The Best FPL Players to Buy for Gameweek 22

With multiple players back from injury, some returning from AFCON and the hectic holiday schedule out the way, it is time to breathe. The normal schedule has been restored, and we can now begin to be a lot more calculated with our transfers.

With a lot of managers opting for an early wildcard, it is vital to nail the transfers and plan your future ones accordingly. That way you can limit the number of transfers you will need to use in the future. The good news is, no one can defend outside of Arsenal, so the midfielder and forward markets are absolutely booming right now.

With all of these returning players, it is vital you check in with our Predicted Line-Ups hub before making any moves. Not least to make sure you are swapping out the right player.

Also, if you are in the market for a more differential option than the following, then make sure you check out our Gameweek 22 Best Differentials article.

Or for those of you on wildcard, check out our Best Gameweek 22 Wildcard team.

Anyway, without further ado, let’s get stuck into the top transfer targets for Gameweek 22.

 

 

Gabriel Magalhaes – £6.7m

Even though he is one of the most owned players in the game, given he returned back from injury quite recently, some managers may still be behind the trend. He is currently in around 32% of teams and realistically if you are an active manager, he should be in your team. He plays for perhaps the only elite defence in the premier league at the moment but also combines that with a perpetual set-piece threat and DefCon potential. By far and away the best defender in FPL at the moment.

This is the week to do it as well given they face Forest, who have scored the 2^nd least goals in the league and have conceded the most non-penalty goals from set-pieces this season.

Getting there may be tricky as a lot of people currently own triple Arsenal, so here are some guidelines on if moving for him is correct.

If you own:

• Raya, Timber, Saka > Swap out Saka (Yes, we love the triple up)
• Raya, Timber, Rice > Swap out Raya (Yes, Gabriel’s ceiling and Raya’s price warrant that)
• Timber, Saka, Rice > Swap out Saka.

You get the picture. The priority list is as follows: Gabriel, Timber, Rice, Raya, Saka.

 

Bruno Fernandes – £9.1m

Now, if like us Bruno is a 2 transfer jobby then it’s ok to wait a couple weeks given he has City and Arsenal in his next 2. But, if you are on Wildcard, then it’s advisable to do it now. Not least to save you the future transfer. But also, because he has so many different routes to points that there is every likelihood he returns, even in trickier games. 5 goals, 8 assists, an xGI per 90 of 0.71, penalties and key players returning. Potential new manager bounce?

Bruno is an absolute essential until the end of season, outside of maybe the next 2.

 

Harry Wilson – £5.9m

With 10 returns in his last 9 it’s safe to say Wilson is absolutely cooking. Do not worry about missing the boat either, as he has Leeds, Brighton, United and Everton in his next 4.

Perhaps the main reason for Wilson’s inclusion, however, is his price tag. If anyone tells you not to buy Wilson or that now is a bad time to then they simply do not know ball or are gatekeeping him.

His underlying numbers also suggest it can continue, averaging 0.62 xGI per 90. Even if the returns half, he’s £5.9m so who cares. He is a great asset to use to get to a Gabriel, Fernandes type.

 

Kroupi Jr – £4.6m

It has been a while since a £4.6m striker was this good and likely to start most games. Even against Spurs we saw Kroupi start at the number 10 position. This is very positive considering the departure of Semenyo and the long-term injury to Kluivert.

Kroupi’s ability to play anywhere across the frontline should land him in a good stead for minutes, and given his attacking propensity, should not harm his attacking threat at all. His heat map against Spurs showed him essentially playing as a 2^nd striker.

He currently leads the entire league in minutes per goal at 82, a full 9 less than Erling Haaland in 2^nd place. Bournemouth have also scored the 5^th most goals in the league this season, level with Chelsea. Combine Bournemouth’s attacking form, Kroupi’s attacking prowess and his price tag, and we honestly could be looking at the best value player in FPL history.

 

Hugo Ekitike – £8.9m

Ekitike is now back from his knock and looked as dangerous as ever, registering a goal and assist in the cup against Barnsley. Now granted it was against Barnsley, so we don’t need to read to deep into it. What we can take away however is that he’s back and he remembers how to score.

He has the 4^th highest goals per 90 in the entire league at 0.63, behind only Haaland, Thiago and Kroupi.

With Isak set to miss the rest of the season, we can expect Ekitike to receive the lion’s share of minutes up top. More importantly, Liverpool’s fixtures from now until Gameweek 36 are all great for strikers. With City at home being the only top 5 opposition during that stretch.

Given how poorly everyone is defending right now, 3 up top is increasingly seeming like the move. Personally, we love a front 3 of Haaland, Ekitike and Thiago. However, if you have slightly lower funds then swapping out Thiago for Kroupi is more than acceptable given Brentford face Chelsea, Villa, Newcastle and Arsenal in their next 5.

If you have any of those other 3 it is not worth transferring any out to move to another at the moment. Not least as Kroupi’s price will help you move for a Fernandes, Palmer (If he picks up) or Munoz (When he returns) type player.

 

Check out our Game Week Tips section for more great Gameweek 22 Tips.