The ever-present and ever-popular FPL midfielder is now on the sidelines with a hamstring problem.
Fernandes is the Premier League’s leading assist provider and the highest scoring FPL midfielder, alongside Antoine Semenyo. Replacing him will mean a headache for FPL bosses, but we’re ready with some possible options.
With Bruno Fernandes likely to spend some time on the sidelines 🤕#FPL Managers, what’s your move? pic.twitter.com/fNVykG9pmG
— Fantasy Premier League (@OfficialFPL) December 22, 2025
Fantasy Premier League: The Best Bruno Fernandes Replacements in FPL
Matheus Cunha – Manchester United (£8 million) – 6%
Upcoming matches: Newcastle (H), Wolves (H), Leeds (A)
Is Matheus Cunha an obvious answer to replace Fernandes? With the latter sidelined and Bryan Mbeumo away at the Africa Cup of Nations, much of the creative burden will fall on the summer signing.
Without those names, there will be question marks over Manchester United’s strength as an attacking unit, but Cunha has found some personal form in recent weeks despite mixed results. He returned in three consecutive games, scoring in consecutive matches against Bournemouth and Aston Villa.
Phil Foden – Manchester City (£8.9m) – 40.6%
Upcoming matches: Nottingham Forest (A), Sunderland (A), Chelsea (H)
Phil Foden’s price has risen rapidly in recent weeks after blistering form. The Manchester City midfielder is now worth £8.9 million at the time of writing and is over 40% owned. It comes after a goal-laden spell in which Foden scored six times in four Premier League games before netting zero against West Ham in GW17. City are in good form, winning five on the spin, with Foden at the center.
Rayan Cherki – Manchester City (£6.6m) – 8.3%
Upcoming matches: Nottingham Forest (A), Sunderland (A), Chelsea (H)
Rayan Cherki is quickly becoming an attractive FPL asset. The Frenchman has started the last three games for Manchester City and recorded twelve points against Sunderland in GW15. Jeremy Doku’s injury has played a permanent role in Pep Guardiola’s plan and Cherki’s impressive form should ensure he stays there.
His underlying numbers are exceptional. Cherki leads the Premier League for assists per 90 minutes (0.97) and is behind only Erling Haaland for non-penalty goals and assists per 90 (1.14).
822 minutes played.
🤯 @rayan_cherki pic.twitter.com/L5ZuOzXSyY
— Manchester City (@ManCity) December 22, 2025
Anthony Gordon – Newcastle United (£7.3m) – 3.1%
Upcoming matches: Manchester United (A), Burnley (A), Crystal Palace (H)
Anthony Gordon has two double-digit turnovers in his last three games and could be the perfect differential with an ownership percentage of 3.1%.
With a reasonable-looking schedule and, apparently, penalties for the Magpies, Gordon presents an intriguing option. The only downside might be a lack of nailed down minutes. With Jacob Ramsey, Harvey Barnes and Anthony Elanga all jockeying for places, he is unlikely to complete too many full nineties.
Florian Wirtz – Liverpool (£8.1m) – 8.2%
Okay, listen to us.
Florian Wirtz was one of the most picked players ahead of GW1 and has failed to live up to expectations since his £116m move to Liverpool in the summer. But the German remains a fantastic talent and after notching an assist in the first competition last weekend, he has once again emerged as a real FPL option.
Liverpool host Wolves in GW18, their toughest fixture of the moment, before another home date with Leeds United and a trip to inconsistent Fulham. On paper it’s a great run of games, while the absence of Cody Gakpo, Alexander Isak and Dominik Szoboszlai (suspended in GW18) will put more pressure on Wirtz to take center stage.
Only two players in Europe’s top five leagues scored ten goals and provided ten assists in 2023/24 and 2024/25. One of them was Mohamed Salah. The other? Florian Wirtz.
Maybe, just maybe, his time is now.
Read – The five favorites to sign Antoine Semenyo in January
See more – Remembering the time 21-year-old Ronaldo Nazario won the Ballon d’Or
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