Strategic FPL Transfers and Player Prioritization for Game Week 21

FPL Harry · January 06, 2026 · Listen to Original Episode →

Original Title:

TL;DR

Prioritizing Gabriel over other Arsenal defenders like Saka or Rice is crucial, as he offers the best combination of performance and value, making him a non-negotiable pick for team structure.
Selling Manchester City players other than Haaland is advisable from Game Week 24 onwards due to defensive vulnerabilities and an uncertain starting lineup, impacting their clean sheet potential.
Rolling transfers over the next few weeks is a strategic imperative to prepare for potential double and blank game weeks, avoiding aggressive moves that deplete transfer options.
Investing in reliable, cheaper forwards like Maupay, who offers consistent minutes and goal threat, is a more prudent strategy than chasing inconsistent high-cost options.
Considering players like Kobbie Mainoo, if he becomes a nailed-on starter in Manchester United's potential 4-2-3-1 formation, presents a valuable depth option with attacking upside.
While Haaland remains the top captaincy choice, exploring options like Matheus Kunu against Burnley offers a potential alternative, leveraging a possible new manager bounce.
The timing of points acquisition within a game week can significantly impact overall satisfaction, with later points feeling more impactful than earlier ones, influencing transfer decisions.

Deep Dive

Game week 21 presents a critical juncture for Fantasy Premier League managers, demanding strategic decisions around player transfers, team structure, and captaincy due to significant team news and upcoming fixture congestion. The core challenge lies in navigating potential player unavailability, particularly for Manchester City, and preparing for the onset of blank and double game weeks, which will amplify the impact of transfer choices.

The landscape of top teams is shifting, with Manchester City facing a defensive crisis. The season-ending injury to Gvardiol, coupled with potential absences for Ruben Dias, significantly weakens their backline. This defensive instability suggests that City players, outside of Erling Haaland, may become less reliable options for clean sheets and defensive returns, prompting a re-evaluation of investments in players like Donnarumma. While City's attacking threat remains, the defensive frailties mean that even established attackers like Foden might be considered sellable to fund upgrades elsewhere, especially with the prospect of future acquisitions like Palmer or Bruno Fernandes. Manchester United's situation is equally fluid, with the potential return of Bruno Fernandes offering a tactical reshuffling opportunity. A predicted shift to a 4-2-3-1 formation under a new manager could elevate Fernandes's attacking output, making him a key target. However, the immediate fixtures against City and Arsenal are challenging, suggesting a cautious approach to United transfers until their schedule improves post-game week 23.

Arsenal's strong form makes their players highly desirable, with Gabriel emerging as the most essential pick due to his consistent high scoring potential. While Declan Rice offers better value and Timber provides a solid defensive option, the decision to prioritize Gabriel over other Arsenal assets is paramount. Moving away from David Raya in goal is also advised, as his value is deemed insufficient compared to other options. The strategic use of transfers is crucial, particularly with the looming threat of blank and double game weeks. Rolling transfers in the coming weeks, rather than making luxury moves, will build flexibility to capitalize on fixture swings and player availability announcements for these critical periods. This proactive approach allows managers to avoid being caught out by unexpected schedule changes and to maximize points from teams with multiple fixtures.

Captaincy decisions for Game week 21 lean heavily towards Erling Haaland, despite recent blanks, due to his consistent underlying statistics and projected high returns. Alternative options like Matheus Cunha are considered secondary, with their appeal influenced by potential new manager bounces and favorable fixtures against Burnley. For defensive picks, Ralphs is favored for his potential bonus points from Sunderland's strong defensive structure, while Gabriel, Tarkowski, and Malik Thiaw are top defensive targets. In midfield, Bruno Guimarães and Declan Rice are highlighted for their consistent performances and attacking threat. The forward line remains dominated by Haaland, with Diogo Jota and Danny Ings as secondary considerations, reflecting the current difficulty in finding reliable, budget-friendly attacking options. The overarching implication is that managers must adapt to team news and fixture complexities, prioritizing key assets and strategic transfer planning to navigate the evolving FPL landscape.

Action Items

Audit Arsenal defensive structure: Evaluate 3-4 key players (Gabriel, Rice, Timber, Saka) for optimal team composition and value.
Track Manchester City defensive vulnerabilities: Monitor 2-3 key defenders (Akanji, Stones, Ake) for potential sell decisions due to injury impact.
Analyze Manchester United midfield stability: Assess 2-3 midfielders (Mainoo, Bruno Fernandes, Antony Gordon) for potential long-term inclusion based on new manager strategy.
Plan for fixture congestion: Roll 1-2 transfers over the next 3-4 game weeks to prepare for potential blank and double game weeks.
Evaluate forward options: Compare 3-5 forward players (Ekteke, Calvert-Lewin, Maupay, Thiago, Haaland) for optimal short-to-medium term performance based on upcoming fixtures.

Key Quotes

"The first big one is around Eteke. Eteke was a really popular transfer in and he just hasn't done it in terms of returns since we've owned him. He didn't feature at all against Villa with apparently a slight bit of muscle overload, apparent slight hamstring strain, depending on what reports you want to hear. Then I will go away to Arsenal, which looks like then a very good opportunity and an excuse to sell him if that is the case."

FPL Harry explains that Eteke has been a disappointing transfer for many Fantasy Premier League players, failing to deliver returns since being brought into teams. Harry suggests that the upcoming match against Arsenal presents a logical opportunity to sell Eteke if his poor form continues.

"My ranking in terms of the options at the moment are Gabriel first, then it's probably Declan Rice. So I think it's just a better option than Saka and just a better, more sort of favorable in terms of the money you're having to spend on him. I'm not sure Saka is worth the money. Timber is third, Saka is fourth. Outside of that, you've got Odegaard, you've got Trossard. For me, there are four players and I would definitely be jumping off David Raya if he is one of your three Arsenal."

FPL Harry ranks Arsenal players, placing Gabriel as the top choice, followed by Declan Rice, then Timber, and Saka. Harry expresses doubt about Saka's value for money and advises against owning David Raya as one of the three Arsenal players in a fantasy team.

"Now they haven't looked as good over the past few weeks and now they've lost Gvardiol and probably Ruben Diaz. Gvardiol looks like he's going to be out for the season, so he is a definite sell and to be honest, if you've got Ruben Diaz, this is probably just a good excuse to sell him. I don't think he was a fantastic pick anyway. Not only is this a blow to Manchester City, but in FPL, I think it will impact them defensively a lot losing both of their center backs."

FPL Harry advises selling Manchester City defenders Gvardiol and Ruben Diaz due to injuries. Harry believes Gvardiol's season-ending injury makes him a definite sell, and Diaz's potential absence is a good reason to offload him as well, noting the significant defensive impact on the team.

"The first thing to say is for most of us, it's going to be a wait and see. The only transfer people might be considering transferring in is maybe Bruno Fernandes if he was definitely available, but it sounds like it's more going to be he might be included in the squad for Burnley rather than being in a position to start."

FPL Harry suggests a cautious approach regarding Manchester United transfers, recommending a "wait and see" strategy for most players. Harry notes that while Bruno Fernandes is a potential transfer target, his immediate availability to start is uncertain, with inclusion in the squad being more likely for the upcoming match.

"The final one is a little bit more of a boring point, it's about rolling your transfers at the moment. We are about to enter the sort of the start of double blank game week season in FPL. If you remember last year, we got a very last minute announcement of some doubles in game week 24 and game week 25."

FPL Harry advises against making unnecessary transfers as the Fantasy Premier League season approaches periods with potential "double" and "blank" game weeks. Harry recalls that similar announcements for double game weeks in the past were made very close to the deadline, suggesting that holding transfers could be beneficial.

"Haaland is top, right? He's top for team projected goals this week, he's top for any chance of a goal or assist, he's the most informed and he is also predicted to score the most points on the Fantasy Football Scout members area and he's the highest percentage in any of the polls being put out for captaincy in game week 21."

FPL Harry identifies Erling Haaland as the top captaincy choice for Game Week 21. Harry supports this by citing Haaland's high rankings in team projected goals, likelihood of goal involvement, current form, and predicted points, as well as his popularity in captaincy polls.

Resources

External Resources

Articles & Papers

"FPL GW21 COMPLETE GUIDE ⁉️ Ekitike Injured? Gabriel Essential? | Fantasy Premier League Tips 2025/26" (Podcast Transcript) - Discussed as the primary content of the episode, covering Fantasy Premier League tips and player analysis for Game Week 21.

People

Ekitike - Mentioned as a player whose performance and potential transfer status are being discussed.
Thiago - Referenced as a potential transfer target or player to consider for Fantasy Premier League.
Declan Rice - Discussed as a potential transfer target and a player who performed well.
Bruno Fernandes - Mentioned as a player who may return from injury and is a potential transfer target.
Saka - Discussed as a player to consider for Fantasy Premier League, with analysis of his value and performance.
Timber - Mentioned in relation to Fantasy Premier League team selections and potential transfers.
Gabriel - Highlighted as a key player to own in Fantasy Premier League.
Odegaard - Discussed as a Fantasy Premier League player with improved recent performance.
Trossard - Mentioned as a Fantasy Premier League player who does not play every game.
Hincappe - Referenced as a short-term Fantasy Premier League option.
Calafiori - Mentioned as a player who is out injured but may return.
David Raya - Discussed as a goalkeeper whose value is questioned for Fantasy Premier League.
Verbruggen - Mentioned as a goalkeeper who improved the squad after replacing David Raya.
Gvardiol - Discussed as a Manchester City player who is injured and likely out for the season.
Ruben Diaz - Referenced as a Manchester City player whose sale is considered.
Nathan Ake - Mentioned in the context of Manchester City's defensive injuries.
John Stones - Discussed in relation to Manchester City's defensive injury issues.
Akanji - Mentioned as a Manchester City player who is not currently getting into the team.
Haaland - Discussed as a top captaincy option and a key player for Manchester City in Fantasy Premier League.
Mason Mount - Mentioned as a player who might be back in the squad for Manchester United.
Amad - Referenced as a potential winger for Manchester United.
Kunu - Discussed as a Manchester United player whose starting status is uncertain.
Dogu - Mentioned as a Manchester United player whose minutes are a concern.
Luke Shaw - Referenced as a potential left-back option for Manchester United.
Kobbie Mainoo - Discussed as a potential depth and attacking threat option for Manchester United.
Pickford - Mentioned as a goalkeeper option for Fantasy Premier League.
Pope - Referenced as a goalkeeper option for Fantasy Premier League.
Kelleher - Discussed as a goalkeeper option for Fantasy Premier League.
Donnarumma - Mentioned as a goalkeeper option for Manchester City in Fantasy Premier League.
Sanchez - Discussed as a goalkeeper expected to return for Chelsea.
Jorgensen - Referenced as a potential goalkeeper for Chelsea.
Lamela - Mentioned as a goalkeeper option.
Ralphs - Discussed as a goalkeeper option for Sunderland, noted for defensive strength.
Martinez - Mentioned as a goalkeeper option.
Areola - Referenced as a goalkeeper option.
Petrovic - Mentioned as a goalkeeper option.
Henderson - Discussed as a goalkeeper option.
Lenon - Mentioned as a goalkeeper option.
Vicario - Referenced as a goalkeeper option.
Jose Sa - Mentioned as a goalkeeper option.
Alisson - Discussed as a goalkeeper option.
Perry - Mentioned as a goalkeeper option.
Tchouameni - Discussed as a Fantasy Premier League player to start.
Dan Ballard - Mentioned as a player expected back for Sunderland.
Semenyo - Referenced as a Fantasy Premier League player to start.
Jared Bowen - Discussed as a Fantasy Premier League player to start.
Paqueta - Mentioned as a Fantasy Premier League player who is a doubt.
Morgan Rogers - Referenced as a Fantasy Premier League player to start.
Keane - Discussed as a defender for Everton.
Malik Thiaw - Mentioned as a Fantasy Premier League defender pick.
Calvin Phillips - Referenced as a Fantasy Premier League player.
Wilson - Discussed as a long-term Fantasy Premier League option.
Le Fee - Mentioned as a Fantasy Premier League player.
Garner - Referenced as a Fantasy Premier League player.
Anderson - Discussed as a Fantasy Premier League player.
Sobolsky - Mentioned as a Fantasy Premier League player.
Sonessi - Referenced as a Fantasy Premier League player.
Van den Berg - Discussed as a Fantasy Premier League player.
Chris Richards - Mentioned as a player expected back for Crystal Palace.
Daniel Munoz - Referenced as a player expected back for Crystal Palace.
Mateus Nunes - Discussed as a Fantasy Premier League player.
O'Reilly - Mentioned as a Fantasy Premier League player.
Saliiba - Referenced as a Fantasy Premier League player.
Mane - Discussed as a Fantasy Premier League player.
Miley - Mentioned as a Fantasy Premier League player.
Mukiele - Referenced as a Fantasy Premier League defender.
Alderete - Discussed as a Fantasy Premier League defender.
Minter - Mentioned as a Fantasy Premier League player.
Cash - Referenced as a Fantasy Premier League player.
Anderson of Fulham - Discussed as a Fantasy Premier League player.
Richards - Mentioned as a Fantasy Premier League player.
Estev - Referenced as a Fantasy Premier League player.
Antony Gordon - Discussed as a short-term Fantasy Premier League option.
Aling - Mentioned in relation to injuries affecting Antony Gordon's minutes.
Murphy - Referenced in relation to injuries affecting Antony Gordon's minutes.
Enzo - Discussed as a Chelsea player and Fantasy Premier League option.
Palmer - Mentioned as a Chelsea player and Fantasy Premier League option.
Guimarães - Referenced as a Fantasy Premier League player.
Barnet - Discussed as a Fantasy Premier League forward option.
Traore - Mentioned in relation to Chelsea's defense and potential starting status.
Badia - Referenced as a potential Chelsea goalkeeper.
Fofana - Mentioned as a potential Chelsea defender.
Hebburn - Discussed as a potential bench player in a Fantasy Premier League draft.

Organizations

Sephora - Mentioned as a store for purchasing perfume.
ABC - Referenced as the network airing "The Rookie."
LAPD - Mentioned in the context of a global operation involving the FBI.
FBI - Mentioned in the context of a global operation involving the LAPD.
Hulu - Referenced as a platform for watching "The Rookie."
Tax Act - Mentioned as a service for tax preparation.
Fantasy Premier League (FPL) - The subject of the podcast episode, discussing tips and strategies.
Chelsea - Referenced as a football club whose managerial situation and player performance are discussed.
Manchester United - Discussed in terms of potential managerial changes and player performance.
Burnley - Mentioned as a football club and an upcoming fixture for Manchester United.
Manchester City - Discussed in terms of defensive issues and player performance.
Aston Villa - Referenced as a football club whose player performance is analyzed.
Wolves - Mentioned as a football club and an upcoming fixture.
Arsenal - Discussed as a football club with multiple players considered for Fantasy Premier League.
Liverpool - Referenced as a football club whose defensive performance is analyzed.
Sunderland - Mentioned as a football club with a strong defense.
Nottingham Forest - Discussed as a football club whose defensive performance is analyzed.
Everton - Referenced in the context of defensive changes.
Crystal Palace - Mentioned as a football club whose players are discussed for Fantasy Premier League.
Fulham - Referenced as a football club with upcoming fixtures.
Sports Social Podcast Network - Identified as the network the podcast is part of.
Valvoline Instant Oil Change - Mentioned as a service for oil changes.

Websites & Online Resources

Fantasy Football Scout members area - Referenced as a source for predicted points for Fantasy Premier League players.

Other Resources

The Rookie - Mentioned as a television show.
Carabao Cup - Referenced in the context of potential double game weeks in Fantasy Premier League.
Champions League - Mentioned in relation to English teams and potential mid-week games affecting Fantasy Premier League schedules.
Wild Card - A Fantasy Premier League strategy discussed.
Free Hit - A Fantasy Premier League strategy discussed.
Team projected goals - A metric used in Fantasy Premier League captaincy rankings.
Any chance of a goal or assist - A metric used in Fantasy Premier League captaincy rankings.
Most informed - A qualitative assessment used in Fantasy Premier League captaincy rankings.
Bench ranking - A concept discussed for Fantasy Premier League player selection.
Bonus points - A factor considered in Fantasy Premier League goalkeeper selection.
Attacking threat - A characteristic of players discussed for Fantasy Premier League.
Clean sheet potential - A factor considered in Fantasy Premier League defender selection.
Long term fixtures - A consideration for Fantasy Premier League player selection.
Short term minutes - A factor in evaluating Fantasy Premier League player value.
Attacking returns per 90 - A statistic used in Fantasy Premier League analysis.
Double blank game week season - A period in Fantasy Premier League discussed for strategic planning.
Double game weeks - A concept in Fantasy Premier League scheduling.
Blank game weeks - A concept in Fantasy Premier League scheduling.
Luxury transfers - A type of transfer discussed in Fantasy Premier League strategy.
Provisional doubles - Potential double game weeks in Fantasy Premier League.
Bank of transfers - A strategic concept in Fantasy Premier League.
Captaincy ranking - A method for selecting Fantasy Premier League captains.
Vice captaincy - A role in Fantasy Premier League captaincy selection.
Safety score - A metric mentioned in relation to a Fantasy Premier League gameweek review.
Big green arrow - A term used to describe a significant improvement in Fantasy Premier League rank.
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