Bruno Fernandes (£9.4m) looks set for a spell after picking up a hamstring injury at Villa Park on Sunday.
The Manchester United playmaker’s injury is owned by more than a quarter of all FPL managers and around three-quarters of the top 100k. more than 250,000 sales achieved.
In this article, we look at five of the best replacements, along with some other alternatives.
We didn’t record it Phil Foden (£8.9m) or Antoine Semenyo (£7.7m), who are already the two most owned midfielders in the game.
MATHEUS CUNHA (£8.0m)
One Manchester United midfielder out, another in?
The Red Devils have been largely inconsistent in recent weeks. Their last eight matches have produced two wins, four draws and two defeats.
Despite this mixed run, the goals kept coming. Ruben Amorim’s team has scored at least twice in five of those eight games, which underlines their attacking power.
That threat is clear from the data. Manchester United’s midfielders remain among the liveliest in the league. Four of these are currently in the top 10 for expected non-penalty goal involvement (NPxGI, below) this season, underscoring their appeal from an FPL perspective.
One of those midfielders is the player in focus here, Matheus Cunha (£8.0 million). It remains unclear how the absence of Bryan Mbeumo (£8.1 million), Amad Diallo (£6.3 million), and the injured Bruno Fernandes will have an impact on Manchester United as a whole.
What looks safe, however, is its role. The minutes should remain stable, barring injuries. He may also face penalties, which would further increase his appeal. That extra responsibility will boost his chances of improving on the three goals and one assist he has already delivered this season.
His shot count has also increased dramatically over the past three Gameweeks (see below). Tries (one of which was his goal) continued to arrive at Villa Park, even with Mbeumo and Amad absent and Bruno off the pitch.
His short-term competition is also very attractive. The appearance of Wolverhampton Wanderers, in addition to the away games of Burnley and Leeds United, significantly increases his potential. Even Newcastle United at home isn’t as difficult as it could be: the Magpies have won just once on the road in the 2025/2026 season.
DECLAN RICE (£7.1m)
Recent draws against Sunderland and Chelsea, combined with defeat to Aston Villa and narrow wins in Gameweek 16 and 17, have raised questions about Arsenal’s recent form.
Yet the Gunners remain two points ahead of Manchester City at the top. That gap shows how firmly they remain involved in the title race.
There should be no doubt about the motivation for the upcoming schedule. Mikel Arteta’s side are on paper for test matches, with clashes against Aston Villa, Liverpool and Manchester United in the next six games. While we FPL managers may covet the ‘flat-track bully’ games, our aces are less likely to get a season’s rest in a match against title rivals than, say, a home encounter with relegation candidates.
And it’s not like those tougher opponents haven’t shown defensive vulnerabilities. Even in-form Villa have only kept one clean sheet against a shocking Wolves side in the last six matchweeks.
So, come on in Declan Rice (£7.1m) – or, if you have the budget, Bukayo Saka (£10.3 million).
There is little difference between the two so far this season. Rice has collected more points, but Saka has had fewer minutes due to an injury.
Even with less playing time, Saka has nearly doubled Rice’s NPxGI. That gap highlights his superior attacking potential and suggests he is more likely to deliver long-term returns.
However, Rice is over £3.0m cheaper and continues to put up strong defensive numbers. He has averaged between 10 and 11 defensive contributions per 90 minutes this season. He also has a lot of assist potential on corners.
Picking rice also frees up budget to upgrade a cheap product to an increasingly attractive one Hugo Ektike (£8.8m) ahead of his good upcoming matches.
FLORIAN WIRTZ (£8.0m)
After a rollercoaster in the first three months of 2025/26, Liverpool are unbeaten in their last six games in all competitions and head into the coming period with three straight wins. The signs suggest that they are starting to rediscover their rhythm, even if it is not yet completely convincing.
That timing could work well for FPL managers.
An away trip to league leaders Arsenal is far from ideal, but Liverpool face four of the league’s weakest defenses over the next five games (see below), keeping their assets firmly in view.
Playtime was the main concern all around Florian Wirtz (£8.0 million) this season. Rotation and injuries have limited his involvement, with the German failing to start five of Liverpool’s 17 league games so far.
That picture has improved considerably in recent weeks. Wirtz has now started five league matches in a row, partly helped by team injuries. The continued absence of Cody Agat (£7.3 million) and Alexander Isaac (£10.3m) should further secure his minutes.
But he could also be sidelined on merit, with his performances becoming more and more convincing by the week.
Two assists have been secured in the last four Gameweeks, during which time he has been among the top five midfielders in terms of chances created (CC, below):
That rebound, combined with a favorable run of games, could mark the start of more consistent returns for Wirtz in the coming weeks.
ANTHONY GORDON (£7.3m)
Newcastle United are another side who have struggled to find consistency this season. The Magpies are currently eleventh in the table, with a poor away record playing a major role in that position.
From an offensive perspective, there is room for improvement. Eddie Howe’s team is in the middle of the table in terms of goals scored.
However, the underlying figures remain encouraging. Newcastle are in the top eight for key attacking metrics such as high chances created and shots on target, which bodes well for the future.
With that in mind, there is plenty to be optimistic about progress for Newcastle. In the upcoming games against Burnley away, Leeds United at home and Wolverhampton Wanderers away, they will play against some of the weakest defenses in the league. Even meetings with Manchester United (one clean sheet all season) and the recently leaking Crystal Palace could offer opportunities.
From an FPL perspective Anthony Gordon (£7.3m) appears to be one of the strongest routes into the Newcastle attack. As a designated penalty taker, he has extra advantages.
Minutes are sometimes a problem this season. Gametime is not completely safe, with Harvey Barnes (£6.2m) waiting in reserve. Even if Gordon starts, there is fear of a substitution around the seventy minute mark.
Three straight league starts suggest he may re-establish himself in the starting line-up, even if not as a 90-minute man. This greater involvement has translated into returns. Gordon has provided two goals and two assists in his last four games, with both of those goals coming from the spot.
While early substitutions are to be expected, it’s worth pointing out that Newcastle’s lead times over Christmas and New Year (see below) are among the four most forgiving in the division. Friday-Tuesday-Sunday in particular looks very manageable in game weeks 18-20. Three starts could still be within reach.
RAYAN CHERKI (£6.6m)
Manchester City has now recorded seven straight league wins as they continue to chase Arsenal at the top of the table.
Pep Guardiola’s side have scored at least three goals in five of those games, underscoring how ruthless they have been in attack.
It’s difficult to label any match as restrictive given Manchester City’s current form. A series with Nottingham Forest away, Brighton & Hove Albion at home, Manchester United away and Wolves at home offers plenty of opportunities for attacking returns over the next six gameweeks.
While he doesn’t stand out as much in terms of underlying stats as some teammates, Rayan Cherki (£6.6 million) remains an interesting option. He ranks second among City midfielders for attacking performances this season, with eight in total.
Seven of those came in the form of assists, and it’s creativity rather than goal scoring where most of his points will come from.
Above: Of the midfielders with more than 500 minutes of playing time, Cherki has created the best number of chances this season
The Frenchman has now started and played more than 60 minutes for the first time this season in three consecutive league matches. Pep Guardiola has also, astonishingly, made fewer starting XI changes in the past eight matchweeks than any other Premier League manager.
Price is another important factor. A move from Bruno Fernandes to Cherki will free up significant funds, potentially allowing for multiple upgrades elsewhere.
With heavy property nearby Erling Haaland (£15.0 million) and Phil Foden (£8.9m), Man City’s profits could be difficult to come by if they perform as expected. Cherki offers another route to a red-hot offense, with upside if his minutes continue to improve.
ALSO CONSIDER
There are several alternatives available for Bruno Fernandes owners looking to relocate. Another is the in-form Morgan Rogers (£7.2 million).
In-form Aston Villa have now won ten games in a row in all competitions, keeping their attacking qualities firmly on the radar.
However, the direct matches are not ideal, with away games to Chelsea and Arsenal. A strong run follows shortly afterwards. Back-to-back braces from Rogers, combined with the ability to free up funds for upgrades elsewhere, could tempt managers to act earlier than the ideal Gameweek 20 entry point. It’s worth reading Tom’s Scout Notes for some more information on the Villa man’s increased goal threat.
Elsewhere, Tottenham Hotspur have a favorable run of games ahead of them:
A recent lack of clean sheets makes Crystal Palace much less intimidating from an attacking perspective. That vulnerability, combined with games against Brentford away, Sunderland at home, Bournemouth away, West Ham United at home and Burnley away, increases the appeal of Mohammed Jerusalem (£6.4 million).
The Ghanaian has been one of Spurs’ most influential midfielders this season. His minutes have remained steady throughout the campaign. Although he has performed slightly better than his underlying data, a return of two goals and six assists still represents a solid performance for a player operating in a struggling side.
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