Szoboszlai (£6.8m) is a strong alternative but is noted for less consistent attacking returns if used at right back.
Up front, Erling Haaland (£14.8m) has produced just one double-digit haul since Gameweek 17 but remains capable of quick returns, with Leeds (A) next. Hugo Ekitiké (£8.9m) has encouraging fixtures and should be involved against West Ham. Igor Thiago (£7.1m) is on penalties and is recommended for GW28 starting with Burnley at Turf Moor.
FPL
FPL Gameweek 27: Best Transfers and Picks for the Weekend
GW27 FPL guide: goalkeeper and outfield transfer targets to consider ahead of weekend fixtures this.
With the season’s first double gameweek behind us, Gameweek 27 returns managers to a single-match rhythm. This weekend offers several appealing Fantasy Premier League options across positions, with the title race providing high-stakes fixtures over three days.
Goalkeepers are limited by tricky Arsenal and Manchester City schedules. Chelsea’s Robert Sánchez (£4.9m) presents a sensible short-term option against goal-shy Burnley (H). Sunderland’s Robin Roefs (£4.9m) regains appeal after facing Arsenal and Liverpool, with Fulham (H) next and subsequent matches at Bournemouth (A), Leeds United (A) and Brighton & Hove Albion (H). At a lower price, Brentford’s Caoimhín Kelleher (£4.6m) stands out; a noted penalty saver and shot stopper, he meets Brighton (H) and enjoys a run without any fixture rated higher than three until Gameweek 34.
Defensive transfers are similarly situation-dependent. Trevoh Chalobah (£5.8m) looks capable of a substantial haul in GW27 despite Chelsea’s difficult upcoming swing. Wesley Fofana (£4.4m) is an economical route into the Burnley match while Reece James (£5.6m) is a riskier option given uncertain minutes. Virgil van Dijk (£5.9m) is attractive after a 17-point return against Sunderland last week; Liverpool face Nottingham Forest (A), West Ham United (H) and Wolverhampton Wanderers (A) next. For Sunderland, Nordi Mukiele (£4.6m) and Omar Alderete (£4.1m) serve as cheap enablers.
Midfield and attack decisions centre on form and fixture fits. Nico O’Reilly (£4.9m) returns to midfield for Man City and scored against Fulham last week while securing a clean sheet for 13 points. Bruno Fernandes (£9.8m) and Bryan Mbeumo (£8.6m) remain strong picks despite Manchester United’s trip to Everton (A). Florian Wirtz (£8.4m) has produced four double-digit hauls since Christmas and is worth attention. Morgan Rogers (£7.6m) is a consistent Aston Villa starter against Leeds (H). Cole Palmer (£10.6m) has 32 points across two matches, noting three of his four goals have been penalties.
João Pedro (£7.7m) has 48 points in five matches and faces Burnley. Hugo Ekitiké (£8.9m) showed his explosive ceiling with 13 points in Gameweek 24. Erling Haaland (£14.9m) remains an essential long-term asset after two goals and an assist in his last two outings, despite an injury doubt. Igor Thiago (£7.0m) could help in Brentford’s meeting with Brighton. Newcastle’s Wednesday trip to Azerbaijan may create opportunity for Antoine Semenyo (£8.0m).
Arsenal
FPL Gameweek 25: Key Picks and Fixtures to Consider for the 2025/26 Double Gameweek
GW25 FPL tips: key goalkeeper, defender, midfielder and forward selections before the double GW.
As managers approach the first double gameweek of the 2025/26 season, gameplanning and transfer choices are especially important. With a full slate of fixtures from Friday to Sunday there are significant point opportunities ahead before the double in Gameweek 26.
Goalkeepers offer mixed appeal for GW25. David Raya (£5.9m) is a dependable option as Arsenal host Sunderland and chase a 13th Premier League shutout this campaign. Budget alternatives include Burnley’s Martin Dúbravka (£4.0m), who faces West Ham (H), and Chelsea’s Robert Sánchez (£4.9m), who travels to Wolves (A) before meeting Leeds (H) and Burnley (H) in his next two league games.
Defenders with appealing short-term fixtures stand out. Trevoh Chalobah (£5.7m) is the second-highest scoring defender in FPL with 117 points and looks a regular starter under Liam Rosenior. Arsenal’s double makes at least one of their defensive assets essential: Gabriel (£7.0m) is recommended despite his rising price, while Jurriën Timber (£6.3m) and William Saliba (£6.0m) complement him, Timber offering more attacking potential. Fulham’s Joachim Andersen (£4.6m) has attractive fixtures beginning with Everton (H) and a favourable run after that. Harry Maguire (£4.3m) gives value for Manchester United managers, offering defensive contribution points and set-piece threat against Tottenham Hotspur (H).
In midfield, Bruno Fernandes (£9.6m) is the standout pick as United’s forward line performs, having supplied two assists last weekend and leading the Premier League for chances created. Budget and mid-price options include Bryan Mbeumo (£8.5m) and Enzo Fernández (£6.8m), while Cole Palmer (£10.4m) remains potent for Chelsea. Declan Rice (£7.5m) is the primary Arsenal attacking midfield option following Bukayo Saka’s injury. Florian Wirtz (£8.3m) has delivered 37 points in his last five games and remains in form.
Forward choices are led by Erling Haaland (£15.0m), still capable of large hauls despite a quieter spell. Hugo Ekitiké (£8.9m) recorded 13 points with a brace last weekend and could follow up. João Pedro (£7.5m) is central to Chelsea under Rosenior, while Jarrod Bowen (£7.6m) offers consistent returns for West Ham against Burnley (A).
